Incense Effects

A popular ritual in many cultures and religions is the burning of incense. It has been used for centuries to help clear negative energy, encourage spiritual growth, and create a calming and relaxing environment. While the exact effects vary from culture to culture, there is one thing that is universal – incense is known to stimulate the brain and influence our mood.

Inhaling incense smoke can trigger respiratory symptoms and contact dermatitis. In addition, it may trigger chronic inflammation in the lungs and liver, according to a study published in 2016. This is due to the body processing incense smoke particles into metabolites that cause oxidative stress. Moreover, it has also been linked to inflammatory diseases such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Incense incense can contain a variety of substances such as tree resin, essential oils, wood powders and loose herbs. The type of incense that is burned determines what chemical compounds are released into the air. For example, ointments made from the resin of the Agarwood tree (oudh or bahkoor) contains a large amount of essential oils that produce strong aromas when burned. However, other types of incense such as Arabic mix (ma’amoul) and Indian spice incense (joss sticks) contain a higher level of chemicals such as dyes and fragrances, which increase the exposure to harmful chemicals when burned1.

When incense is burned, the combustion of these substances emits particulate matter, gas products and organic compounds into the air. These compounds can trigger air pollution and health problems. Among these are respiratory disorders such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, bronchitis and asthma, aggravated cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory allergies and irritant dermatitis.

Besides the air pollutants, incense smoke contains volatile organic compounds such as musk ketones and musk xylenes, musk ambrette, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diethylphthalate (DEP). These compounds are cytotoxic to lung cells and can trigger an inflammatory response. When exposed to ma’amoul incense smoke, rats showed signs of oxidative damage including changes in the structure and cell organelles of alveolar pneumocytes.

Inhaling incense fumes can also affect the brain and cognitive function. Studies have shown that long term exposure to air pollution can cause accelerated mental decline and a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and vascular dementia5.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the impact of incense on our health. For starters, it is important to avoid burning incense with synthetic fragrances, which are known to be the most toxic. Instead, try to opt for natural incense such as frankincense and myrrh. Furthermore, it is crucial to make sure the incense is well ventilated when it is burning. Additionally, opt for smokeless incense rather than the resin incense sticks that are most likely to release more air pollutants. Additionally, if you do choose to burn resin incense, avoid using charcoal briquettes as they will also emit harmful chemicals when burned. In addition, burning incense in a room that is well-ventilated can significantly reduce the levels of air pollutants emitted during incense burning.