Incense is a biotic substance made of plant materials and it’s burned for its relaxing aromatic properties. It comes in different forms such as sticks and coils and is often used by aromatherapists to treat depression and stress.
You can also use incense to improve the quality of your sleep. In this article, we’ll discuss how incense can help you sleep better and how to use it safely.
Does Incense Help You Sleep?
Yes, incense can help you enjoy a restful night’s sleep. It allows you to transform your bedroom environment and make it more conducive to falling asleep easily. It generates a pleasant smell that’s linked with relaxation, calmness, and a positive mood and it can increase your bedtime through the night.
Most organic products contain essential oils which can reduce anxiety and stress when inhaled. In addition, the NLM (National Library of Medicine) suggests that essential oils affect your sleep quality positively. Neroli, roman chamomile, and lavender essential oils are proven to help you sleep better.
Another scientific study published in the NLM suggests that exposure to pleasant odors can also improve sleep quality, especially in people suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Another benefit of using Incense is that it can increase the brain’s serotonin levels and it’s associated with improved sleep quality and mood.
You may also be interested in our article: Can meditation replace sleep?
How Long Should You Burn Incense Before Sleep?
Ideally, you should burn incense in your bedroom or any other sleeping area just for 20 to 30 minutes before you fall asleep. Make sure that you extinguish the incense stick or coil before you go to bed. A burning stick can cause a fire accident that can lead to devastating consequences. That’s why you must never leave incense burning overnight.
In addition, we also recommend you use all-natural incense that doesn’t contain any toxic materials. Otherwise, it’ll damage your lungs which can contribute to the development of respiratory problems and heart diseases.
Long-term exposure to the smoke that incense generates is also harmful to older adults, kids, pregnant women, pets, and individuals suffering from respiratory medical conditions.
Top Tips to Burn Incense Safety
As mentioned earlier, you must never go to sleep with incense burning. Other than that, you should also use the following tips to ensure your safety.
Place Incense in a Safe Spot
The best way to burn incense sticks is to use a secure holder. It’ll keep the stick in place and prevent it from falling on the carpet or any other flammable material. Most holders come with a flat area where you can add some water. It prevents the hot ash from igniting the surface underneath.
If your holder doesn’t have that area, consider placing it on a plate filled with water. Make sure that you keep the burning stick away from combustible materials like furniture, curtains, and lampshades. Additionally, it’s also critically important not to hang clothes over the burning stick of incense.
Use Organic Incense
Mostly, incense is made of all-natural ingredients and natural scents. However, some manufacturers also use synthetic materials and chemicals to increase the fragrance and burning duration. While these products can offer a better smell and save money, you should avoid using them.
That’s because they contain toxic materials that can be extremely dangerous to your health. In addition, the smoke these products generate can also contain carbon monoxide which is extremely dangerous.
Therefore, you should always opt for incense made of organic ingredients to minimize your exposure to these harmful substances. They might cost you more money but they’re worth the price.
Ensure Ventilation
Even if you use all-natural incense, it’ll create gas products and particulate matter that can lead to health problems, airway diseases, and air pollution. Therefore, you must never burn an incense stick inside a cupboard or a closed room.
Make sure that your room is well ventilated in order to improve the air quality of your room. Open doors and windows to keep the particulate matter and gas products from accumulating in your sleeping area. We also recommend you use no or low smoke products to mitigate the release of dangerous substances.
Benefits of Burning Incense
Other than helping you with sleep, burning incense brings many other benefits to the table as well, including the following.
Enhance Creativity and Learning
Interestingly, incense can improve your mental health and creativity significantly. You just need to make sure that you choose the right fragrance to freshen up the atmosphere of your sleeping area.
According to studies, the smell of roses during sleep can boost your learning skills and memory. If a person is exposed to the smell of roses while sleeping or learning, it can increase their learning success by 30 percent.
Germanium, lemongrass, ylang-ylang, citrus scent, and aloeswood are some other fragrances that are associated with improved learning and creativity. So, you can burn incense that offers any of these fragrances in your room before going to sleep.
Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Pleasant fragrances can also reduce anxiety and stress by regulating your blood pressure and heart rate. Not only does it improve your mood but it also helps you get to sleep quickly.
Some scientific studies also show that incense contains compounds that act as antidepressants and promote relaxation in humans. It’s the biggest reason why professionals use incense in aromatherapy to treat patients with anxiety and depression.
Can Minimize Insomnia Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, the incense fragrance (based on essential oils) can improve the sleep cycle and quality. It acts as a natural mood stabilizer and natural sedative that can minimize the symptoms of insomnia and increase the deep sleep duration.
It can also increase the levels of serotonin in your body which not only helps with sleep but can also improve digestion and mood. It’s especially helpful for those people who have difficulty sleeping and need to take sleeping pills to fall asleep.
Final Words
Burning incenses is a great way to improve and freshen up the atmosphere of your sleeping place. It can help you enjoy a good night’s sleep and wake up with a fresh mind and body in the morning. However, you must never leave incense burning while going to sleep to ensure your well-being and safety.