Many may not realise this, but incense has been around for a very long time. Ancient cultures and civilizations used incense for ceremonies, meditation, and general aromatherapy and it’s no surprise that various types of incense continue to be used throughout the world for similar reasons. Throughout this article, we discuss the benefits of incense and why you should be making it a part of your daily routine if not doing so already.
What is incense?
Incense is a method of burning hot aromatic substances in order to produce a soft, pleasant fragrance. Incense usually includes dry, aromatic spices such as frankincense, myrrh, and scented candles and pine cones. According to an estimate, there are more than 100 different types of incense available, including backflow incense cones, throughout the world.
Incense is used for many purposes; it can be used for both religious and secular reasons, and it can enhance mental clarity and help boost your mood. With many different types of aromas available, you can choose a scent that your heart and mind will be comfortable with.
The history of incense and why it’s so popular
Incense has been around for over 12,000 years, from the Egyptians to the Chinese, and many other cultures have used incense in different parts of the world. An abundance of evidence exists that incense has been used as a practice in the East for thousands of years. It is believed that the tradition was brought to the East by the Sumerians who planted the first ever incense plantations. It is thought that the use of incense dates back to 6,500BCE (ca. 3500 BC), with the usage still in use in the East today.
Benefits of incense: Boost your mood
The primary reason why incense works wonders for you is that it works to improve your mood and to relax you. Burning incense simply calms the mind and promotes a sense of wellbeing in the body, like you have had a good long nap and then awoken refreshed.
A study conducted in 2007 found that burned incense can increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which plays a key role in regulating your mood. Studies also found that people who have chronic pain were significantly more relaxed after burning incense
Benefits of incense: Help relieve stress
The main reason that incense is associated with wellbeing is that the fragrance and aroma are said to act as a natural antidepressant. Certain scents improve your mood and regulate mood-making chemicals in the brain such as serotonin. The way in which these ingredients work is by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine. In addition to stimulating the release of these neurotransmitters, a natural substance called phytosterols also assists in the release of these neurotransmitters. This is because when these compounds, which are the same ones found in some grain seeds, are inhaled they form a lipophilic (fat-soluble) substance in the nasal cavity and throat.
Benefits of incense: Help you sleep better
Perhaps one of the most common benefits of incense is the effect it can have on your sleep. Incense is, in fact, one of the best ways to fall asleep quickly and easily.
For most people, they will be hitting their full night’s rest at around eight hours (this varies from person to person). If you feel like you’re not reaching the optimal level of sleep that your body requires, then incense is definitely worth a try. Be sure to checkout out our range of backflow incense cones and backflow burners.
Conclusion
Today we have highlighted the many benefits of burning incense, and we have explained the steps you can take to make incense a part of your daily routine. The benefits of burning incense are probably not something that you would have initially thought of as very important, but as you can see, it can make a huge difference!
If you’re looking for a new way to explore incense, be sure to check out our gorgeously scented backflow incense cones and backflow burners!