incense and aromatherapy go hand in hand. Although modern day aromatherapy practitioners utilize the fragrant aromas of herbal incense to relieve and soothe, incense aromatherapy has been practiced since early times. The effectiveness of Herbal Incense in aromatherapy treatment is well documented.

Aromatherapy, in alternative medicine, is the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants or trees. In Incense Aromatherapy, medicinal aromas are used as inhalation therapy, hence the name Aromatherapy. Essential oils give a plant its fragrance and have been known throughout history for their healing effects on body and mind. Essential oils utilized in Incense are chemically complex—a particular oil may contain between 50 and 500 different chemicals—and have a wide range of pharmaceutical properties. Essential oils used in Incense Aromatherapy can fight bacteria and viruses; dilate or constrict blood vessels; act on the adrenal glands, ovaries, or thyroid gland; affect digestion; and serve as sedatives or stimulants.

Therefore, Aromatherapy is considered particularly useful for skin problems, including wounds and burns; respiratory problems such as colds, coughs, and sinusitis; the pain of muscular aches, arthritis, rheumatism, headaches, and migraine; and stress-related conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Aromatherapy is also used to relieve pain and stress in some European hospitals. Essential oils are applied to wounds to combat infection, and vaporized essential oils are sprayed to prevent the spread of airborne infection. Some essential oils commonly used in Aromatherapy include lavender for headaches, stress, and insomnia, and as first aid for cuts, burns, and insect bites; eucalyptus for colds and coughs; and peppermint as a stimulant, and for nausea and travel sickness.

Essential oils are usually administered through massage, baths, compresses, or inhalation (Aromatherapy). When used in massage and bathing, essential oils are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. When inhaled, the oil molecules stimulate scent receptors in the brain that, in turn, trigger a response in the part of the brain that influences heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance. Aromatherapy advocates believe that essential oils can have a marked effect on body and mind.

Ayurveda, the Science of Life, is the oldest extent medical science in continuous use. Ayurveda promotes health through gentle interventions that assist the living entity to recover and sustain a state of harmony. The effectiveness of Incense in promoting balanced mental states is universally recognized. Ayurvedic Incense wards of disease and promotes longevity. It harmonizes the dosas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and increases sattva, or purity. Daily use of Ayurvedic Incense purifies the air, removes negative influences from the environment, and increases prana (life force), peace, faith, and devotion.   continued