Myths and truths about incense |

How many people have stopped to think about the materials that make up an incense? Or the correct way to light it, for example?

While incense is usually sought after for its pleasant aromas and the energy proposals it presents – such as protection, harmony and prosperity – those who buy it end up ignoring or even ignoring other details about the product.

The use of incense has been part of human history since ancient Egypt.

In ancient Babylon, Persia, Turkey, Syria and Arabia, as well as in other peoples and cultures, incense had many purposes.

According to energy therapist Alessandra Navarro, people imagined that the smoke of incense was the only link between man, in the physical world, and the gods, in the spiritual world.

Therefore, they used it in religious ceremonies, mystical rituals, funerals, etc. ‘Incense reveals itself in humanity as a strong practice among religions of all times.

In India, for example, Hindus have used incense for about 6,000 years in rites of offering to the gods and in spiritual practices. To this day, it is the country that leads its production.

It is also worth emphasizing that since antiquity, incense has been known for its beneficial effects and its aromatic properties, which harmonize any environment’, explains Alessandra.

Incense can be used for therapeutic purposes

From an energetic point of view, therapist Alessandra Navarro informs that if the incense sticks are of good quality, they can bring many benefits to those who use them.

She teaches that products prepared as handcrafted as possible are generally more rustic and thick, in addition to bringing the specification of a 100% natural incense on the package label.

These products have a natural formulation composed of organic essences (not manufactured with petroleum derivatives), charcoal, natural resins, herbs, leaves and bark.

She even indicates the use of other types of incense, such as those made from massala – a natural Indian product, which mixes herbs and flavorings – and Japanese ones, whose ingredients are also genuine and of high quality.

‘A good incense is one whose aroma we can clearly identify. Through smell, when we inhale it, a reaction is immediately produced in our body.

And each smell has its particular advantages. When the product is of poor quality, it does not bring the benefits it proposes, exhaling only the perfume.

In addition, it can pollute the environment and harm the health of those who inhale the smoke’, warns the therapist.

According to Alessandra, incense is usually sought after by those who want to treat some emotional concerns.

The therapist states that feelings of fear, anxiety and insecurity, for example, can be alleviated with this product, especially through the use of Rose fragrances,

Chamomile and Jasmine. ‘Incense helps to harmonize and can calm down, giving peace and serenity. However, in order to deal deeply with mood issues, it is necessary to have a therapeutic treatment,’ he recommends.

Meaning of aromas and how to use

Faced with the different fragrances, sizes and even colors available on the market, Alessandra reveals that visual characteristics, such as color and shape, should be taken into account only for decorative purposes.

If you want to explore the energetic effects, you should pay attention to the aromas and specific properties of each type:

Lavender, Sandalwood and Rose: harmonization of environments

Breu-branco (also called ‘breuzinho’), Rosemary and Arruda: purification

Ylang Ylang and Patchouli: stimulants

Myrrh and Frankincense: Preparing the Environment for Meditation

Cinnamon: prosperity

Chamomile and Grass: peace of mind and stress relief

After choosing the right incense, Alessandra makes a point of clarifying some recommendations, starting with how to light it.

When we combine the desired objective with the moment of the first incense burning, the effect will be even greater, as our intention can create a force in the environment.

The person can walk around with it lit around the space, but the ideal is to fix it in a vertical position, until it burns completely’, details the therapist.

The tip, according to Alessandra, is never to use two or more incenses simultaneously, with different fragrances or effects.

“A good incense, if used together with another with the same objective, in the same environment, can even have its energetic effect potentiated. On the other hand, if products with different scents and proposals are used – such as a stimulating incense and a calming one – the desired effect may not be obtained.

The aroma is the driver to determine the energy that the person wants to expand – in the environment and in himself.

The use of two different aromas nullifies their proposals and effects”, says Alessandra.

Still according to the expert, any room in the house is suitable for the use of incense, because the product helps to balance the energies of the environment.

She indicates the fragrances of Rose, Chamomile and Sandalwood for bedrooms and living rooms, and the purifying aromas of Arruda, Rosemary and Sage for the bathroom and kitchen, for example.

The desktop can also receive the incense, as it lacks energy. ‘If it takes an increase in the flow of prosperity and money in the environment, Cinnamon incense is the right one.

If the place is charged with negative energies, then I recommend stronger incenses, such as Arruda and coarse salt.

For more affection and delicacy in communication, the scents of Rose and Jasmine are the best’, guarantees Alessandra.

Doctors warn of possible risks of incense

However, although incense can be used for therapeutic purposes, the product has some restrictions on its use from a medical point of view.

This is what guarantees immunologist and allergist Marcello Bossois, who is emphatic in stating that any type of fragrance is contraindicated in the case of people who have an allergic reaction.

‘The very strong smells are one of the most common examples of allergic substances, which not only cause a reaction in these people, but can also aggravate a case of allergic rhinitis.

The aroma is a component that irritates the nasal mucosa, making it more sensitive. This mucosa is a kind of membrane, with small cilia, which covers and protects the inside of the nose’, explains Bossois.

The location where the incense will be used is a factor that doctors call attention to. Pulmonologist Hugo Suevo explains that burning the product in a closed environment can cause, in allergic people, an impairment of the airways and, consequently, more serious problems such as asthma and bronchitis.

For this reason, otorhinolaryngologist José Geraldo recommends that the room be as airy as possible, to avoid coughing fits and possible breathing difficulties caused by the concentration of smoke.

Incense is not suitable for babies or the elderly

The negative effects of smoke on the body can be enhanced by the season of the year and the degree of pollution in the city where the person lives.

In highly polluted regions and times of low temperatures, for example, immunity decreases and allergic reactions are favored.

Cases of low immunity are also present in very old people and babies. These extreme ages, therefore, lead to respiratory and allergic complications.

‘For a baby, minimal exposure to any fragrance is ideal, because of the risk of the child being allergic. Already in the elderly, there is dryness of the upper airways, which causes greater sensitivity to incense.

These channels no longer have adequate protective mucus, causing any aroma to irritate them more’, clarifies immunologist Marcello Bossois.

Another factor that calls for moderation in the use of incense is the presence of toxic particles in the smoke. Homeopath Marcelo Guerra believes that prolonged inhalation is associated with an increased risk of cancer in part of the respiratory system.

He refers to a study carried out in 2008 in the United States, which concluded that the intensity and time of use of incense gave people a greater chance of developing the disease in the nasal passages and pharynx, for example.

‘For this reason, it is very important that the person seeks to purchase a product with the regulation of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which makes its use feasible’, advises Marcelo.

Incense can interfere with homeopathic treatment

According to homeopath Marcelo Guerra, people undergoing homeopathic treatments should also be aware of inhaling some fragrances.

‘Camphor or Menthol incense can harm the healing process because these scents inhibit the activity of homeopathic remedies.

Even when you want to interrupt the action of some Homeopathic medicine, Camphor inhalation is prescribed’ explains Marcelo.

According to otorhinolaryngologist José Geraldo, although incense is not indicated as a medication, those with the citronella fragrance can be used as repellents, warding off disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

For energy therapist Alessandra Navarro, it is essential to talk to the patient about the use of incense before starting any treatment.

‘It’s no use using incense if the patient doesn’t like it or is allergic to the product. Therefore, his opinion must prevail.

In cases like this, the essence in réchaud is the most recommended’, he suggests.