Two more points: ear candling should only be done if you are sure there is no infection, otherwise it can aggravate your condition and cause more pain. Secondly, when our son had ear wax problems, we learned it was because of a kink in the tube which normally allows it to drain. A chiropractor helped return it to it's correct position, and the problems ceased. When he was very plugged up, at the worst of it, he had only 30% hearing, the homeopath had him ingest mercury(tiny amount), which loosened the wax, and I then candled his ears. I don't know if I would still go for the mercury today, given what we know ...