Incense is not only a room or air freshener with a pleasant smell, but it has many physical and psychological benefits and spiritual effects on our minds and bodies.
But you’re probably wondering:
What are the effects of Incense on body and mind? Is incense good or bad for your health? does incense kill germs, bacteria, and viruses?
When burnt, incense creates a thin layer of soot on the walls and ceiling as well as filling our rooms with a desired scent. The benefits of incense are due to this smoke which is achieved from the burning process. When the incense stick or cone is lit, particles from the material burn away creating smoke. This smoke consists mainly of minute solid particles and liquid droplets containing fragrant essential oils, aromatic compounds and other by-products which fill a room with a pleasant smell.
Here are the top 11 benefits of burning Incense:
1. Acts as an air freshener
The most common benefit of incense is that it acts as a natural air freshener or an odor eater with a pleasant smell, and keeps our homes or room fresh.
But it’s not just an air freshener.
Most people who never or seldom use incense often think of it merely as an air freshener and are unaware of the many other benefits it has to the mind and body. Even many regular incense users who use it regularly may not fully appreciate all its physical and psychological benefits.
2. Enhancing Concentration & Focus
One study found that students who had a scented candle lit near them were able to concentrate better on their work . They also scored higher in creativity tests when compared with other colleagues who did not have the benefits of incense present while working .Whether it is during study or at work, the use of specific incenses enables clear thinking and helps in developing a state of complete awareness. Monks recognized this benefit of incense long ago and used it during their meditation to clear the air as well as their thoughts. Jewellery makers and other workers who require intense concentration also often use incense to help them focus and to switch back and forth between working under the microscope and working away from it.
3. Stimulating Creativity
Similar to a fun song or beautiful scenery can inspire the imagination, a pleasing aroma can get the creative energy flowing. The many herbal scents of incense can transport one’s mind away to a tropical island, a rain forest, a high range, or any other earthly heaven. The smells of incense can put one in a dream-like state where the imagination is set free to roam.
4. Increasing Motivation and Positive Energy
Incense has long been used by religious and spiritual leaders to purify the air and the soul. Particular incense smoke has antibacterial, fungicidal, and insecticidal properties and, therefore, really does purify the air. It is said that the incense increases positive energy and drives away negative energy. The pure air is like health food for the brain and the body, resulting in an increased motivation and energy level.
5. Boosting Confidence
With increased focus, creativity, and motivation naturally comes increased confidence. When your body is relaxed, and your brain is firing on all cylinders, you’re at your best, and when you’re at your best, you’re at your most confident. Burning incense before a big date, a big test, or a big presentation can increase your confidence and, therefore, your chances of success.
6. Heightening Sexual Desire
Everyone knows that pheromones are nature’s aphrodisiac, which is why they are used in perfumes to attract the opposite sex. Similarly, by indulging the sense of smell, incense acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. The scents created by certain incenses stimulate sexual appetite and increase sexual attraction. Additionally, we’ve already covered that fragrance can boost confidence and enhance focus, and nothing attracts the opposite sex more than courage and focus. Therefore, even if one were to use incense by himself and then meet up with his partner elsewhere, his increased confidence and focus will naturally turn his partner on. If a couple uses incense together, the smells will kick in the pheromone effect, and they most likely will have a hard time keeping their hands off each other.
7. Preventing Infections
Many types of incense have antibacterial properties and can be used as a disinfectant to kill germs in the environment. In a recent Chinese study, incense was used to sterilize a hospital ward and was found to be just as effective as more conventional means of sterilization such as using steam. By keeping your environment sterile, you can prevent infections and diseases. Because many herbs, such as Myrrh, also act as antiseptics, gathering the smoke from certain types of incense and rubbing it over a wound may help the wound heal faster since the smoke can kill germs on the wound.
Does incense kill germs, bacteria, and viruses?
Though incense is thought to be a good disinfectant, the question of it killing germs, bacteria, and viruses is yet to be answered. It may or may not have any antiviral properties.
Will incense save you from coronavirus?
