I've heard that it is very unhealthy to burn insence....I suppose they mean the carcinegins (sp). But just how bad is it really? I burn it everyday.
Of course any kind of smoke particles in the air are sorta bad, regardless whether they're from cigs, wood smoke, insense or anything else. Or even dust. Our lungs work best when they're clean. But I wouldn't know if incense has anything in it that's worse than other 'particles' -I'd think they tested the different compounds that determine what it smells like for being carcinogens, but on the other hand, since you're not smoking, inhaling or taking it in directly, maybe the rules wouldn't be so tight.
It's probably bad for the environment but so is farting... Don't worry, I'm sure whatever bad side effect it may have is miniscule....but don't qoute me on that.
Or if you have a breathing disorder like chronic bronchitis or asthma. Or if you have a new baby. My ped, said in no uncertain terms NOT to burn incense around babies. Anywhere in the same house. Anything that put particulate matter into the air increases SIDS risk, in theory. We switched from an open wood fireplace to manufactured wax based logs when Sage was born. Daddy also had to take his smoking material outside, as any particulate matter in the air is really not good for babies. I used to love patcholi, sandalwood and frankensece incense.
I find that adding fresh air keeps the smokiness down. I was ordered to stop burning it by a throat specialist back in the 80s. I stayed away for a year and now only burn it with a cracked or more window.
I kept it out of rooms with kid for three years. That meant burning when we were on the porch/at the park, over night in the living room, when it was dad visit day. We shared a bedroom, so I began using powdered insence before vaccumming. It worked. Also, I mopped the floors with a final rinse of vinegar with essential oils.
I found a loophole!!!!!!!!!! When you burn incense, put the stick about a foot away from an A/C intake vent in the house. The smoke gets sucked up into the intake vent, goes through all the filters, and then gets blown back out and evenly distributed through out your house! All the incense smell you can handle, none of the smoke! (Don't forget to change your A/C filters regularly though. You should be doing this anyway)
