Common Ear Problems

There is no scientific evidence to support the claims of any health benefits derived from ear candling, but some clients have found it has eased some of the symptoms of their ear problems. This page on common ear problems is for information purposes only, and it is advised to consult your doctor in the first instance if you think you may be suffering from any of the following conditions.

Tinnitus is a constant unpleasant ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling in one or both ears and is often difficult to cure. It is important to rule out treatable causes, such as build up of wax in the ears or side effects associated with some drugs, especially high dose aspirin or quinine.

“I've had Hopi ear candling many times before, but the larger candles that Jane uses are far more effective. I couldn't believe how much better my ears felt afterwards!”

•  Impacted wax,
•  Acute or chronic Otitis Media
•  Otosclerosis in which the footplate of the stapes becomes fixed to the oval window (this normally rocks to and fro) due to the hardening of the bones of the middle ear.
•  Traumatic rupture of the tympanic membrane and dislocation of the ossicles by excessive force when syringing, attempting to remove a foreign body, a severe blow to the head or an explosion.
•  Haemorrhage to the middle ear.

•  Presbycousis deafness in old age, due to degeneration of the sensory cells of the organ of Corti. It is the high frequency sounds that are distorted.

•  Meniere's disease , a chronic condition due to the intermittent raising of pressure of the endolymph, which is fluid in the scala media of the cochlea, and the progressive destruction of the organ or Corti, and/or excessive build-up of fluid in the semi-circular canals. Symptoms include recurrent episodes of incapacitating dizziness, nausea and vomiting lasting for several hours. Periods of remission vary from days to months.

•  Trauma caused by exposure to high pitched loud noise for a prolonged period, or a fracture of the base of the skull, involving the petrous or hard part of the temporal bone.

•  Vascular changes in which the blood supply to the inner ear is interrupted.

•  Labyrinthitis due to general virus diseases including mumps, measles, chicken pox and influenza (these viruses may destroy the organ of Corti) or to infection spread from the middle ear. Sinus infection of the inner ear may cause labyrinthitis with severe vertigo and/or sudden hearing loss. This can be common with air travellers.

•  Disease of, or injury to, the auditory nerve.

•  Genetic abnormality
•  German measles in the first 3 months of pregnancy
•  Acute lack of oxygen at birth, or soon after birth

Infection is the most common cause of ear disorders. Infection may occur in the ear canal leading to otitis externa this could be caused by staphlococcus aureus (boil), bacteria, fungi or allergic reaction to dandruff, soaps, shaving foam, shampoos, hair sprays or hair dyes. It may affect the middle ear, causing otitis media, which often leads to perforation of the eardrum.

Vertigo is dizziness associated with a disturbance of balance, which occurs in the semicircular canals of the inner ear.

Glue Ear or Secretory Otitis Media is a persistent middle ear effusion (build up of fluid within the middle ear), often due to infection, is the most common cause of hearing difficulties in children. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked because the nose has been swamped with mucus then fluid cannot drain away from the middle ear. This is called secretory otitis media or glue ear – it dulls the hearing and causes an unpleasant ‘popping' sensation. The ears may also feel blocked and itchy. If children have had this problem since they were tiny they may not complain because they assume that's just the way ears are supposed to feel. Deafness is the first signal that something is wrong.


Text courtesy of Jill Fraser except * and image courtesy of www.naturalypure.com.