The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Mineral Oil
Posted by Konstantine (Nova Scotia) on 10/09/2014
I saw a hearing specialist today, and have a earwax blockage in my ear, he told me to use a bulb dropper with two drops of mineral oil warmed to body temp. Before bed. I've yet to try this and am going to the Dr. this week to have it flushed. The mineral oil should soften and lubricate the obstruction. Good luck.
Ear Cones
Posted by M Dupre (Massachusetts) on 08/14/2016
Ear cones are fine as long as you find a practitioner that knows what they are doing. For example, I know of someone who got her ears done and they held the candle straight up and wax fell into her ear and it was painful. I couldn't believe this even happens since I am a practitioner myself. Even if you are not a practitioner, the cones come with instruction and do say to never hold the cones in such a way. They must always be at a 45 degree angle. I myself had many surgeries as a child that destroyed my right ear. The wax never naturally comes out because they messed up my ear canal. I always had ear infections year round as well. This is the ONLY method that has worked for me. I started doing this back in 2002 and have not had an ear infection since. I also agree with everything Rev Dr Tilly has replied with as well. I too have never had an unhappy client.
Ear Cones
Posted by Sandra (Blue Springs, Mo) on 03/05/2012
That's really interesting to know. I've used ear cones in the past and I've always wondered if that really is earwax inside the candle.
Ear Wax Remedies
Posted by Trandall (Wasilla, Alaska, Usa) on 12/06/2011
I am looking for a way to encourage the removal of dried earwax from my 6 year old son's ears. There is a non functioning tube crusted over with earwax, not embedded anymore. The ENT said he can put him under anesthesia and remove the tube but there is a chance that the delicate tissue could be punctured in the process. My concern is that it may interfere with his hearing at some point. He has only had one ear infection but the tubes were put in because fluid would build up and it was affecting his hearing and speech. They served their purpose but his ears still seem to have problems draining. Maybe the wax is keeping them from draining. Any input at all would be greatly appreciated!
Ear Wax Remedies
Posted by Louwrence (Rustenburg, North West South Africa) on 12/06/2011
Hi TRandaal, Try putting hydrogen peroxide in the ear & it will disolve the wax. Try 3% hp. Good Luck.
Ear Wax Remedies
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, Pa) on 08/09/2012
homeopathic SILICA is said to help body expel unwanted objects from inside.
Bobby Pin
Posted by Maidenohio (Cleveland, Ohio) on 04/30/2011
You are not supposed to stick things in your ears, but the bobby pin does work. Please be very, very careful while scraping the insides of your ears. Do not go down too deep.
Bobby Pin
Posted by Earache (Uk) on 10/06/2016
I thought baby oil was made from babies, which is just plain (medi)evil.
But, seriously, my local health clinic recommends warm olive oil, only (as often as is practical, in the case of compacted cerumen (e.g. from wearing plug-type ear defenders). They also recommend against using commercial ear drops.
Some 'health' websites mention using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) mixed 50/50 with vinegar! Are they serious? I use isopropyl alcohol to clean electronic equipment.
Other than olive oil, almond oil or glycerine are safe options; but never push any kind of bud or probe into your ears: you cannot see in there, and risk perforating the tympanic membrane.
Ear Cones
Posted by Cred (Innisfil, On, Canada) on 09/02/2011
actually, the Health Canada website says that they are illegal to sell in Canada but some get around the rule and can be found for sale.
However, the reason is that Health Canada deems them to be ineffective and has not issue a license to sell them as a medical device. They state that they are dangerous due to fire. That said, so are fireworks and they are now legal to sell in Canada. Again, legislation designed to protect the ignorant. I'm sure most people could properly use ear candles safely (however, not on oneself, as it is dangerous to try to do this yourself).
Health Canada rarely identifies alternative therapies as effective so I wouldn't rely on their information.
Dried Cranberries
Posted by Russell (Australia) on 11/04/2020
How many cranberries did you eat and over what period of time, please?
