Reading Meagan Holub’s How to Make A $100,000 As A Massage Therapist got me thinking. She tells a story about an experience with ear candling. I am not going to say what it is, but she’s gutsy. I am not even going to give my opinion on ear candling, or then again, maybe I will. When I was 21, and a new massage therapist, I used to ear candle.
Why not? In school they gave us at least 2-4 hours of instructions and the benefits sounded pretty good.
One day early in my practice, I got curious and burned a candle alone. I did not like the results, so I immediately took it off the menu. I couldn’t do it anymore. My commitment to professional ethics was not going to allow me to tell my clients “That is wax that got sucked up from your ear”.
I still have people who ask me if I “candle”. Truthfully, a lot people love it, especially when they think you are removing pounds of earwax from their ears. Some people swear by its results, and I think that is great for those people. It is relaxing. The crackling noise is like your own little fireplace in your ear.
However does it soften ear wax and pull it out of your clients’ ears? I would have to say “no”.
Does your liability insurance cover ear candling? Many don’t. Most don’t like the idea of open flames next to your clients’ heads.
Is ear candling within our scope of practice? Eh… pretty iffy in my opinion.
So, today I have a few YouTube videos today for you to enjoy.
From our “experts” at expert village
Ear Candling in The Kitchen Experment
College Kid’s Having Fun with Ear Wax-Warning-Swearing!
Give me yours thoughts and opinions massage therapists. Do you use ear candles? Did you quit? What do you say to your clients if you candle? Have any great success stories like you pulled some tar out of a former roofer’s ear (heard that one already).
~Ivy
Hi, I love the article. Do you have to have a license in ear candling to preform it? Or will a LMT certification work?
Hello! Just ran across this and thought I’d leave my experience. I was trained by a mentor at a young age, we use fire retardant fabrics or blankets and wet towels. I’ve never once burned myself but I assume that takes finesse and detail. Same as glass cupping. However, I have done many regimens of war candles for myself and for others. The results are always phenomenal. I usually do two to three to six in each ear depending on the client. And like I said, pheNomenal. I have thyroiditis and it automatically took the swelling down regularly. I’m not the only one. To isolators, clogged ears, persistent itching in ears, headaches, neck pain. It’s interesting. Most people who complain of the effects of ear candles come from
People who haven’t experienced it very much first hand. Or they stop at one which usually just barely begins the process. Hope this changes your mind. As our ancestors have used this technique since the dawn of time. I imagine if your perspective was correct, it would not have endured health fads and phases until the year 2019.
I want to say that I just found your blog today and I love it! I’m a pretty new MT, just graduated in May. I actually didn’t have candling as a part of my curriculum. It was mentioned that some therapists offer it and that was about all.
I’ve heard about candling before, but I never tried it or researched it. I’ve been asked once if I offer it, and I said no, I didn’t know much about it. After checking out these videos, I’m convinced they are… not legit.
Do you have any advice on how to tell a client to look into the legitimacy of candling? If asked why I don’t do it again, I’m not sure how I would answer it delicately. I would never want to make a client feel foolishness or condescension, but I do feel it’s important to educate clients and be honest with them.
Hi Veronica,
That is a great question. When clients ask me about candling, I often will tell them that I do not offer candling because it is not covered by my massage liability insurance (most do not cover it). That way they do not feel bad. Then you can go more into education. I always do tell clients that I have had it done and it is very relaxing. But, from what I have seen and in my professional opinion, that I do not believe it is wax from my ear that is being drawn out.
Just tell them that you are being honest about the benefits. This is just part of being an ethical practitioner.
Direct clients towards videos (you can use these links). I think they are pretty convincing.
Hope that helps. Please stop back, and good luck on your new career!
Thank you, that’s very helpful!
loved this post, keep it up