Massage therapists soothe aching muscles with oils, hot stones, and hands.

Acupuncturists relieve pain and encourage natural healing by inserting needles and applying heat at 2,000 acupuncture points.

Recently, some people are turning to ear candling, an ancient home remedy that may soothe ears and relieve pain and itching.

Ear candling originated thousands of years ago in places such as Egypt, China and Tibet as “a form of spiritual healing, to clear the mind and senses,” according to the book “Practical Guide to Ear Candling” by Russell Sheppard.

Now, the procedure is considered an alternative holistic medicine to “relieve symptoms of pain, itching, congestion and discomfort associated with eye, ear, nose and throat ailments,” Sheppard writes.

While the patient is lying in a horizontal position, a hollow candle coated with wax is placed gently into the opening of the ear and lit at the wider opposite end. The warm smoke that travels through the candle is meant to soothe the ear.

“Ear candlers originally thought the candle actually `drew out’ earwax through suction,” Sheppard wrote. “We now realize that very little, if any, of that residue in the candle comes from the ear.”

As a home remedy, ear candling has not been tested or approved by the Food and Drug Association and is not universally supported by physicians and the professional medicine community.

“Our doctors definitely do not support it,” said Julie Linder, medical assistant at McFarland Clinic, 1215 Duff Ave. Linder said the clinic has had several patients who suffered severe problems after attempting an ear candling technique.

“It’s supposed to suck the wax out, but it ends up pushing the wax farther down into the ear,” Linder said.

Linder instead recommended using a washcloth to wash the outside of the ear, or seeking the help of a physician.

Daniel Blum, otolaryngologist with Wolfe Clinic in West Des Moines, said he doesn’t know if ear candling is effective, but has had some patients who have experienced it. “I’ve had several patients who believe in it. They swear by it,” Blum said.

Blum compared the natural process of wax removal to a conveyor belt, with the wax migrating slowly out of the ear. He said using cotton swabs would just interrupt the process by pushing the wax farther back on the conveyor belt.

If ear problems do arise, Blum recommended a remedy of placing four drops of baby oil in the ear for seven to 10 days and using a piece of cotton to collect excess wax. He said there are also over-the-counter medications available to treat ear wax problems.

“From our standpoint, with a normal ear, most instances with ear wax take care of themselves,” Blum said.

Although it’s not a medical procedure approved by physicians, Sheppard writes that people can benefit from the ear candling technique.

“In many cases, someone could receive positive benefits and get some relief from pain and discomfort by using the ear candling process,” Sheppard writes.

The Internet has also aided in disseminating information on the practice. Many Web sites are available with information on the subject, or with ear candling supplies for sale. Web sites such as Wally’s Natural Products Web site, available at http://www.wallysnatural.com, offer disclaimers for customers.

Those interested don’t even have to go out of their way to experience the treatment – ear candles are available at Wheatsfield Grocery, 413 Douglas Ave., for less than three dollars.