In India, an incense stick, aka agarbatti is an incense paste rolled or moulded around a bamboo stick; which is quite different from the incenses used in Nepal/Tibet and Japanese methods These are also found as cones or/and logs and Benzoin resin.
Vedic texts indicate the use of incense for camouflaging odours and to refresh the room/ air by creating a pleasurable smell and during meditations and prayers- as popularized by the medicinal priests.
Earlier, incenses were used for healing purposes during the first phase of Ayurveda- which was popularized in the early Hinduism and spread to the rising Buddhism – It was the Buddhist monks that introduced the incense making to Chinese.
You find different types of incenses in market today- some of them are low-quality incenses which causes more harm to our respiratory system.
Incenses are used for various benefits viz.,
1. Sanctification and Cleansing
Generally used for aromatherapy to fight stress, depression, anger and to soothe hyper-anxiety. Traditional fragrances like sandalwood, amber, sage, lavender are used for these purposes. Also, incense is believed to purify the atmosphere like it helps smother the scent of decay in funeral ceremonies.
2. Meditation & Prayer:
Burning incenses for praying and meditation helps in focussing the mind on praying or meditating. You can use the fragrance that you like and which helps you relax. Sage and Cedar fragrances have been used traditionally to purify people before ceremonial practices.
3. Sleep:
Incense does not only relieve stress and tension and affect moods and spaces, it also changes them.It also helps in arousing people- cinnamon incenses arouses males, while roses and jasmines help in enhancing romantic mood for females. Patchouli has a satisfying earthy quality that is great to balance the emotions and help you relax.
4. Medicinal Uses
Incenses are used in aromatherapy and some Ayurvedic practices. Incenses like Lavender, Rose, and Cinnamon help fight infections, relieves headaches and fights insomnia. the smoke from certain types of incense when hovered upon a wound actually helps the wound heal faster since the smoke can kill germs on the wound.
Preparation of Incenses in Home:You can also prepare an incense stick at your home- all you would need are;
• Bamboo sticks, Wood glue, Charcoal powder – burned coconut shells or burned tree barks, Sandalwood powder, fragrance oils like Sandalwood &/Jasmine &/ Rose &/ Lavender &/ Citrus or as per your interest.
• Now, mix the above ingredients- charcoal powder, sandalwood powder, wood glue preferred essential oil and little water to make a paste and then roll the paste onto the bamboo stick.
• Let it dry and the home-made incense sticks are ready to use. Alternately, you can also use unscented incense sticks available in market and soak the incense stick in the essential oil for about 20 minutes or till the incense are saturated, let them dry upside down in a mug, and they are ready to use.
By: Archa Dave
