Research Database -
International Updates

Ears

Issue 19

SEELY and colleagues, Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Washington USA studied and evaluted the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ear candles for the removal of ear wax. They write that ear candles are a popular and inexpensive alternative health treatment advocated for removal of ear wax. A hollow candle is burned, with one end in the ear canal, in order to create negative pressure and draw out ear wax from the ear. If this is effective, significant savings could result from the use of ear candles. METHODS and RESULTS: Tympanometric measurements in an ear canal model demonstrated that ear candles do not produce negative pressure. A limited clinical trial with 8 patients demonstrated no removal of ear wax from the external auditory canal; candle wax was actually deposited in some of the ears. 122 otolaryngologists surveyed identified 21 ear injuries resulting from the use of ear candles. CONCLUSIONS: Ear candles are not beneficial in the management of ear wax and may result in serious injury.
Seely DR et al. Ear cancles - efficacy and safety. Laryngoscope 106 (10): 1226-9. Oct 1996.

COMMENTS: We invite readers and practitioners to reply with their own personal and/or clinical experience with ear candles, which are widely touted for the relief of a wide-ranging array of ENT problems.

FRIESE and colleagues, HND-Arzt, Weil der Stadt, Universitats Kinderklinik Tubingen compared conventional and homoeopathic treatments of acute otitis media in children within a prospective group study of 5 practising otorhinolaryngologists. METHODS: Group A (103 children) was treated primarily with homoeopathic single remedies - Aconitum napellus, Apis mellifica, Belladonna, Capsicum, Chamomilla, Kalium bichromicum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Mercurius solubilis, Okoubaka, Pulsatilla, Silicea. Group B (28 children) was treated with decongestant nose-drops, antibiotics, secretolytics and/or antipyretics (drugs to reduce fever). Comparisons were made by symptoms, physical findings, lenth of therapy and number of relapses. The children in the study were between 1-11 years. The discrepancy in the numbers between groups was due to the children with otitis media being primarily treated by paediatricians using conventional methods. RESULTS: The median duration of pain was 2 days in group G and 3 days for group B. Median length of time of therapy for group A was 4 days; group B 10 days. Antibiotics were given over a period of 8-10 days; homoeopathic treatments were stopped after healing. For group A, 70.7% of children were free of relapses within a year and 29.3% had a maximum of 3 relapses. In Group B, 56.5% were without relapses; 43.5% had a maximum of 6 relapses. 5 children in Group A were given antibiotics, while 98 responded solely to homoeopathic treatment. No side effects of treatment were observed in either group.
Friese KH et al. Acute otitis media in children. Comparison between conventional and homeopathic therapy. HND 44(8): 462-6. Aug 1996.

COMMENTS: These results offer great encouragement and the research is crying out to be replicated by other clinics. In the above study, the results of the homoeopathic treatment were clearly superior to conventional treatment, with a greater proportion of children remaining free of relapses within 1 year.