What is Hopi Ear Candling?
This is an ancient and natural therapy handed down by many civilisations, and there is evidence of ear candling from all over the world, from Siberia, Asia and the native communities of North and South America. It is believed that the Ancient Greeks used ear candles, initially probably for cleansing, purifying and healing on a spiritual basis, but much later, on a purely physical basis. However, the practice reached the modern world via the Native American Hopi Indians of North Arizona. Ear candles were used traditionally by Shaman healers. They used candles in medicinal ceremonies to achieve a wide range of effects, some of which are therapeutic in a conventional Western way, and in initiations to clear negative energies from the head and aura. Ancient wall paintings show their importance in initiation rituals and healing ceremonies of the tribe. The candles are still made today on the basis of the old traditional formula originating from the Hopi Indians.
What are they?
Candles are made from beeswax, honey extracts, sage, St Johns Wort, chamomile, beta-carotene and organically grown flax. The candles work by vaporising their ingredients causing convectional air flow as in the chimney principle, drawing warm air towards the first chamber of the ear and circulating it, allowing the small blood vessels to dilate and encourage enriched blood flow to the area. The circulating air helps to equalise the pressure in the head and ears, making them suitable for most conditions. Secretion flow is gently stimulated and the vapour collects and removes any impurities found in the excreted moisture. Most of these are carried away through the candle 'chimney', although some of them can be found in the condensed candle wax residue after removal from the ear, or could even work their way up to the surface 24-48 hours after.
What can it be used for?
Though results may vary from patient to patient, some of my clients have reported Hopi Candles to be helpful with:
- Excessive or compacted wax in the ears
- Irritation in ears and sinuses
- Sore throats and hay fever
- Catarrh and asthma
- Vertigo
- Meniere's Disease and Neural VIII nerve syndrome
- Neuralgia
- Pressure regulation in cases of : sinusitis / rhinitis / glue ear / colds / flu / headaches / migraine ( which is also of great benefit to frequent flyers or people who have a problem in equalizing their ear pressure on an aeroplane and SCUBA divers)
- Noises in the ears, ringing, tinnitus
- Headache and migraine
- Sinusitis and rhinitis
- Relaxing and calming effect in cases of stress and/or anxiety
Treatment will take around an hour to do correctly, for as well as the burning of a candle in each ear (around 20-30 minutes altogether) a facial massage or hand or foot reflexology treatment concentrating on the sinus, ear head and throat reflexes is carried out. If a face massage is being done and the clients sinuses are particularly bad, hot stone face massage could be used instead to further increase the benefits of the candling.
When I first heard about Hopi Ear Candling I was, I have to admit, a little sceptical. I thought, wrongly, that it was a relatively quick, new 'new age' treatment and that it couldn't possibly have any 'real' benefits. How very wrong I was! I had several treatments myself, when I'd had severe problems with my ears for around 6 months, including vertigo, tinnitus and then Meniere's Disease, with great relief including feeling relaxed, having a 'break' from the constant ringing in my ears and having one of the best nights sleep I'd had in weeks. I also read into the subject and gave treatments to clients who gave me positive feed back about the relief they received form tinnitus, earache, sinus problems and headaches. Because of this I am now very much a convert to the healing benefits of this ancient treatment.