Omega 3
Posted by Mammagrande (Oregon, USA) on 10/19/2019
★★★★★
Please don't ask where I heard this, but excess ear wax is supposed to be caused by insufficient Omega 3s in diet. Bought some capsules today, popped 1 and poured 1/2 into husband's ear then cotton piece for overnight. Will see in the morning what comes of it (out of it).
Turpentine
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 10/24/2017
★★★★☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I applied pure "food grade" turpentine to the insides of both ears with cotton swabs and it was very painful, it felt like an ear infection. After a while the pain went away. And maybe a day or so later a white skin of sorts came out of each ear. It looked like dry skin, so it was probably the ear canal shedding the top layer because of the strength of the oil. It did not appreciably affect the itchiness. Alcohol is said to cure athlete's foot, so it may cure the ear problem.
Mineral Oil
Posted by Courtney (Granite Bay, Ca) on 10/10/2014
How many nights did the doctor say to do the mineral oil treatment? Just one night?
Hydrogen Peroxide, Warmed Oil
Posted by Gregory (Davis, Ca) on 11/29/2012
I hope you can help with this & I'll keep it short :)
I put H2O2 a few days ago, just a few drops but only stayed on my side for 3 mins or so & then added warm olive oil after. I think I did this for 2 or 3 days, each time for a few mins only. I didn't do your advice well because I saw this article only now. But here's my problem now.
After a few days of doing that, now I experience pain in my jaw when I open & close it say while eating or yawning. Is this because I did the H2O2 treatment for so short a time that the earwax is stuck & bugging me with pain or is it something else?
Ear Cones
Posted by Angelica (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 06/07/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I was told that Ear Coning was excellent for removing wax from your ears. I also had never heard any bad stories concerning candling, so, I happily made an appointment to have it done. I have so many problems with my ears now it isn't funny. They crackle all the time (sometimes painfully), and when I blow my nose I can hear the air coming through my ears (never happened before). I realize to some that these experiences may seem unrelated, but I can only conclude, since I never had those issues previously, that the cause was the candling. Also, to debunk this a bit further, when the candler looked at the candles, they said that I had experienced "many" ear infections according to her findings... I only had a couple in my lifetime prior to the candling.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Warmed Oil
Posted by Carol (Upper Darby) on 11/18/2016
★☆☆☆☆
I was told by my daughter ENT doctor years ago to used warm olive oil or mineral oil a few drop 2 to 3 times a day for the first day, then warm peroxide with distilled water the second day. Repeat for a few days I never did this because my daughter wouldn't sit still long enough, she actually had four set of ear tubes following that first advise. She has a disorder that result with excess ear wax even today she now 28 years old and her ear wax is wet every day.
Ear Cones
Posted by Anna (Pennsylvania) on 10/20/2018
★☆☆☆☆
"candling" for ear wax is not just useless - it is very BAD! lt compacts wax and pushes it deeper! That's what it did for me!
Ear Wax Remedies
Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 06/01/2016 46 posts
I've heard nothing but good comments about the Murine Kit for the ears, the do it yourslef with peroxide is good too, but don't do it before he needs to go out and play, this should be done prior to bedtime to insure a nights wax build up to protect him from viruses etc it could be subjected to with a clean unprotected ear, ok?!
Ear Cones
Posted by Blacky (Tampa, Florida) on 11/03/2011
Is ear candling recommended? Anyone have any positive feedback on it? Is the gunk they find in the end from the wax or from the ear?
Ear Cones
Posted by Alex (Morgantown, Wv) on 07/15/2011
★☆☆☆☆
Ear candles are illegal in Canada and it is illegal to import them from Canada into the US. While they're not illegal in the US, pretty much all medical science is against them.
I've done them twice before actually, was sold a wholistic cure (by the same place that sold my mom saltwater to relieve arthritis). First one did nothing at all, second one singed my ear a bit, hurt for a few days.
Aside from that, do you really think a little negative pressure from the heat is going to pull an awful disgusting glob of tar out of your ear?
