Incense

Email this page to a friend

Want news about Incense and more e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms...How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph. D., and Jacqueline Nardi Egan See book keywords and concepts

In virtually every age and culture, people have tried to please and appease their gods, saints, and even demons by burning fragrant incense. The nose had a prominent role in the Bible: according to the book of Genesis, God created humankind by blowing the "soul of life" into Adam's nostrils. Later, Jacob asked God to send humans a sign so they would know when they were fatally ill, giving them enough time to repent before dying. Jacob's wish was granted: God created the sneeze. No wonder ancient Israelites believed sneezing portended a medical disaster.

The True History of Chocolate Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe See book keywords and concepts

Also included were clay vessels and lacquered gourds, as well as plant products, such as chillis of various kinds, beans, sarsparilla, maize, liquidambar (a plant of the witch hazel family) and copal (resin) incense. They also brought to court receptacles of beaten chocolate; as far as we can tell, this marked the debut of chocolate in the Old World, and we can only hope that Philip politely sampled the exotic beverage at this historic moment. These are the facts, as we presently know them.

The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants, in a Quick-study, One-stop Guide Brigitte Mars, A.H.G. See book keywords and concepts

For a wish to be granted, for example, it can be inscripted on a bay leaf, which is then burned as incense. A sprig of bay placed under a bed pillow is said to enhance clairvoyance. And to ensure their continued union, lovers may pick a twig, divide it in half, and each keep one half. Bay in Myth Mythology recounts that Apollo relentlessly pursued the nymph Daphne until the gods had mercy upon her and turned her into a bay laurel tree. Apollo was inconsolable and decreed that the bay tree would remain green all year round.

Other Uses Burdock has been used as a protective agent to dispel negativity when burned as an incense.

When burned as an incense it helps dispel love that is not returned. The juice of the fresh plant can be rubbed on the body to enhance clairvoyance, make enemies friendly, attract love, and offer protection against enchantment. Constituents Vitamin C, potassium, sulfur, zinc, glycosides (ver-benaline, verbenine), essential oil (citral), mucilage, saponins, tannins Energetic Correspondences • Flavor: pungent, bitter • Temperature: cold • Moisture: dry • Polarity: yin • Planet: Sun/Mercury/Venus/Saturn • Element: earth Contraindications Avoid during pregnancy, except during labor.

Other Uses Calamus has been used as a strewing herb and in incense and sachets for its pleasant aroma, and the essential oil has been used to flavor pipe tobacco. Mongolians planted calamus near watering holes to purify the water for horses. Native Americans were known to hold a piece of calamus root in their mouths when running long distances to increase their endurance. In large amounts the root has psychoactive effects; the poet Walt Whitman wrote many poems while under its influence.

The dried herb can be burned as an incense, while the plant can be used as a strewing herb. In the garden, basil acts as a natural insect repellent; in the home, keeping a pot of basil on the table repels flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! David W. Grotto, RD, LDN See book keywords and concepts

Rosemary is also used in funerals and other religious ceremonies as incense. Where Is Rosemary Grown? France, Spain, and the United States, specifically California, are the main growers of rosemary. Why Should I Eat Rosemary? A large number of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant activity have been identified in rosemary that inhibit oxidation and bacterial growth. Home Remedies Rosemary tea is often used to ease headaches. In olden days, sprigs of rosemary were used to ward off "evil spirits" and nightmares.

Plants of Longevity, The Medicinal Flora of Vilcabamba Rainer W. Bussmann and Douglas Sharon See book keywords and concepts

Peel burned as incense in ceremonies Usos / Uses: Escorbuto, Dolor de estomago, Presion alta, Fra-gancia, Mal Aire - Scurvy, Stomachache, High blood pressure, Deodorant, Bad Air / Mal Aire Ruda Ruta graveolens L. Familia / Family: RUTACEAE Partes usadas / Plant part used: Toda la planta, fresca - Whole plant, fresh Administracion / Administration: Topico - Topical Preparation / Preparation: Como Emplasto bajo las axilas, calentado al natural. Para Bafios y Frotaciones: 2 cucharas en 1/21 de Aguardiente o 1/2 cuchara en 1/21 de agua - As poultice under arms, heated naturally.

The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World Lynne McTaggart See book keywords and concepts

Use candles, soft lights, and incense, if you prefer. Some people find it helpful to create an "altar" of sorts, as a focal point, with objects or photographs that you find inspirational or particularly meaningful. Even if you are not at home, you may find that you will naturally "enter" your intention space by visualizing it whenever you want to send an intention. Unless you live in the mountains and can open your windows to clean mountain air, you also may want to install an ionizer in your space.

The True History of Chocolate Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe See book keywords and concepts

Clad in specially prepared robes and jaguar pelts, and adorned with collars and bracelets of apple-green jade, the corpse was laid to rest on a bed or litter, amid sacred smoke from copal incense and music from conch-shell and wooden trumpets, rattles, and beaten turtle carapaces. Near the body were placed pottery dishes, bowls, and cylindrical vases which we now realize held the food and drink that the ruler or noble (or his wife) was to enjoy in the abode of the dead.

