It’s hard to say how some subjects creep into daily
conversation, but I have heard in the past and again recently about the
practice of ear candling as a safe remedy for ears plugged with wax. The theory is that putting a special candle
in your ear and lighting it will draw the wax out. It is also promoted as a remedy for earaches.
It may sound a little strange, but many people believe in
it. These candles and kits are available
at national pharmacies and discount stores as well as specialty shops. The Internet provides instructions on how to
make your own ear candles.
A website dedicated to the practice warns not to trust the critics and
skeptics. According to them it is a “therapeutic
relaxation technique similar to acupressure, acupuncture, and aromatherapy”
highly recommended to those “within the Holistic and Natural Health Community.” The practice dates back “many thousands of
years and has been found in nearly every culture since the beginning of
civilization” with “archeological evidence of stone pottery cones in antiquity”
for this purpose. In addition, it boasts
that “humans have been coning or candling for eons.”
The website goes on to defend the practice against its critics
saying that it is misunderstood as are many other “Alternative lifestyle
practices” that have been “passed down through the generations” and praises it
as another rediscovery of “ancient wisdom” as we “attempt to remain connected
to the teachings of our past civilizations.”
It goes on to question and criticize the findings of the FDA that there
is “no valid scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of
these devices for any medical claims or benefits.”
Well, it seems the FDA is not alone. They are even milder in their criticism of
ear candling than many others. WebMD
quotes Jennifer Smullen, instructor of otology and laryngology at Massachusetts
Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. "You
can actually lose your hearing from ear candling. I've had to treat bad consequences of ear
candling, including burns in the ear canal and on the eardrum."
Audiology.org notes the large number of websites on the
subject. “Many present reasonable and
rational information warning those contemplating this activity of nonexistent
benefits in tandem with significant potential for serious injury. The medical
literature has clearly demonstrated ear candling has often caused serious injury without evidence of benefit
(Zackaria and Aymat, 2009).” [Emphasis
added.] They conclude: “Ear candling is
dangerous (even when used as directed by the manufacturer) and serves no
legitimate purpose and there is no scientific evidence showing effectiveness
for use.”
The Mayo Clinic weighs in with further warnings. “Research shows, however, that ear candling
is ineffective at removing earwax. In fact, the technique can actually push
earwax deeper into the ear canal. Ear candling can also lead to: Deposits of
candle wax in the ear canal; Burns to the face, hair, scalp, ear canal, eardrum
and middle ear; and Puncture of the eardrum.”
Finally, a highly recognized ENT physician put together this
YouTube video to demonstrate that ear candling, when used to remove earwax does
exactly the opposite of what it is purported to do. The ear candle is placed in an empty glass
and lit. Instead of creating a vacuum to
draw the wax out of the ear, deposits of soot and wax from the candle form in the glass and on the inside of the tube. Adding more debris to the ear canal can be
dangerous, but the deposits inside the tube give the false impression that wax
was drawn out from the ear.
Here again we find trigger words: ancient wisdom, holistic,
natural health, alternative, reconnects with the past, and belief. These are sure ways to win over many who
inclined not to be skeptical. These
words sound nice and gentle and friendly, almost magical.
Science is so impersonal and objective.
All it takes is a recommendation from a neighbor, relative or a social
media contact, who says they tried it and it worked. That really means they didn’t hurt themselves
and experienced subjective feelings of improvement, possibly driven by the Placebo Effect. At this some people are
willing to throw out the research and warnings from professionals, or more
likely, not do simple Internet research on their own to confirm safety and
effectiveness. They trust unqualified
promoters of so-called ancient wisdom more that the doctors. (Do they only reject the use of leaches
because it can’t be traced to the Orient?)
I’m not trying to be a party pooper and condemn everything
alternative and natural. I’m just asking
that we raise our standards. Require
proof beyond the sample size of one or two and the feel-good hype associated
with these products and practices. In so
many cases, these are just more examples of “snake oil” that do nothing but
enrich the promoters while diverting money from practical uses like debt
reductions and saving for retirement, while in worst cases endangering the
patient.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Click again on the title to add a comment