I've had fair success with using over the counter carbamide peroxide treatments (similar to hydrogen peroxide but better for the ear). It's pretty uncomfortable to blow water up your ear, but if it helps then it helps.
Had to go to an ear specialist once and have him suck it out of my ear with a little..... Sucker tool. Don't know how to explain it, a long metal tube that sucks lice a vacuum. Was very uncomfortable and somewhat painful, but so was the ear wax and this helped tremendously.
Go to a drugstore, or go to a doctor, stay away from quackery.
Ear Cones
Posted by Wendy (Ontario, Canada) on 06/22/2014
I am not sure who told you that ear candles/candling was illegal in Canada, but you were misinformed. You can purchase them at any health food store.
Ear Cones
Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 06/01/2016 46 posts
Alex, Wv, just because it's illegal in canada, and so is medical science against it....that's not enuf to scare me off of trying if I so choose, but it most certainly is not a jump in there and just do it type thing either.
One should have some training on their proper use. Personally, I had it done, but don't consider it quackery. I prefer Q-tips, and I have a method of rolling the Q-tip and using 2 Q-tips together, it doesn't go too far down, and one can clean the ridges of the ear as well, and I don't walk around the house with them hanging out of my ears. Also after wax removal, one should not go running around outside, one should have the advantage of one nights worth of wax build up, to protect one from infections and viruses one could be open to, with too much wax removed.
Ear Cones
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 09/19/2017
I have one ear that gets clogged with wax to the point where it affects my hearing. This happens every two or three years. I visit my doctor and he uses a large syringe type instrument filed with warm water to flush the wax out of my ear while I hold a kidney basin on my shoulder to catch the overflow. The wax that comes out is usually about the size of a pencil eraser and my hearing is immediately restored. The doctor then uses a special scope to look inside my ear to confirm that all the wax is gone. I have probably had this procedure done about ten times over the years with good results.
Ear Cones
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, Pa, usa) on 11/05/2010
★☆☆☆☆
Ear Cones made my earwax more dense and pushed it deeper. I lost heaing for few hours until I went to dr to have lots of earwax flushed out. I'll never use them again.
Ear Cones
Posted by MandyMc (Kokomo, IN) on 07/26/2009
★★★★★
My husband was complaining that his ear was plugged and he was slightly dizzy. I had heard of earcandling and thought we would give it a try. I went to the health store and purchased some earcandles, they weren't expensive at all $3.99 for 2 candles. I used them as directed and my husband said he couldn't tell a difference. We used the other one on the same ear about 3 hours later and he said he still couldn't tell a difference. I was pretty disappointed, my hopes were high since I had heard such good things. When he got up the next morning he said "Mandy thanks my ear feels great, those candles really worked"!!! Awesome!!! I will definitley use these again.
Bobby Pin
Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 05/07/2016 46 posts
For the hard ear wax, you could use, coconut oil, just to coat the inside of the ear canal, gently and slowly with a qtip, just lock yourself in the bathroom, then there cannot be any accidents....option 2 is, put a drop of peroxide there to soften it, don't soak it, just one drop should keep it soft.
Ear Cones
Posted by DL (Atlanta, GA) on 03/13/2009
★☆☆☆☆
I did lots of these ear cones in the 1990s, thinking I was removing oodles and oodles of ear wax. My ears itched like crazy for a few days afterwards. Finally my brother and his wife did an experiment and burned down 2 candles to see what happened. Yes, oodles and oodles of what appeared to be ear wax! The candles did make me feel very relaxed.
Ear Cones
Posted by Sonny (Vancouver, Canada) on 03/12/2009
I have read conflicting reports about ear candling. Does it actually work? Some people say that if you burned it without even putting it in your ear, there would still be 'gunk" left - which people mistake for wax when they do use it in the ear. I am thinking of trying it, but am reluctant to make matters worse, or just waste my money on something that is ineffective. Any learned and/or experienced feedback would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Ear Cones
Posted by Sher (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) on 08/25/2011
ear candles or cones are not illegal in Canada
