Comments on: The Stupid, It Burns – The Science Behind The Dangerous Practice Of Ear Candling http://podblack.com/2009/12/the-stupid-it-burns-the-science-behind-the-dangerous-practice-of-ear-candling/ Science, Superstitions and Skeptical Life Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:18:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: podblack http://podblack.com/2009/12/the-stupid-it-burns-the-science-behind-the-dangerous-practice-of-ear-candling/comment-page-1/#comment-49862 podblack Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:55:53 +0000 http://podblack.com/?p=2178#comment-49862 People who RUN ear-candling companies should be ashamed of themselves. People who RUN ear-candling companies should be ashamed of themselves.

]]> By: Personal Failure http://podblack.com/2009/12/the-stupid-it-burns-the-science-behind-the-dangerous-practice-of-ear-candling/comment-page-1/#comment-49805 Personal Failure Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:06:41 +0000 http://podblack.com/?p=2178#comment-49805 Considering that Teh Hubby is battling massive ear infections that could result in tympanic perforations, I am horrified that anyone would even think, for a moment, that ear candling might be a good idea. Look, people, if you really do have a lot of wax in your ears, and you probably don't, ear wax serves a good and necessary purpose, go to an ENT. They will remove excess ear wax safely, without the risk of permament ear damage or being set on fire. Considering that Teh Hubby is battling massive ear infections that could result in tympanic perforations, I am horrified that anyone would even think, for a moment, that ear candling might be a good idea.

Look, people, if you really do have a lot of wax in your ears, and you probably don’t, ear wax serves a good and necessary purpose, go to an ENT. They will remove excess ear wax safely, without the risk of permament ear damage or being set on fire.

]]> By: AndyD http://podblack.com/2009/12/the-stupid-it-burns-the-science-behind-the-dangerous-practice-of-ear-candling/comment-page-1/#comment-49776 AndyD Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:40:11 +0000 http://podblack.com/?p=2178#comment-49776 I had several work colleagues recommend candling to me (before they got to know me very well). I'd never heard of it before but was immediately skeptical - or at least incredulous. Naturally I Googled it there and then, much to their astonishment. After I found the facts, two of them admitted it hadn't worked when they tried it, though they were pushing me to try it just minutes earlier. Some years later a friend mentioned he'd used it. I said it couldn't plausibly work - and was demonstrably dangerous. He replied that it felt nice just lying there and relaxing. No mention that it actually worked. I think there's some element in much of CAM of feeling better if you can convince others to try it - a bit like smoking and drinking. I had several work colleagues recommend candling to me (before they got to know me very well). I’d never heard of it before but was immediately skeptical – or at least incredulous. Naturally I Googled it there and then, much to their astonishment. After I found the facts, two of them admitted it hadn’t worked when they tried it, though they were pushing me to try it just minutes earlier.

Some years later a friend mentioned he’d used it. I said it couldn’t plausibly work – and was demonstrably dangerous. He replied that it felt nice just lying there and relaxing. No mention that it actually worked.

I think there’s some element in much of CAM of feeling better if you can convince others to try it – a bit like smoking and drinking.

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