Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Incense?How to Meditate With IncenseBenefitsPotential RisksTips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Incense?
How to Meditate With Incense
Benefits
Potential Risks
Tips
Close
There are many differentways to meditate. As long as a meditation technique provides the opportunity to quiet the mind and relax the body, there are manybenefits of meditationfor health and stress relief. One strategy that some people enjoy is meditating with incense.
This article explores some of the benefits of meditating with incense and how to do it. It also discusses some of the research behind the potential risks and benefits of this type of aromatherapy.
Incense is a type of aromatic substance that is burned to fill the air with a fragrant scent. It can refer to both the material that is burned and the aroma that results.
Incense has a long history of use for a wide variety of purposes. While it is sometimes used purely for aesthetic purposes, it is also often used in religious or spiritual practices, including while meditating.
There are some purported benefits to meditating with incense, but also some potential risks.
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The following technique combines the benefits of aromatherapy with the simplicity offocused meditation. It is a simple meditation that can be helpful for those who are new to meditation or find the practice to be challenging.
You may want to spend only five to 10 minutes a few times a week at first. As your ability to focus and remain present grows, lengthen your sessions and try the practice more often.
While the main idea of this meditation is to stay in the present moment, your thoughts will wander at first. As this happens, rather than being critical of yourself for losing focus, congratulate yourself for noticing that your thoughts have crept in and redirecting your focus to the present.
Practicing this type of meditation regularly may help you feel less stressed in the present moment and build greaterresilienceto future stress.
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Benefits of Meditating With Incense
Proponents of incense suggest that it can produce a number of beneficial effects, especially when combined with other mind-body practices such as meditation. Some of these possible effects include:
While incense is often used in meditative and spiritual practices, there is not a great deal of research on the impact and potential benefits of this form of aromatherapy. Research has shown thatscent can be a powerful cue for triggering memories.An incense scent that reminds you of a pleasant, relaxing, or joyful memory may help evoke those feelings in the present.
In one older animal study, researchers found that a substance found in frankincense had psychoactive effects in mice. The substance created a response similar to that of an antidepressant in areas of the brain associated with depression and anxiety.
Frankincense and myrrh also contain compounds that can produce an anti-inflammatory effect in mice.Such research suggests that the components of incense might be beneficial, but this does not necessarily mean that incense smoke may produce those same effects in humans.
RecapIncense meditation may promote some mind-body benefits such as improving focus and relaxation. More research is needed, however, to explore the potential effects of this practice.
Recap
Incense meditation may promote some mind-body benefits such as improving focus and relaxation. More research is needed, however, to explore the potential effects of this practice.
Potential Risks of Meditating With Incense
While incense is a popular daily activity in many parts of the world, research suggests that it is not without health risks. While more research is needed, some evidence suggests that incense smoke and its constituents can be harmful to health.
Potential adverse effects that may be connected to contact with incense smoke include eye irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, asthma, and nose and throat irritation. It may also contribute to an increased risk for respiratory problems, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and neuropsychological conditions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that burning incense can be detrimental to health and increases the risk of asthma, contact dermatitis, and cancer.
Tips for Meditating With Incense
There are steps you can take to get the most out of your experience of burning incense while meditating. The following tactics can help you enjoy the pleasant effects that incense may provide while minimizing the potential health risks:
Finally, if you have problems with burning incense (due to respiratory problems, for example), try a differenttype of meditation. You might also consider using an alternative to incense such as a wickless candle or essential oil diffuser.
RecapWhile inhaling incense smoke can be detrimental to health, you can take steps to lower the risks. Limiting your incense use and not inhaling the smoke can help, but you might also consider a different type of meditation if you are concerned about these risks.
While inhaling incense smoke can be detrimental to health, you can take steps to lower the risks. Limiting your incense use and not inhaling the smoke can help, but you might also consider a different type of meditation if you are concerned about these risks.
A Word From Verywell
Meditating with incense can be a pleasant way to enhance your meditation experience. You may find this approach particularly useful if you use scents that are believed to help promote relaxation, such as lavender and sage.
Being aware of the possible downside of using incense is also essential. Because inhaling smoke poses health risks, focus on only doing this type of meditation in a properly ventilated area.
9 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Kendra Cherry, MSEd
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