No, one should be careful in healthcare practices, since incense use is related to psychological or spiritual approaches to medicine. You should take other precautionary measures such as washing hands, wearing a mask, social distancing, sanitize your doorknobs, covering up when you cough and staying home if you are sick to keep yourself safe from COVID-19 and follow-up with a doctor in you have any symptoms.
8. Relieving Headaches
Our sense of smell is a direct path to the brain, and certain odors trigger an immediate response via the Limbic System. Distinct aromas stimulate the brain to produce essential chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, which cause feelings of happiness, relaxation, and contentment. For headache relief, certain incense aromas can help open the nasal passages, while others can lower blood pressure.
9. Fighting Depression
A study from an international team of scientists has discovered how burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain that alleviate anxiety or depression. Incensole acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent, was administered to mice and found to stimulate TRPV3, a protein which helps reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. The compound significantly affected brain areas known to be involved in emotions as well as in nerve circuits that are affected by current anxiety and depression drugs.
10. Reducing Anxiety, Tension and Stress
Monks and spiritual leaders well know the calming effects of incense. Certain incense aromas work to slow down the heart rate and soothe nerves. These calming effects help to relieve built up tension in the muscles, enabling incense also to be used as a muscle relaxer.
In the hustle and bustle of today’s world levels of anxiety are increasing all the time and those who are feeling anxious often seek non-medical help to treat their condition, and since incense sticks are a great way to treat anxiety naturally, they have been used for many years. Pine is considered to be the best incense for anxiety
11. Aids Fight Insomnia and Improve Sleep Quality
Having an improved sleep quality can be beneficial to us in many ways including helping us have more energy throughout the day while sleeping less hours since lights are not needed to fall asleep under its calming effects . You can experience this by lighting some incense before going to bed.
As a result of the calming effects of burning incense, incense can also be used to induce sleep. The sedative properties of incense make it an excellent natural treatment to aid insomnia. This list is not quite thorough from the full effects of scent that can have on the body and mind. There is a wide variety of plants and different parts of the plant used in incense, and each of these plants contains many different chemicals and compounds that affect the body. Inhaling these compounds is just another way of introducing them into the body, not much different than putting them into a pill form and ingesting them. The only difference is that inhaling them via incense has been done for thousands of years and is 100% natural, safe, and non-addicting. Therefore, incense should be considered as an effective remedy in treating such ailments as headaches and depression before resorting to prescription drugs. Because of all the benefits to the mind and body, it is wise to use incense regularly to maintain health and happiness.
12. Acts as a stress reliever
The benefits of incense include acting as a stress reliever by provoking memories associated with certain smells . Memories which make us feel rewarded, more relaxed and even emotionally comforted. By having scented candles lit during important meetings can help relieve tension levels between colleagues, creating a better working environment all round .
13. Helps you avoid passive smoking
If you don’t want to be affected by someone smoking around you or are quitting smoking, you can use incense to help avoid being around second hand smoke. The incense will allow you the ability to walk away from an area where people are smoking and allowing yourself not to be affected by it.
14. Detoxify the body & Soul
The benefits also include detoxifying both the body and soul . It removes all negative energy or unwanted entities from an area where this was burnt. When regularly used, it will keep your aura clean at all times, leaving you with a good impression on everyone around you under its positive influence.
You can also watch this video on the Benefits of burning incense.
So these are some of the main reasons why just about every religion and culture since the beginning of time have used incense for its physical and spiritual powers? Why tribal healers and physicians throughout history have used incense for its healing powers? Why monks have used incense for thousands of years for its concentration powers? Why artists use incense to inspire creativity, and why couples use incense to heighten sexual experiences.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT BURNING INCENSE:
Burning incense in the bible is mentioned as
Exodus 30:7-9
“Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. “When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. “You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering, and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.
The safeness and non-addictiveness are only true for 100% natural plant-based incense. Any incense that contains synthetic materials or is burned using charcoal may have undesirable effects on the body. Also, though incense is an excellent natural remedy, for more severe conditions or disease, please always consult a doctor and follow his prescriptions.
