The "magical" properties of incense is understandable – the incense in its structure contains the same substances, and hashish. THC affects the brain, increasing serotonin.
The highest quality and is considered rare frankincense from the resin of the tree boswellia is dewy frankincense, which is extracted from the Lebanese cedar. Often deliver it in the form of hardened resin, chopped into small bars. Bruski was settled by monks in the powder, usually white or pink in color, then tasovalis sacs and diluted oils to desired consistency. Frankincense was allowed to rest for about a couple of hours.
Puffing incense
Puffing incense has long been regarded as a form of respect and offering of a special sacrifice to the Supreme being, God. So the people from time immemorial tried to appease a higher power, to offer prayer and gratitude to the sky.
Incense stood at the cradle of ancient Christianity, and the ancient Egyptians even mixed it with essential oils and used as a medicine. Today incense is isolated from the resin of pine trees and larches, is widely used in cosmetics and aromatherapy.
According to ancient Christian beliefs of a small pouch of incense, bound to a pectoral cross, was able to ward off evil and protect man from the evil spirit, that hence came the saying "running like the devil from Holy water".
The fight against evil
Church incense was considered the main product to identify demons and wizards, pounded to a powder and added to the drink, he put the evil spirits in a state of confusion and allowed the Orthodox Christians to accurately identify dangerous and suspicious individuals. Rites "hysteria," or translated into modern language of exorcism, the exorcism, is also accompanied by ignition of the same Church incense and the expulsion of the evil spirit from the patient through a crack necessarily ajar.
Incense in Russia carried out the so-called "opahivanie", when the reading of prayers and incense were stoned grooves to exclude morow and all sorts of misfortunes to the crop. It is the frankincense in ancient times in the treatment of respiratory diseases, in particular tuberculosis, as the frankincense put at the bedside of people suffering from severe pain.
There was even a special incense books in which were recorded all costs for Church incense, scrupulously lists churches, monasteries and their inhabitants, which were given in the use of valuable incense.
The smell of incense is a symbol of the higher, divine world, which is a major force in the confrontation with the devil, the lower worlds. As a powerful way of communication between the priest and laity in the performance of ritual worship and the reading of the prayers, the incense with a nice steaming it with frankincense today remains deeply revered religious tradition.