Burning incense has been a common practice in China since 2000 BC, often used for religious practices.
People from ancient China used various plants and herbs such as sandalwood and cinnamon as incense (viaHeddels).
The purpose for burning incense varies.
Some individuals alsoburn sage for cleansing and healing.
Whether burning incense for religious use or relaxation, the practice can have a negative impact on your health.
Researchers linked incense smoke to respiratory problems.
The smoke contains pollutants that can be harmful to people.
Hence, inhaling it can cause inflammation in the lungs.
Coughing and sneezing while breathing in air with incense smoke could mean that the harmful pollutants entered your body.
Compared to cigarette smoke, incense smoke contains more cytotoxic and genotoxic properties which leads to cancer.
Therefore, burning incense can be more dangerous thansmoking cigarettes(viaScience Daily).
Other problems from burning incense includetriggering allergiesand irritating the eyes.
The smoke can be too harsh for young children and the elderly.
People with sensitive skin may experience skin conditions, such as dermatitis or hives.
Some experts believe that incense smoke can also affect cognitive functions (viaNature).
