Dharma Wheel

How is it utilised in Tibetan Medicine?

plwk wrote:How is it utilised in Tibetan Medicine?

There are many different formulas for incense on Tibetan Medicine.

However, there is one brand called sold under the name "Nirvana" which is actually the formula called Agar 31. It is used for Vata disturbances (i.e. high wind or rlung), insomnia, to induce calm, and so on. This can be crushed as used as an oral medicine as well (under prescription from doctor).

Properly formulated Tibetan incense is held to repel bhutas, and so on. In other words, it can be used for aromatherapy.

Properly formulated Tibetan incense is like good wine or ghee, it's medicinal value is enhanced by aging.

Interesting Namdrol...
Is incense effective for skin conditions like eczema or fungal infections?

plwk wrote:Interesting Namdrol...
Is incense effective for skin conditions like eczema or fungal infections?

Certain skin conditions induced by vata, rough, dry skin, for example, will be helped over all by a vata-reducing regimen. If it is pitta related, then burning sandalwood can be effective.

Sandal wood essential oil may be helpful for certain skin rashes; for fungal infections, try using refined sesame oil. Sesame oil has anti-fungal properties. But it depends on the dosha involved.

I'm concerned that frequent burning of incense may increase the risk of cancer. They say that the combustion produces carcinogens.

I have read that exposures to incense smoke may cause cancer particularly in children. We burn incense regularly. Should we be concerned about our children?

Kyosan wrote:I'm concerned that frequent burning of incense may increase the risk of cancer. They say that the combustion produces carcinogens.

I have read that exposures to incense smoke may cause cancer particularly in children. We burn incense regularly. Should we be concerned about our children?

The main point is to fill the room with fragrance, if you are offering incense devotionally. Therefore, I recommend you use an aromatherapy nebulizer.

You can then procure pure sandalwood essential oil, or agarwood, etc., add a couple drops to your nebulizer, and enjoy the benefits of the aroma and none of the downsides. You could even experiment with creating blends of essential oils for your needs.

A nebulizer works by creating water vapor via ultrasound.

Keep in mind that burning wood for fires, etc, also produce the same compounds. As well as cars, city traffic, etc.

As long as your house is well ventilated, you use vetted pure incenses from a reliable sources that uses no accelerants, etc., then I think then there is no additional risk to your children that is not already present from our toxic industrial environment as a whole.

plwk wrote:Interesting Namdrol...
Is incense effective for skin conditions like eczema or fungal infections?

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) works really well for fungal infections, dissolve it in alcohol to make a tincture to apply to the infected area. Its anti-fungal (fungicidal) capacities were known from ancient times, they used to burn it on charcoal and fill empty wine barrels with the smoke to prevent (unwanted) mould from forming. I don't know if guggul (Commiphora wightii) has the exact same properties or not.