History of Ear Candling

Hopi Ear Candles

The history of ear candling is surrounded by colorful and mythical tales that have subsisted through oral tradition; however, these are undocumented and unsubstantiated. These fables are written down by the ear candling manufacturers and self-appointed ear candling experts who sell or disperse this misinformation to the general public.

The owner of Biosun, Udo Leshik, claims to have learned about ear candling from the Native American Hopi Tribe. Udo Leshik met with Martin Gashweseoma in 1992. However, at that time Martin Gashweseoma was no longer a member of the Hopi Tribe. Regrettably, Udo had met Martin during a time of strife and survival for him and this contributed to the violation of the Hopi tribes Rights. However, this did not stop Udo from using the Hopi name, in violation of Treaty and Hopi Law, for his brand of ear candles and for marketing purposes.

There has never been any authorization or permission within the recognized and official Hopi Tribe elders, members and organization to use the Hopi name or supposed Hopi techniques given to Udo or anyone in association with ear candles.

As a matter of fact, the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office states their policy as follows:

The Hopi people desire to protect their rights to privacy and their intellectual property rights. Due to the continued misrepresentation and exploitation of the rights of the Hopi people, guidelines were established to protect the rights of present and future generations of Hopi people. The Hopi Tribe requires that any entity whether private or commercial wishing to engage in research, publication, or recording activities on the Hopi Reservation first obtain a permit from the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, located in the Honahnie building in Kykotsmovi, AZ.

As of this date, there has been no permit granted to Biosun to use the Hopi name, especially for commercial profiteering.

The Hopi Tribe, which is a very poor and devastated tribe, has asked Biosun to stop using their name illegally but they have been ignored by Biosun. Since the Hopi Tribe is indigent, they have no recourse available to them except to respond to the claims that Biosun has made with the following statement:

The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office is not aware of Hopi people ever practicing “Ear Candling.” Biosun and Revital Ltd. are misrepresenting the name “Hopi” with their products. This therapy should not be called “Hopi Ear Candling.” The history of Ear Candling should not refer to as being used by the Hopi Tribe. Use of this false information with reference to Hopi should be stopped

Biosun has placed a mural from the Desert View Watchtower next to Martin Gashwesoma in many of his marketing pieces to represent the use of ear candling in the Hopi Tribe. Biosun states that the picture is a “coloured wall mural in the Hopi tower Grand Canyon.”

This picture is not part of the Grand Canyon but instead was created in 1932 by architect Mary Coulter and constructed by the Fred Harvey Company.

According to the National Park Service of the United States of America: The mural is one-quadrant of a 4 quadrant mural painted by Fred Kabotie in 1932 at the Desert View Watchtower (constructed by the Fred Harvey Company and designed by famed architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter). In her 1933 book entitled “Manual for Drivers and Guides of the Indian Watchtower at Desert View and its Relation, Architecturally to the Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest,” the image displayed is one of the father giving prayer sticks to his son. The son is about to leave on a journey down the Colorado River in search of the snake people. The mural is part of the snake legend story of the Hopi people. The prayer sticks (feathers) are commonly depicted as part of Hopi customs.

For the complete story of the snake people, please visit: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-HtmlLegends/The_Origin_Of_The_Hopi_Snake_Clan-Hopi.html

Many people also incorrectly believe that Ear Candles came from the Egyptians, Mayan and Aztec cultures. These stories, which may or may not be true – and depends on your belief structure around reincarnation – have been channeled in Sedona, Arizona by Eleanor Bucchi. https://coningworks.com/channels.htm Great stories - but are they true? I cannot prove them to be, so I could not include them as evidence of ear candles origins in my Dissertation.

Traditional Ear Candling

Ear candling has been in existence for at least two to three generations that are only verifiable through oral testimony. Currently, industry leaders are unsure of ear candlings’ origins and the effective application thereof, even though they are aware of the fact that ear candling has been relied upon for the past few generations to help children with ear infections.

Many shared stores of Italians, Polish, and Spanish descendants using different types of materials and wax to create ear candles to use when one was under the weather.

• Italy- Cheese Cloth
• India- Papyrus Reeds
• Mexico- Newspaper
• America (Native Americans)- Corn Husks

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