Ear Candle History

Ancient Egyptians used not only papyrus rolled into a cone shape but clay pottery shaped cones with spiral cuts in the clay to guide the smoke down in a spiral.  Upper class Greeks used candling to evoke mental clarity. There is also evidence of candling in cave drawings discovered in Europe.

Oriental doctors of Thailand, China, India and the Philippines have included the process as a routine part of their regular practice of medicine.  

American Indians used reeds from the riverbanks for candling to relieve head congestion.  Diaries translated from native dialects of African slaves describe the practice of candling as being widely used on the African continent.

The actual process of candling was performed by a diverse cast of practitioners.  In some cultures, the religious leader provided the service.  Others looked to the medicine man or healer in their culture.

In America, wellness practitioners have assumed this role as well as Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Reflexologists, Acupunturerists, and Health and Beauty Spas.  And a few holistic doctors in the US have shifted over to ear candling from irrigation techniques.

Another source states that in Germany ear candling is taught as a home remedy.    And many cultures such as South American Mexican Indians and some American Indian tribes are using ear cones today.  Materials vary from pottery cones to rolled up newspaper soaked in wax.

Cones or candles can be made from all types of fabrics and materials, burlap, gauges, 100% cotton, etc.   And then coated with a paraffin food grade wax, beeswax and combinations of both.  Some companies add herbs and dyes to the wax.  

Both paraffin and beeswax candles made with 100% cotton work the same if the fabric was wrapped in a downward spirals.  Paraffin candles take approximately 10-12 minutes to burn and Beewax candles of the same length take approximately 15-20 minutes because beeswax is a heavier wax.  Paraffin and 100% cotton candles produce about 20% residue from the candle itself, whereas beeswax and 100% cotton candles leave about 40% residue from the candle itself.  (Reside is what is left inside the tip of the candle after burning it in the ear down to approximately 2"-3").  

We believe the best candle on the market today is made with 100% unbleached cotton and food grade paraffin wax with no additives or dyes.  It will be light cream or beige in color and will not drip wax when burning.

Most companies that claim to sell beeswax ear candles actually use a mixture of both paraffin and beeswax because beeswax is a heavy wax that gets very hot, is very hard to work with, and is very expensive.  You should ask your source if the beeswax candle you are buying is actually all beeswax.