Hopi Ear Candle Therapy

What is Hopi Ear Candling?

Hopi Ear Candling is also known as Thermo-Auricular Therapy. Ear candling has been used for thousand of years by many civilisations, Egyptian, Chinese, Aztec, Tibetan, Mayan and American Indian cultures. The practice was brought to the west by the native American Hopi Indians of North Arizona. (Hopi means “peaceful people”).

When the candle is burning, a light suction action is created. This is known as the “chimney effect” and the movement of the flame creates a vibration of air in the candle which generates a massage-like effect on the eardrum. This has an effect of regulating ear pressure. The warmth of the flow stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems and increases immune defence.

Hopi Ear Candling is a pleasant, relaxing and non-invasive treatment to enhance the state of health to the ear, nose, throat and sinus areas of the body. Not only is the treatment beneficial for the upper respiratory tract but also for the circulatory and lymphatic system, making it a whole body treatment. It is a safe and gentle treatment for ear wax removal, and a good alternative for people who have found syringing uncomfortable.

Hopi ear candles are hollow tubes made from natural ingredients of organically grown flax, honey extracts, sage, st john’s wort and chamomile.

Flying and Ear Candling🛬

Are you flying this summer but suffer with pressure pain during take-off and landing? Try Ear Candling up to 48 hours before flying to help ease the symptoms so you can sit back and enjoy your flight!

Changes in air pressure due to flying or diving can lead to a feeling of pain and pressure in the ears as the eardrum bulges towards the area of lower pressure. Whenever the air pressure of your surroundings changes, the air pressure inside your ear needs to adjust. To keep air pressure inside and outside of the eardrum equal, we have “drainage” tubes (the eustachian tubes) which connect the middle part of the ear to the back of the nose and throat. When an aeroplane is descending, the surrounding air pressure becomes higher nearer the ground and this pushes the eardrum inwards. The pressure inside the middle ear needs to rise rapidly to relieve this, by opening the eustachian tube and lowering pressure inside the ear to equalise with the outside pressure. If there is any blockage of the eustachian tube, air is prevented from entering the middle ear, the eardrum becomes stretched and more tense causing pain.
Our ears produce small amounts of fluid which normally drains down the eustachian tubes. Yawning, chewing or swallowing helps open the tube to allow air into the middle ear. Problems occur if the tube doesn’t drain efficiently and is blocked with mucus causing congestion.
If there is congestion in the ear due to an ear infection, throat infection, allergies or any condition which causes extra mucus in the eustachian tube, this can prevent your ears from equalising the pressure effectively. This leads to a build-up of pressure where ears feel blocked, painful and can cause hearing to become muffled.

How can Hopi Ear Candling help?
The warmth of the candling helps the eustachian tube to function properly by allowing the eardrum to regain its correct tension, helping to balance the fluids in the ear and to help release any congestion. This allows air to pass more freely in and out of the ears via the eustachian tube.

 

What are the benefits of the therapy?

Hopi Ear candling works on both physical and psychological levels and is a cleansing programme for the whole body, not just the ears.

  • Stimulates and improves lymphatic drainage to the head and neck helping to eliminate waste material from the body.
  • Improves blood flow to the head and neck, increasing distribution of oxygen and nutrients to nourish the tissues and encourage healing.
  • Alleviating headaches and migraines
  • Improving symptoms of tinnitus
  • Reducing symptoms of hayfever and rhinitis
  • Relieving sinus congestion
  • Easing and preventing glue ear in children
  • Relieving pain/pressure when flying or scuba diving
  • Relieving colds, flu, sore throats by clearing congestion in the ear and throat
  • Improving hearing by softening and loosening ear wax
  • Alleviating earache by reducing inflammation of the ear canal
  • Helping problems with snoring by easing congestion of the upper respiratory airways
  • Reducing the symptoms of Meniere’s disease and vertigo
  • Revitalises the whole body
  • Relaxes and soothes and so reduces stress and anxiety
  • Rebalances energy flow to the body
  • Helps clearer thinking by increasing alertness and concentration

What happens during a treatment?

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A FUlLY CLOTHED TREATMENT 

During a Hopi Ear Candling Treatment in our Stirling Clinic, you will be placed in a comfortable position on your side with your head supported by a pillow. The Hopi candle will be gently placed just inside the ear and lit, and the practitioner’s hands are placed lightly over the ear to steady the candle. You may hear a slight crackling or fizzing noise as the Hopi ear candle burns and you may also feel a pleasant warmth around the ear, head and neck area.

Each candle takes about 10-13 minutes to burn. The candle is only allowed to burn within 4 inches of the end of the candle and has a plug inside to prevent anything going into the ear. After both ears have been treated, a gentle facial massage, including lymphatic drainage, is carried out, paying particular attention to the sinus areas.

How does the treatment feel?

Hopi Ear Candling is very gentle and feels wonderfully relaxing, warming and soothing. You may feel gentle warmth and a “wave-like” sound in your ears. It does not hurt and many clients fall asleep during the treatment. The treatment takes approximately 40 minutes.

When should it be avoided?

Although anyone can be treated with Hopi ear candles, there are conditions when they should not be used.

  • Inflammation or infection of the ear (can proceed after 12 hrs of antibiotic cover)
  • Surgery on the ear within the last 3 months
  • Perforation of the ear drum
  • Lack of ear drum
  • Auricular cysts
  • If grommets or tubes are in place
  • Epilepsy

Anyone who is is receiving medical treatment for any ear condition should always consult their doctor first.

Frequency of treatments

The time frames will be different for each person. Often  one treatment is sufficient. Generally, after the first course of treatment, you would have your second treatment after one week, then the 3rd treatment 2 weeks later. Subsequent treatments will be as and when you need them. Monthly treatments will usually prevent recurrence of symptoms. For general health maintenance we would recommend every 4 to 6 months.

IMPORTANT NOTE : WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TREATMENT WITHIN 48 HOURS BEFORE FLYING 

This treatment is offered by Claire Spence and Andrea Lagunas