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Sustainability

Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
January 24, 20240Comments

Medicine of the Evergreens: Our Greatest Winter Allies

In the heart of winter's icy grip exists a steadfast symbol of endurance and resilience – the magnificent evergreen trees. With autumn behind us, many plants have shed their leaves
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Sustainability
November 29, 20228Comments

Herbal-Minded Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season has arrived, and this is often a time when we think of giving something special to those we love and care for. However, the idea of picking
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Sustainability
April 14, 202210Comments

13 Aromatic Plants You Can Easily Grow at Home

Have you thought about growing a garden this spring? Now is a great time to start preparing! Whether you're a complete beginner, or a master in aromatic medicine making, there is
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Sustainability
November 22, 202119Comments

Being A Conscious Essential Oil Consumer – Resist the EO Marketers!

This holiday time of year, there are great deals everywhere and multi-level marketing networks working overtime to sell essential oils. Don’t get me wrong – essential oils are amazing aromatic
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
October 27, 20219Comments

Saving Spikenard: The Sustainability Struggle

Some might say that the words sustainable and essential oil can never be in the same sentence. Essential oils have dynamic health benefits, however, they’re also resource-intensive products. Hundreds to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Ritual
Sustainability
July 19, 20210Comments

Smudging: An Issue of Ethics and Sustainability

Have you ever scrolled past a social media ad with an image of someone burning a smudge stick of White Sage with the caption reading something like, “Say Bye-Bye to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
November 25, 20190Comments

A Distress Call from the Sacred White Sage Plant

Oftentimes when trends spread like wildfire around the world, there is a great deal of misinformation or lack of understanding around them. Unfortunately, many trends these days include the use
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Sustainability
August 19, 20190Comments

Incense & Aromatics for Mental Focus & Clarity

Do you experience issues with mental focus and clarity, brain fog, or trouble with your memory? The aromatic incense plants I talk about in the video above have been used
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Ayurveda
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
January 23, 20180Comments

The Ancient Divinity and Healing of Sandalwood

One of the most widely used metaphysical plants in the world is the renowned Sandalwood tree. The use of this sacred tree in spirituality and ritual dates back thousands of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
September 11, 20170Comments

Palo Santo – Holy Wood

Palo Santo (Holy Wood) has been used throughout Central America and many northern territories of South America for thousands of years for purification and cleansing of the physical, energetic, and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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5 Herbal Mocktails to Sip This Summer 🌿🍹 In our w 5 Herbal Mocktails to Sip This Summer 🌿🍹

In our world, herbs aren’t just a garnish; they’re the stars of the show. 
Summer is full of good things: warm sunshine, flourishing plants, long evenings, and, of course, ice-cold drinks. 

But with busy days, outdoor adventures, and all the things that come with making the most of the season, it can be hard to keep herbs in your daily routine.

And while we love a good cup of herbal tea, a steaming mug isn’t always the most appealing choice on a hot summer day!

That’s where herbal mocktails come in. These beautiful, refreshing drinks are a fun and seasonal way to bring herbs into your life. 

We’ve gathered 5 of our favorite herbal mocktail recipes featuring aromatic plants, plus fun ways to make your own mocktail ingredients with herbal simple syrups, oxymels, cordials, and more.

A sneak peek at the recipes:

🍃 Cooling Peppermint & Cucumber Fizz
🌸 Lemon Balm, Berry & Rose Spritzer
🌿 Rosemary Grapefruit Tonic
🍋 Lavender Lemonade
🌺 Hibiscus Lime Oxymel Cooler

We’ve also included a simple formula for building your own herbal mocktail from scratch!

✨Read the full blog + get all 5 recipes at the link in bio.

What are you sipping this summer? 

---

 #mocktails #mocktailsummer #herbalmocktails #oxymels #oxymelspritz
Comment MOCKTAIL to get the full recipe guide 🧊🍹🌿 Comment MOCKTAIL to get the full recipe guide 🧊🍹🌿

Herbs don’t have to stay on the edge of your glass… they can be the star of your summer drinks. ✨

Some of our favorite iced herbal mocktail combos include bright Lemon Balm + berries, fragrant Rosemary + grapefruit, floral Lavender + lemon, and tart Hibiscus + lime. 

Add a touch of oxymel, maybe some Rose water, maybe an ice cube full of violets, and you have the perfect summer mocktail. 🌞

In our latest blog, we’re sharing 5 herbal mocktail recipes plus fun ways to turn herbs into easy ingredients like simple syrups, oxymels, cordials, and more.
And if you’re feeling creative, we’ve included a simple formula for building your own herbal mocktail from scratch.

