Ear Candling

It's Your Health

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

On this page:

• The Issue
• What is ear candling?
• No Medical Benefits - but Lots of Risks
• Reduce your risk
• Government of Canada's role
• For more information

The Issue

Ear candling has become popular as an alternative treatment. Some people say it is an ancient treatment that can cure a number of medical problems. Don't listen: ear candling is dangerous, and has no proven medical benefits.

What is ear candling?

An ear candle is a narrow, hollow cone that has been soaked in wax (beeswax or paraffin) and allowed to harden. During ear candling, the person getting this so-called "therapy" lies on his or her side. Someone else inserts the point of the cone inside their ear. The top of the cone is then set on fire and left to burn for a few minutes.

The health claim most often made for ear candling is that the flame creates warmth and suction, which draws ear wax out of the ear canal. Some promoters also say that ear candling can cure a wide range of medical problems, including ear aches, sinus infections, sinus pain and pressure, and vertigo (dizziness). Recently, ear candling was even linked to cancer therapy.

No Medical Benefits - but Lots of Risks

There is no scientific proof to support claims that ear candling has medical benefits. In fact, Health Canada ran lab tests that showed ear candling creates no significant heating or suction in the ear canal.

On the other hand, there is plenty of proof that ear candling is dangerous. Ear candling presents a risk of fire. It can also cause serious burns and other injuries if hot wax drips into your ear, or onto your skin or hair. There have been reports of several cases of ear injury in Canada.

In 1996, a report published in the medical journal  Laryngoscope said that "ear candles have no benefit in the management of cerumen (ear wax) and may result in serious injury." Health Canada agrees.

The authors of the report, all medical doctors, did a survey of 122 ear specialists. They found 21 cases of serious injury caused by ear candling:

• 13 cases of burns
• 7 cases where the wax from the candle had blocked the ear canal
• 1 case of a punctured ear drum

In six of these cases, patients temporarily lost their hearing.

Reduce your risk

Health Canada recommends that you avoid ear candling. It is dangerous and has no proven medical benefits. If you are concerned about ear wax, ask your doctor about safe and effective ways of cleaning your ears.

Government of Canada's role

Health Canada makes sure that medical devices sold in Canada are safe and effective. Certain types of medical devices, including ear candles, must have a licence from Health Canada before anyone can sell them for therapeutic (medical) reasons.  

Health Canada has not issued any licences for ear candles. Selling ear candles for medical reasons in Canada is illegal. Both Canada and the United States have banned the importing of ear candles. 

Some promoters try to get around Health Canada's  Medical Devices Regulations by advertising that ear candles are "for entertainment purposes only". But Health Canada maintains that these people are selling the product illegally (for medical purposes), as there is no other reasonable use for ear candles.

For more information

• Report side effects and technical problems with medical devices like ear candles to Health Canada toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or report online
  Please give us as much detail about your medical history and problem as possible.
• For more information about ear candles, visit the  CBC Marketplace website

For Industry and Professionals

• For more information about medical device regulations, see Health Canada's Medical Devices website

Related Resources

• For safety information about food, health and consumer products, visit the Healthy Canadians website
• For more articles on health and safety issues, go to the It's Your Health web section

You can also call toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-267-1245*

Updated: December 2011
Original: November 2001
©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2011