Burning dhoop sticks is considered to be a sign of worshipping your deity and has long been a part of Hindu rituals. During a Big Puja or regular puja, incense is lit to represent a person's devotion to God. Moreover, natural incense sticks have many medicinal benefits. But like everything else in life, the good comes with the bad too. In this article, we share with you the benefits and drawbacks of using agarbatti and dhoopbatti for spiritual and medicinal purposes.

Benefits Of Using Organic Dhoop Sticks For Spiritual And Medicinal Purposes

There are several uses for agarbatti incense, including spiritual and medicinal ones. Agarbatti incense is frequently used in spiritual settings as part of meditation and prayer because it is thought to assist in establishing a connection with the divine.

Organic dhoop stick is used in medical settings to treat tension and anxiety. They can be used to relax your nerves. It is lit in bedrooms to help people relax and unwind. It helps to stimulate the senses, all the while relaxing the nerves, resulting in less anxiety.

Natural incense sticks also help with headaches and migraines. They can work in an unexpected way by relieving stress and clearing your mind. Some organic dhoop sticks with a pungent odour have therapeutic effects that can reduce pain and congestion. Some can reduce heart rate and palpitations, making you feel calm on the inside.

It can also be used to freshen the air and give a space a pleasant smell. Organic dhoop sticks have antibacterial properties that prevent illness by killing germs and cleansing your surroundings. It contains boswellic acid, which promotes healthy blood circulation to keep your body in good shape. Antibacterial qualities help to clean up the atmosphere and get rid of microorganisms.

Moreover, many people use incense sticks to improve their sleep because it helps them sleep better. It has strong odours that act as natural sedatives, provide a pleasant sensation to the body, and help in relaxation. Its scent promotes mood relaxation, which leads to better sleep.

Drawbacks Of Of Using Organic Dhoop Sticks For Spiritual And Medicinal Purposes

Here are some of the possible health issues that natural incense sticks can cause: 

Respiratory Infection

A recent study found that incense sticks pose a health risk. The findings demonstrated that lighting agarbattis inside the home produces air pollutants, specifically carbon monoxide. Smoke causes indoor air pollution, which can lead to lung cell inflammation, putting you at risk of respiratory complications. In some cases, people usually experience coughing and sneezing as a result of hypersensitivity caused by excessive smoking.

Asthma

Pollutants emitted by organic dhoop sticks cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs. When regularly exposed to these sticks, the sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde cause inflammatory responses like COPD and asthma.

Skin Allergies

Long-term agarbattis smoke exposure causes eye irritation, particularly in children and the elderly. Moreover, people with sensitive skin experience itching when they come into contact with pollutants & smoke on a daily basis.

Risk Of Respiratory Cancer

According to a study, extended exposure to agarbattis increases your risk of upper respiratory tract cancer. It also demonstrated that the risk of upper respiratory tract 'squamous cell carcinoma' is higher in smokers than in nonsmokers when incense is used.

Cardiovascular Health

Dhoop sticks can have a negative impact on your cardiovascular health. According to the study, long-term incense usage increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 10% and cardiovascular mortality by 12%. Moreover, these incense sticks worsen blood vessel inflammation and impair blood flow, all of which contribute to cardiac problems.

Neurological Issues

Increased headaches, attention deficit disorder, and amnesia were reported to be common neurological symptoms connected to daily incense stick exposure. Incense stick burning leads to poor indoor air quality, which raises blood levels of nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. The high concentration of these pollutants causes neurological issues as they affect the brain cells. 

Kidney Problems

When incense sticks are burned, they emit toxic smoke containing lead, iron, and magnesium, increasing the toxic load in the body. When chemical gases and particulate matter are inhaled, the load on the kidneys to completely remove toxins from the body increases, resulting in a variety of kidney problems. 

Conclusion

All in all, agarbatti has numerous advantages that contribute to its popularity in India. Many people prefer it because of its ability to purify the air, its health benefits, and its natural insecticide properties. Remember that burning natural incense sticks is completely safe when done correctly, and the effects last long after the smoke has cleared. When burning them, always keep a window open. Smoking can be harmful to your health. The key here is not to overuse them. Lighting one or two agarbattis per day at home may not be harmful to anyone.

We hope this article helps you in understanding the benefits and drawbacks of organic dhoop sticks for both medicinal and spiritual purposes.