Introduction
Incense sticks also called agarbattis are fragranced sticks used from ancient period by people all over the world. The evolution of incense stick could be from the burning of aromatic woods in the primitive period. As mankind gained civilization and became more religious, these fragranced agarbattis played important role in daily rituals.
Ingredients for Incense Sticks
A good incense stick is made from natural ingredients like camphor, clove, sandalwood, kasturi manjal, saffron, sweet smelling flowers like rose, jasmine, green jasmine, oils of fragranced flowers, and aromatic woods. Another important material used in incense is medicinal herbs, which helps to create soothing atmosphere. The binding materials like Gum Arabic and Charcoal have oxidizers which help in burning the agarbatti.
The incense sticks burn evenly when the ingredients are blended in right proportion. Each material plays an important role. Excess
of water in the incense mixtures will result in uneven burning of the incense stick. Right proportion of oxidizer should be used in gum binded incense. Excess of oxidizer will burn the incense stick too quickly giving less fragrance.
Incense Sticks and Religion
The use of incense stick is recorded in Old Testament, the Vedas, and other ancient books. Agarbattis were commonly used in different places of worship like churches, monasteries, mosques, and temples. Incense was widely in countries like Egypt, Greece, China, Japan, and India.
People belonging to different religion used agarbattis in their ritual worship. Offering to God was made by lighting these agarbattis as it purifies the atmosphere. The refreshing fragrance of the incense stick spreads into the air to make a serene
atmosphere helping the devotees to have calm frame of mind. The soothing and purified atmosphere helps in meditation.
Therapeutic Properties of Incense stick
The therapeutic benefits of incense sticks are recorded in ancient books. It was believed that aromatherapy cures many diseases. The medicinal herbs used in incense sticks cures nervous problems, sleeplessness, constipation, depression, and stiffness. The natural ingredients like saffron and sandal wood improves blood circulation, cures skin disease, eases asthmatic breathing and cough, reduces fever and inflammation, and alleviates depression.
Mood and Incense Stick
The fragranced sticks play an important role in improving the condition of psychological disorders in human being. People suffering from depression feel better because of the pleasant smell. The pleasant fragrant uplifts the mood and makes people more agile by reducing stress and anxiety. Incense stick reduces the body odor. It also relieves body aches and pain.
