Who woulda thunk it?

Burning incense as a means of combatting stress, anxiety and depression is the subject of a new study. An international research team studied the effect that frankincense has and found that it activated portions of the brain that have been little understood but are known to be involved in emotions and nerve circuits affected by anxiety and depression. The incense also activated a specific protein in the mammalian brain which plays a role in perception of warmth on the skin.

The study gives credence to age old practices of burning incense, not just as a symbolic tool but also to help relax and ease tension. The study will join the canon of work that will help scientists understand diseases of the nervous system, which is great news since the western world has an increasing number of adults being affected by depression and anxiety disorders. Using incense seems to have little side-effects which is always desirable in any form of “medication”.