Mythbusters and ear wax

The TV show “Mythbusters”  recently tested whether “Just like Shrek, you can make a candle out of ear wax”. You can watch the clip on YouTube although it is not pleasant viewing!

What should we do with ear wax? It is a constant issue for kids wearing hearing aids and a concern for parents wondering how to remove the wax safely.

There are two websites that are worth knowing about if you are looking at particular treatment options for any condition.

• The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of health care readily available worldwide. The Cochrane Reviews are intended to help providers, practitioners and patients make informed decisions about health care and is always worth visiting if you are wanting some reliable information on a treatment option for a health care problem.
  
  
• Quackwatch is a nonprofit corporation whose “purpose is to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies.” This is the site to visit when you think a treatment sounds too good to be true – it probably is.

The Cochrane Reviews has one article on the topic of ear wax. " Ear drops for the removal of ear wax" by Burton & Doree. The review concludes that “Using ear drops to remove impacted ear wax is better than no treatment, but no particular sort of drops can be recommended over any other.”

The issue of war wax and candles leads to the topic of ear candling. Quackwatch has an article “Why ear candling is not a good idea” by Dr Lisa Roazen which is worth a read. Dr Roazen concludes,  “For most people, ear wax moves along the ear canal and eventually makes it to the outside, taking with it any accumulated dirt or other matter. Compacted ear wax should be removed by a physician or other health professional using legitimate instruments. Candling is both ineffective and dangerous.”

So it seems there are two things you shouldn’t try – making a candle from ear wax and ear candling.

And two recommendations on removing ear wax - ear drops for ear wax can be helpful and, if in doubt, always see your doctor.