The Cure Within: A History of Mind-Body Medicine Anne Harrington See book keywords and concepts

In the United States, in contrast, where yoga is secularized and widely seen as a health practice, people seem to feel that it can't be effective unless they burn incense and light candles. The religious roots of some of mind-body medicine's most striking narrative themes account for some of its extraordinary success in our time.

The True History of Chocolate Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe See book keywords and concepts

To solemnize it they went to some plantation belonging to one of their number, where they sacrificed a dog, spotted with the color of cacao, and they burned their incense to their idols and offered them iguanas of a blue color, and certain feathers of a bird, and other kinds of game, and they gave to each of the officials a spike of the fruit of the cacao [presumably a cacao pod].27 Ethnohistoric accounts point to the widespread, perhaps even pan-Maya, use of chocolate in betrothal and marriage ceremonies, particularly among the wealthy.

According to the hieroglyphic text, specific numbers of incense lumps and cacao beans are to be offered. Cacao also appears in the far less artistic Madrid Codex. In one scene, an unidentified young god squats while grasping limbs from a cacao tree (the quetzal bird flying above holds a cacao pod in its beak); in the associated text, the usual kakaw phonetic compound is found. The final reference in the Madrid depicts four gods piercing their own ears with obsidian lancets, and scattering showers of precious blood over cacao pods.

Mixe-Zoquean loan wotds of considerable cultural significance are found in other Mesoamerican languages, such as the terms for paper and copal incense, and it is now generally thought these were borrowed from the highly-civilized, Mixe-Zoquean-speaking Olmecs during the apogee of their influence over less advanced cultures. It so happens that "cacao" is another of those loan words from Mixe-Zoquean.

The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants, in a Quick-study, One-stop Guide Brigitte Mars, A.H.G. See book keywords and concepts

It is also sometimes burned as incense or prepared as a bath herb for spiritual purification. The powdered root can be used as a deodorant. Constituents Essential oils (busnesol, cadenene, cedrol, dodecenol, nerolidol, torreyol), araliasides, panaxosides Energetic Correspondences • Flavor: pungent, bitter • Temperature: cool • Moisture: dry • Polarity: yang • Planet: Mars/Saturn • Element: air Contraindications Diabetics should consult with a qualified health-care practitioner before using this herb, as it may affect the amount of insulin they need.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces Joseph Campbell Joseph Campbell See book keywords and concepts

As his body was adorned with all the good signs and marks, there arose from the pores of his hair and from the palms of his hands all sorts of precious ornaments in the shape of all kinds of flowers, incense, scents, garlands, ointments, umbrellas, flags, and banners, and in the shape of all kinds of instrumental music. And there appeared also, streaming forth from the palms of his hands, all kinds of viands and drink, food, hard and soft, and sweetmeats, and all kinds of enjoyments and pleasures" (The Larger Sukhavati-Vyuha, 10; "Sacred Books of the East," Vol. XLIX, Part II, pp. 26-27).

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest Dan Buettner See book keywords and concepts

Gozei lit a few sticks of incense and set them down in front of an ancient photograph of a sullen-looking peasant couple. A ribbon of smoke curled upward and filled the room with the smell of sandalwood. Again, I seemed to disappear. For the next ten minutes she recited a series of prayers bowing toward the altar. Then she sat back down and smiled. "Do you see what's going on here?" Craig asked me. "This is what we call ancestor veneration. Older Okinawan women have great respect for their deceased ancestors. They believe that if they make the proper offerings in the HOW MUCH SUN?

PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition Thomson Healthcare, Inc. See book keywords and concepts

Is H15 (resin extract of boswellia serrata, "incense") a useful supplement to established drug therapy of chronic polyarthritis? Results of a double-blind pilot study. Z Rheumatol; 57:11-16. 1998. Shao Y, Ho CT, Chin CK et al. Inhibitory activity of boswellic acids from boswellia serrata against human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture. Planta Med; 64:328-331. 1998. Sharma ML, Khajuria A, Kaul A et al. Effect of salai guggal ex-boswellia serrata on cellular and humoral immune responses and leucocyte migration. Agents Actions; 24:161-164. 1988. Singh GB, Singh S & Bani S.

The Green Tea Book Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews See book keywords and concepts

Delicately scented incense wafts through the tea room. The guests are offered a light meal. After a ritual involving the serving and eating of this meal, the guests return to the waiting room while the host cleans up the remains of the meal and prepares the tea. At the sound of a gong, the guests return to the tea room and watch the host heat a kettle of water and whisk green tea powder into water in a bowl and transform it into a thick tea. Each guest tastes the tea, praises the flavor, wipes the rim of the bowl, and passes it to the next guest.

Alternative Medicine?: A History Roberta Bivins See book keywords and concepts

On virtually every count, all four describe the moxas—the pellets or cones of a fibrous vegetable substance and the use of incense to light them—and the process of moxabustion identically. The physicians' accounts are much more detailed and use some technical language, but these are differences in degree rather than kind. Therefore, we can fairly say that laymen and medics saw, recorded, and transmitted the same material practice.

Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Picture an ancient Egyptian temple. incense is burning, infusing the air with frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. A cadre of priests anoints the faithful with scented oils. Many of these pilgrims are already covered with various scents from their aromatic baths and perfumed cosmetics. And when they return to their homes, many of them will burn juniper or thyme to freshen the air and ward off evil spirits. The Egyptians were among the first to indulge in aromatherapy. The same botanical knowledge that helped them embalm their dead was also used in daily life.

The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Cinnamon is also often used in incense. Cinnamon is available either as cinnamon sticks (in its whole quill form) or as ground-up powder. Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylan-icum (Ceylon cinnamon), and Cinnamomum aromaticum (Chinese cinnamon) are the most popular of the more than two hundred varieties of cinnamon. Many consider Ceylon cinnamon to be "true cinnamon," while the Chinese variety is known as "cassia." While both are relatively similar in characteristics, featuring an aromatic, sweet, and warming nature, the flavor of the Ceylon variety is more refined and subtle.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Used in many perfumes and in incense for its aromatic properties. Guggul, the standardized extract of the Indian mukul myrrh tree, lowers both cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Nettle Flowers, Phytochemicals: Acetic acid, beta- (Urtica dioica) leaves, carotene, betaine, caffeic acid, ferulic roots. acid, lecithin, lycopene, p-coumaric acid, scopoletin. Nutrients: Calcium, copper, fatty acids, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfur, zinc, vitamins B-|, B2, B3, B5, C, and E. Acts as a diuretic, expectorant, pain reliever, and tonic.

The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals Leslie Taylor, ND See book keywords and concepts

In the Amazon, jatoba's aromatic copal resin is dug up from the base of the tree and burned as incense, used in the manufacture of varnishes, used as a glaze for pottery, and is employed medicinally. Indians in the Amazon have long used the resin in magic rituals, love potions, and in wedding ceremonies. Although the name Hymenaea is derived from Hymen, the Greek god of marriage, it refers to the green leaflets that always occur in matching pairs, rather than the Indian's use of it in marriage ceremonies.

Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health Joseph E. Mario See book keywords and concepts

SAGEBRUSH (Artemisia tridentata) For sweat-lodge incense; for heavy feeling in the eyes, forehead, nose root, or cheekbones; for conflictingfeelings; dyslexia, learning disability; rids unwinnable situations (for redheads esp.); for respiratory disorders. •SAGUAROCACTUS (Camegiagigantia). Fortheheart,cleansblo(xisugar&tnglyceride^^ •ST. IGNATIUS BEAN (St. Ignatia amara) Has strychnine poison (See under Nux Vomica). Homeopathicremedyforaraiousornervousheadache,erraticemotions(3x). •ST. JOHN' S WORT Leaf and Flowers (Hypericum perforatum) Guttifera fami ly.

Food Plants of the World: An illustrated guide Ben-Erik van Wyk See book keywords and concepts

Thyme appears to have been burnt like incense by the ancient Greeks. It has a long history of use as medicinal and culinary herb and is cultivated in many parts of the world. Parts used Fresh or dried leaves. Cultivation & harvesting Plants are easily grown from seeds or cuttings. It prefers alkaline soil. Uses & properties Thyme is one of the basic herbs used in cooking and is an essential ingredient of stuffings, sausages, meat, poultry and fish dishes. It is added to soups, stews, lentils, scrambled eggs, tomato dishes and salads.

Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century Alex Steffen See book keywords and concepts

The future doesn't think like North Americans do: the future is unfolding in places that have mobile phones but still rely on the arrival of the caravans, that sell computer chips in souks and bazaars, that burn sandalwood incense in five-hundred-year-old temples but broadcast video-game championships on TV. A bright green future will smell of curry and plantains, soy sauce and chipotle, and will sound more like Moroccan rap and twangy Mongol pop than Mariah Carey.

The Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell Luca Turin See book keywords and concepts

This is the land of the resins: incense, myrrh, storax.* Neither solid nor liquid, they are unloved of perfume factory hands because of their treacly stickiness, which makes them awkward to handle, and they usually sit forlornly in grimy drums at one end of the factory, like surly exotic beasts. I hesitate to use the word 'spiritual' when applied to molecules, but whereas musks were merely plush and sensuous, woods and especially woody-ambers and ambers have a radiant, otherworldly quality.

Handbook of Medicinal Plants Amarjit S. Basra See book keywords and concepts

Interestingly, exotic substances—that is, substances coming from regions at the edge of the world, themselves characterized by their proximity to the sun according to ancient cosmology and geography—have the highest number of occurrences: myrrh appears 87 times, cumin 72, incense 45, and silphium 45. This fact throws a new light on the origin of Hippocratic medicine and, in our case, therapeutics. Traditionally considered as a creation of Greek culture, if not one of its highest achievements, it probably included practices imported from the East, that is, Egypt, Persia, and the Near East.

page 1 of 5 | Next ->

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalNews.com/np/index.html

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of this NaturalNews Naturalpedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.