Why is it prohibited to extinguish candles by blowing on them?

Greetings,

Extinguishing a candle by blowing can bring a person to danger, as it is stated in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 318) that one who extinguishes a candle with their mouth is at risk of illness (specifically, the illness known as epilepsy). This is also mentioned in the Chuppat Eliyahu Raba (Gate 3).

Some have written that the reason is because a candle represents the soul of a person (Proverbs 20:27), and when one extinguishes the candle with their mouth, it is as if they are removing the soul before its time (as noted by Rabbi Meir Mazuz in his comments on the Ben Ish Chai Part 3, at the end of the book, page 248).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs