Ears are a pretty casual part of the body aren’t they? Every now and then we jazz them up with earrings or cover them with a pretty fur muff in the winter, but in general we don’t pay them too much attention. Whenever I fly my ears always pop no end on the plane and leave me with a slight echoing, distant muffle to my hearing for days after. During my period I get headaches and a build up of tension in my forehead and behind my eyes and in the cold mornings when I walk the children to school it feels as if I have an ice cube resting in my ear drum because of the icy wind. I’ve never had an ear care routine in place because as far as I know I don’t suffer from a build up of ear wax or problems with hearing, so I leave my ears alone and don’t clean inside them other than a splash of water in the shower. I guess it’s a part of my body that I take very little notice of.
The Belmore Centre Hopi Ear Candles
As I’ve never seen any of my own ear wax it’s rather exciting for me to see what amount the hopi ear candles can remove, if any. Much like an MOT on the car it’s always a good idea to keep your body in check and good ear health has many benefits. The forty-five minute appointment involves a Hopi Ear Candle being lit in each ear followed by a head massage and facial drainage, promising to calm the mind, soothe the head and ear pressure whilst feeling naturally relaxing and releasing new energies.
Pulling into the car park of the Belmore Centre which was clearly signposted from the main Stoke Mandeville Hospital road, I was pleasantly greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff at reception before being shown to a beautiful white stone waiting area filled with beauty products, soft lighting and soothing music. A few moments later I was greeted by Lauren, my therapist, and shown to a peaceful, cosy and quiet treatment room upstairs which was furnished with beautiful white and purple materials and sumptuous soft fluffy towels. After answering a few questions about my health concerning the procedures that I was about to have, Lauren showed me to the bed when I laid on my side before being tucked under some gorgeously soft and warm fluffy towels, closed my eyes and listened to the soothing sound of the music.
Lauren opened up the Hopi Ear Candle box and removed one long thin candle from the sealed packaging, lit the paper end and gently held it just inside my ear. I didn’t feel much or see what was going on as I lay with my eyes closed soaking in the warm cosy atmosphere and it was very relaxing. The only indication that there was a candle in my ear was from the gentle crackle of the flame burning and a light warmth on my face as opposed to the ear. I didn’t feel any movement from within as I was expecting perhaps a light suction, it wasn’t uncomfortable or unpleasant at all, I guess it felt similar to wearing earphones when listening to music, you know they’re there but it’s not a nuisance.
Lauren advised that the Hopi Ear Candles work by creating a soft vacuum which draw the ear wax up into the candle releasing any blockages and pressure. The amount of wax released will vary depending on how much is in each ear and should I want to maintain a healthy balance I could come back for another treatment in six weeks time, or the following week if I had a noticeable blockage. The ingredients boast a beautiful mix of honey, sage, camomile and saint john’s wart; and the only people who should avoid the treatment are certain hearing aid users, those with an ear trauma or perforated eardrum and pregnant ladies due to the content of saint john’s wart.
After around ten minutes my first candle had finish and burnt down to around five inches in length, for which I then turned to my other side for the second ear candle followed by a head massage and facial drainage. The head massage was divine, melting away the stress and tension from my facial muscles as I lay with my eyes closed in the cosy soft towels listening to the soothing music and could have quite easily fallen asleep. The tension from my jaw just evaporated in a sea of soft hand movements, pitter patter fingertips and gentle kneading, leaving my head and scalp feeling alive and revitalised. The facial drainage involves pressing and massaging around the eyes, nose and ears to release any blocked fluids, helping them to drain away whilst clearing the sinuses and peacefully completing the treatment.
A few moments later I peacefully opened my eyes in my own time and Lauren asked me if I would like to take a look inside the candles to see how much wax had come out of my ears, and I eagerly accepted through morbid curiosity. As she peeled back the paper to open up the first candle I was surprised by the amount of wax inside considering I’ve never suffered from a wax build up or even been aware of my ears, it hadn’t felt like anything had even moved inside my ear let alone the amount that came out. She advised me that my left ear had been blocked and the candle showed that it was now clear. And the second candle from my right ear, well, let’s just say I could have made a candle of my own from what came out!
My hearing is now crystal clear, moreso than I ever thought possible as I’m so used to hearing how I always hear, but now it’s far sharper and louder and has made me realise that proper ear care can really help me out. The tension from my head is gone and I feel so alert and invigorated which I never would have expected to have gained from having had my ears treated, almost like emptying out a dusty hoover bag I have a great sense of cleanliness and alertness. For a part of my body that I’ve pretty much ignored my entire life, I now realise how important it is to maintain proper ear care to avoid headaches, earaches, ringing and even to correct balance issues. I am amazed at how clean and entirely relaxing the treatment is, and at just £22.00 it was a lovely treat to have been pampered and have some me time. The Belmore Centre also sell Hopi Ear Candles for £10.00 which you can use at home and gift vouchers are available to treat a loved one.
You can visit the Belmore Centre’s website here and watch me having the Hopi Ear Candles in this video:
www.belmorecentre.co.uk
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