Ear candling process.

Ear Candling is a process that goes back as far as biblical times, when
hollow reeds from swamp regions were used as candles. It has been
passed down for numerous generations by the North and South
American natives, in addition to the Egyptian, African, Oriental and
European cultures.
The procedure had been essentially lost for many years, but has come
back into practice once again and is now being utilized by a wide
assortment of individuals.

Ear candling, likewise called ear coning or thermal-auricular
therapy, and is an alternative medicine procedure claimed to
better general health and well-being by lighting one end of a
hollow candle and putting the other end in the ear canal.

According to some medical researchers, it's both dangerous
and ineffective. Claims that the practice moves out earwax
are not supported by any evidence according to some
studies. The claim by one manufacturer that ear candles
initiated with the Hopi tribe has likewise been disproven.
However many say the candles are a gentle and natural
alternative to ear syringing. They say that the heat energy
from the candle relieves pain and discomfort in the ear.
The ingredients infused in the cotton vaporize and are drawn
down the hollow centre of the candle thru a 'chimney effect'.
Impurities are pulled out of the ear, into the candle and
either burned away or accumulated in the filter.
Both ears have to be treated, and the treatment takes
around a half an hour. A calming facial massage is
commonly performed afterwards, draining the sinuses,
reinforcing lymph action and blood flow.
As well people claim that Ear Candling is likewise a good
treatment to have if recovering from a cold or 'flu, or simply
to de-stress and clear the head. The aromatherapy effects of
the candle encourage relaxation and stress reduction.