The Professional Dilemma in Complementary Practice

When ‘Amateur’ becomes ‘Professional’ and a ‘Simple Procedure’ becomes a ‘Therapy’
© Colin W Addison

 

We all strive for perfection. At the very least, we seek to improve our techniques as part of our professional approach whether or not we are amateur or qualified. This is the caring nature of this highly service-orientated occupation in which we are all involved.

There are many products and procedures that have evolved from traditions originating in different parts of the world. Some have been accepted into so-called orthodox medicine and some will never be. Consider just one ‘homespun’ procedure generally called “Candling”, now, world-wide, a simple method of cleaning the ears and generally considered safe, so safe in fact it has been ‘adopted’ for in-home use.

Popular marketing methods prefer to provide a ‘seal of approval’ by claiming association with either a personality or a tradition associated with a tribe or locality. The purpose is to validate and endorse the product or service as the incentive to effect sales.

‘Candling’ in New Zealand was essentially a ‘homespun’ service based on ‘cones’ and ‘candles’ generally, but not exclusively, made using petroleum-derived paraffin wax. The use of beeswax, a much safer and more stable component, was uncommon even through the 1980s and early 1990s.

The introduction of the ‘Hopi Ear-Torch’ - at first imported in 1994 and subsequently manufactured to even higher standards in New Zealand - proved a highly-sophisticated therapeutic tool which quickly found favour with the professional fraternity. 1997 saw a spirited listener-originated, non-advertising discussion develop nationally via talk-back radio. This long-duration ‘discussion’ resulted in thousands of in-home users and many requests on health services. The fact that so many people of all ages were helped, or helped their own families, during such intensive use was an endorsement of the quality and safety of the product and its inbuilt safety features.

All relied on either their past experience in ‘candling’ or on the ‘user notes’ provided by this company. Essentially, the orientation was based on ‘traditional use’ which was not a sophisticated therapy. In fact, ‘candling’ was by law permitted only as “a simple method of cleaning the ears”.

The practice, in the hands of true professionals, became a therapy more aligned to proper medical methods and procedures. The use of sophisticated tools for inspection and suctioning, usually in association with sophisticated medical drops and massage techniques, bring positive and remarkable benefits and eliminate risk factors. An example of ‘risk’ was the recommendation that the ‘candle’ be held at a 30 degree angle rather than vertically during the procedure to reduce the possibility of detritus dropping into the ear canal. Suctioning is likely the most important action.

The point to be made here is that complementary practitioners enter an area where their practices may ‘encroach’ on perceived medical exclusivity. Similarly, while their sophisticated practices are to be commended, it is beyond the manufacturer’s or distributor’s permitted area of ‘advertising’ to make claims or promote them as a therapeutic device. So, however great the desire to improve, the restrictions applying to complementary methods and products make their publication imprudent and unlawful to boot; the only claim that can be made is they simply clean the ears. Hence the title for this brief discussion.

‘Ear Candling’ is illegal in both the USA and Canada with the reasons published on websites for the US FDA and Canada’s Department of Health with details of their testing regimes.

To address the need for excellence, an offer of one-on-one training to ‘therapeutic standard’ is available from a leading professional with a medical background and hundreds of hours of ear- candling experience. Contact the company in the first instance for contact details.

Colin Addison is Founder of The Blase Company (1988) Limited now trading as Nature's Star NZ Ltd

Enquiries may be addressed to Stella at naturesstar@xtra.co.nz