Ear candling, or “coning,” is an alternative remedy that some people use to draw out impurities and wax from the inner ear.

Ear candles are typically about 10 inches long, hollow, and tapered. A person lights them at their widest end.

They are usually made of fabric soaked in wax or a mixture of substances, often paraffin and beeswax.

To perform ear candling, a person will lie on their side and insert a candle into the ear. Usually, a square or circle made of paper, tin foil, or plastic acts as a cover to prevent hot wax from dripping onto the face, neck, or hair.Once the candle and covering are secure, a person will light the candle for 10–20 minutes. Wax does not go into the ear during this process.

Other names for ear candling include:

ear or auricular coning

thermal- or thermo-auricular therapy

candle or coning therapy

Some of the other proposed benefits of ear candling include:

removing wax, bacteria, and other debris from the ear canal

treating sinus infections

improving hearing or reversing hearing loss

relieving sore throats

treating colds and flus

relieving headaches and migraines

improving mental clarity

purifying the blood

improving lymphatic circulation

clearing the eyes and improving vision

reducing pain related to jaw aches and temporomandibular disorders

reducing tension and stress

reducing vertigo

Ear candle makers and supporters claim that the lit candle creates enough warmth to generate suction. This suction pulls impurities and wax out of the ear canal.However, these claims do not make much sense, and there is currently no research or evidence to show that ear candles do what people claim they do.

Although many people dislike earwax, it is actually a self-cleansing, lubricating, and antibacterial substance for the ear canal. People without enough earwax often have dry, itchy ears.

Earwax naturally works its way out of the ear canal during motions such as chewing or swallowing. Once on the outside of the ear canal, earwax dries up and flakes away.

Earwax can build up in the ear canal. This most often occurs when a person has been digging their finger into their ear and pushing wax deeper into the canal. Anything a person puts in their ear, from cotton swabs to paper clips, can contribute to earwax buildup.