In this progressive society, people are becoming more cautious regarding their mental and physical health. For therapeutic reasons, people meditate, do yoga, or use incense sticks to relax their minds. Incense sticks have existed for centuries and have their own place in the market. It has been widely used as an essential part of religious ceremonies in different parts of the world. It is now used to relax the mind or create a scented atmosphere at home. It is used for aromatherapy, too, and its use has increased significantly over time.
People do not pay much attention to whether burning incense can cause adverse effects on health. We shall look at certain points to validate whether incense smoke is bad or not.
The History & Use of Incense
We will discuss various aspects of this post, but we will look at incense history before that. Its certain age is not yet estimated, but it goes as far as the Stone Age. People often burned materials and found that different stuff gives a distinct smell. Its first appearance was mentioned in the 15th century Egyptian era, where incense was considered the Gods’ aroma and was used as a sacred offering.
It has become a part of religious practices and is widely used in Asian countries. It is so because it has spiritual connotations, and people believe that it keeps them safe from spirits. It is burnt in a Church, Mandir, and other holy places, whereas Buddhists used it for deity worship. Every culture and religion have a different use.
Besides, people also use it as an air freshener at home. Moreover, it is also used to create a soothing atmosphere during meditation. There are various scented incense sticks present which caters to the specific requirement of the user. You will also find CBD Box packaging Company at the store’s rack, which are the newest and effective way to experience calmness.
The Burning Process
In order to comprehend the various elements of incense smoke, we all should understand what an incense product contains. It is normally produced with plant substances, including wood, herbs, resins, and essential oils. You can burn them in the form of sticks or cones. It is considered a direct burning method; however, indirect burning comes in powdered or paste form. You can use such material on the top of combustible products, namely coals.
It is common to know that burning anything, including incense or tobacco, enables a combustion method. Concerning incense burning, combustion is a chemical reaction between the incense material, a fuel source, and oxygen that creates the smoke.
Is Incense Smoke Harmful?
People often smoke incense sticks at home. The smoke produced indoors is a big cause of pollutants, such as harmful gas and particles. It was observed that there are various kinds of incense products that have carcinogens, same as cigarette smoke. Many incense products were found to release carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and sulfur dioxide gases that can severely affect your health. It emits fine particulate matter in a massive amount that exceeds the standard air quality standards inside your place.
Incense sticks are often burned in enclosed areas with little to none ventilation point. It will amass the harmful substances at your home gradually. Regular burning will increase the chances of harm. It proves that incense smoking is more dangerous than most people think. You can minimize its use with windows open for proper ventilation.
The Effects of Incense Smoke on Lungs
It has already been established that incense smoke will release high levels of particulate substances in the air. These matters are injurious to health as they contain particles and chemical compounds that are harmful and not easy to inhale. They can enter into the respiratory tract and reach your bloodstream. Your lungs are not entirely safe from it.
It is associated with asthma, lung inflammation, and cancer, etc. You can also contract a higher level of respiratory cancer if your body is exposed to the incense smoke in the long run.
How to Minimize Indoor Incense Smoke Impact?
These are a few steps that you can follow to keep yourself safe from the negative impacts of incense smoke:
- Keep the windows and doors open to enhance the airflow.
- You should burn a natural, plant-based incense without the inclusion of harmful substances. It will reduce the air pollutants caused by its smoke.
- We would highly advise you not to burn the incense sticks if you have a lung condition or live in a high-traffic vicinity. It also depends on the damage that can be caused by incense smoke.
To sum it up, it can be seen in this article that incense smoke can cause potential harm to your body if it is not lighted up carefully. Avail the high-quality ones to fulfill your needs.