Name of treatment |
Ear candles (Hopi ear candles, ear cones, auricular candles) |
|
Type of treatment |
Physical intervention |
|
Claims for treatment |
Claims to remove ear wax, which may be the cause of tinnitus. Other claims for ear candling include treatment of sinusitis, vertigo, glue ear reducing stress. |
|
How treatment is delivered |
A hollow tube of fabric that has been wound into a cone shape and soaked in wax is inserted into the ear and lit. This is left alight for several minutes before being removed. |
|
Potential negative consequences |
Burns to the face, ear canal or ear drum; injury to ear canal or ear drum; plugging of ears by candle wax; hearing loss.[1] |
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Evidence offered: |
|
|
Papers available |
8 on ear candles via PubMed |
|
Conclusions drawn |
‘…its mode of action is implausible and demonstrably wrong. There are no data to suggest that it is effective for any condition. Furthermore, ear candles have been associated with ear injuries. The inescapable conclusion is that ear candles do more harm than good. Their use should be discouraged.’[2] |
|
Quality of evidence[3] |
D/E |
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Does the BTA recommend this treatment? |
No |
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BTA opinion on this treatment: |
Unsafe and to be avoided |
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Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? |
No |
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Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
|
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
|
Evidence of harm For further information
The BTA Tinnitus Support Team can answer your questions on any tinnitus related topics:
Telephone: 0800 018 0527
Web chat: – click on the icon
Email: [email protected]
Text/SMS: 07537 416841
We also offer a free tinnitus e-learning programme, Take on Tinnitus.
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Feedback
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Email: [email protected]
or by writing to us at the address below.
References
[1] Rafferty J, Tsikoudas A, Davis BC. Ear candling: should general practitioners recommend it?. Canadian Family Physician. 2007;53(12):2121–2122.
[2] Ernst, E. Ear candles: a triumph of ignorance over science. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 2004 Jan; 118(10: 1-2
[3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
Author: Nic Wray
Version 2.0
Updated: 7 July 2022
To be reviewed: July 2025
Photo: Bjørn Bulthuis from Langley, BC, Canada [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
