Ear candling procedure

What you'll need

- An assistant
- A foil-wrapped paper plate
- A damp towel
- A glass or bowl of water
- Scissors
- Matches
- One or two beeswax ear candles
- A pillow
- Soft lighting and relaxing music, if you like

The procedure

The person being candled should lie comfortably on their side with a pillow under their head. Sitting upright also works if that's more comfortable.

Place a towel over the side of the face, neck and shoulders. It can be slightly damp. Using a pen or pencil, make a hole in the centre of the foil-covered plate and rotate it until the candle fits snugly. Push the tapered end of the candle through the hole about one inch.

Place the tapered end gently into the opening of the ear. The person being candled should do this themselves and say when it's seated comfortably, sealing the ear canal. It should never be forced, and it should never hurt.

Light the wide end, keeping the candle vertical as it burns. If smoke escapes near the ear, the candle may need to sit a little more snugly. Keep talking to the person being candled so you both know everything is going fine.

Some crackling and ocean-like sounds are normal. Keep other noise to a minimum so the person candling stays relaxed.

When about an inch of ash has built up, cut it off with the scissors, keeping them level, and drop the ash into the water. Repeat until the candle has burned down to within two or three inches of the plate. The whole burn takes twelve to fourteen minutes. The person being candled removes the plate and candle, and the candle is extinguished in the water.

Afterwards, it's worth resting a while to get the full benefit. A good moment for a massage.

**Please note:** ear candles are not a medical device and should not be substituted for professional medical treatment. They are a simple, inexpensive home remedy sold for entertainment purposes, with no guaranteed results. Please use common sense and extreme caution, as there is fire involved. Children should never be allowed to perform the candling process. Beeswaxearcandles.com does not assume any liability for damage or misuse of this product.