Ear candles--efficacy and safety

Area of Science:

• Alternative Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ear candles are a popular, inexpensive alternative therapy for earwax removal.
• The purported mechanism involves creating negative pressure to draw out cerumen.
• Potential cost savings drive interest in this treatment modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ear candles for cerumen management.
• To assess the safety of using ear candles.
• To determine if ear candles generate negative pressure.

Main Methods:

• Tympanometric measurements were used in an ear canal model to assess pressure.
• A limited clinical trial involving eight ears was conducted.
• A survey of 122 otolaryngologists gathered data on ear candle-related injuries.

Main Results:

• Ear candles did not produce negative pressure in the ear canal model.
• No cerumen was removed from the external auditory canal in the clinical trial.
• Candle wax was deposited in some participants' ears.
• Otolaryngologists reported 21 injuries linked to ear candle use.

Conclusions:

• Ear candles offer no benefit for earwax management.
• The use of ear candles is associated with a risk of serious ear injury.