The word incense is taken from the Nation word ‘Incendere’ which means ‘To Burn’. Incense is used as part of ceremonial and spirituals purpose as early as 2000BC mainly in Asian countries where Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism are mainstream religions. In these countries, the usage of incense is very high or you can say that it comes on a daily practice to manifest the presence of gods and remove the negativity from surroundings. In India Incense are famed as Agarbattis or Dhoop and it comes under the daily needs. Incense is also used for Yoga & Meditation and is known for the use of medicinal purposes on Aromatherapy & Ayurveda. Various forms of incenses are available in the market in the form of sticks, cones, coils, powders, rope, rocks/charcoal, and smudge bundles.
Based on the analysis, Incense is meant with the essential oils and aromatic plant materials which has a true source to improve the air around us and resulting in the form of a positive result in aromatherapy. Incense has been used for several years in rituals and adopted by many cultures in religious ceremonies. Aromatherapy is used in the treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system. Many aromas are used such as lavender, orange, saffron, rose, rosemary, lemon, sandalwood, almonds, perfume, etc. As per the research, the researcher has proven that sandalwood oil and Agar smoke give relief in cases of anxiety and stress-related disease.
Incense is the true source of peace and it positively affects the mind and body which can provide the healing benefits in aromatherapy. It also delivers amazing results on depression, anxiety, stress, and improving concentration. Incense is made from a mixture of wood powders, fragrant gums, herbs, spices, and resins and the composition of stick incense consists of 21% (by weight) of herbal and wood powder, 35% of fragrance material, 11% of adhesive powder, and 33% of a bamboo stick. Incense smoke is made by various gas products and organic compounds.
In the Vedic span, one more ritual was born which known as Havan and it was invented by Rishimuni. The Rishimuni’s logic behind the Havan to cleanse the aura of the surroundings and add positivity to the atmosphere. Ancestor states that the smoke of Havan hit the central nervous system of the human body with the help of the nose and it helps purify the human body and help to the prosperity in terms of mentally, spiritually & intellectually. It also helps to deal with anxiety problems which may be the signs of sorrow, disappointment, fear, increase in heartbeat rate, insomnia, lack of concentration, and sweating. In Ayurveda, the verse is saying NASA HI SIRSO DWAR Which means that the nose is the door to the head/mind.
Why Incense gives a negative impact on our health?
Nowadays we all live in a world where competition in the market is very high and companies are targeting enhancing the product performance and reduce the production cost with the help of adding the maximum amount of chemicals/substance into the product. In the market, Incense sticks are available with artificial chemical fragrance to reduce the cost of natural additives and these kinds of Incense are not helpful to reduce stress or anxiety. These Incense is burnt and is spreading the smoke in the surrounding which contains harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), etc. These kinds of gases/elements directly affect the human body/health.