Comment MOCKTAIL below and we’ll send you the full recipe guide!
Have you ever wondered why Tulsi is called “Holy B Have you ever wondered why Tulsi is called “Holy Basil”?

The Hindu name “Holy Basil” translates to "the incomparable one." The plant is considered sacred and is often planted around Hindu shrines.

According to ancient Hindu stories, Lord Krishna once sat on a scale, and massive amounts of gold and ornaments were placed on the other side of the scale, but it wouldn’t budge. 

Then, the gold and precious gifts were removed, and a single Tulsi leaf was placed on the scale, which then balanced. 

It was said that Lord Krishna is not impressed by expensive or beautiful things, but only by true devotion, and Tulsi is one of his most committed believers. 

After that day, Tulsi was always revered as sacred. 

Tulsi reminds us that who you are on the inside matters so much more than how you are on the outside. 🌿✨

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#tulsi #holybasil #LordKrishna #herbalism #aromatherapy #aromaticherbs #plantfolklore
Isn’t it interesting that pharmaceuticals are cons Isn’t it interesting that pharmaceuticals are considered conventional, while herbs are labeled as “alternative”? 

Before processed drugs were made by humans, plants were the original medicine.

In fact, many pharmaceutical drugs on the market are actually derived from plants. For example, aspirin contains salicylates derived from White Willow bark, the drug digitalis comes from the Foxglove plant, and Sudafed was created to mimic a component in the plant Ephedra. (It’s also interesting to note that the Foxglove and Ephedra plants are considered toxic and not safe for consumption in their raw form.)

When we incorporate plant medicine into our lives, we are returning to the original source of healing, created and grown by the Earth itself. 

Whether you burn incense, drink tea, use essential oil diffusers, or take herbal tinctures or supplements… it’s all medicine. 🌿

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#herbs #herbalism #aromatherapy #naturalmedicine #plantmedicine #naturalremedies  #alternativemedicines
Chamomile's reputation today is as a calming herb, Chamomile's reputation today is as a calming herb, but that's only part of its story. Since ancient times, it's been used for fevers, nausea, emotional balance, uterine support, and more.

The Ancient Egyptians used dried Chamomile powder as a mild pain reliever. In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates used it to bring down fevers, while Dioscorides and Galen turned to it for reproductive health and uterine support.

Chamomile was also dedicated to the sun god Ra in Ancient Egypt, a fitting allegiance given its traditional association with the solar plexus, the network of nerves in the stomach that radiate outward like rays of the sun. ☀️

The solar plexus governs both digestion and the fight-or-flight stress response, which may explain why Chamomile's calming effect so often shows up as a soothing digestive aid as well.

These traditional uses hold up today, too. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia lists German and Roman Chamomile as carminative, antispasmodic, anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, and a mild sedative/nervine.

🔍 Swipe through for more on Chamomile's role in aromatic medicine.

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#chamomile #chamomileoil #chamomilebenefits #aromatherapy #herbalism  #aromatherapyeducation
When you see a dandelion, do you think of it as a When you see a dandelion, do you think of it as a weed or a wild plant?

As you might already know, many plants that are thought of as weeds are actually wild plant medicine. Dandelion greens and roots are a great plant ally for liver support. They’re also highly nutritious and loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But it can be hard to find Dandelions that haven't been sprayed with chemicals.

Growing up in urban spaces, we’re often taught to think that plants growing in our manicured landscapes and lawns are unwelcome weeds and insignificant invaders that we must get rid of! 

However, (with the exception of invasive species) these plants are not intruders taking over our artificial spaces, but rather, WE are the trespassers who’ve haphazardly taken over their home. The wild lands of forests, lakes, marshes, and meadows are their homes that we’ve built upon. 

The definition of a weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular location, “a plant in the wrong place”.

It’s interesting to note that many therapeutic herbs contain the word “weed” in their common name, including (but not limited to): Milkweed, Pokeweed, Ragweed, Knotweed, Fireweed, Horseweed, Jewelweed, and Chickweed. Surely these medicinal herbs are not undesirable? 

Unfortunately, many people spray the land with chemicals and herbicides to eradicate “weeds”, and local governments spray along highways, roads, and bridges, poisoning our ecosystems.

What if we all started treating all wild plants as medicine, instead of weeds? What if that Dandelion that keeps growing in your backyard isn’t a menacing headache, but rather a gift from the Earth? 🌿✨

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#dandelion #weeds  #weedsaremedicine #weedsareflowerstoo #weedsarebeautiful #herbalism #herbalist
Why are Turmeric and Black Pepper seemingly always Why are Turmeric and Black Pepper seemingly always paired together? 

Curcumin, the main compound Turmeric is known for, is notoriously hard for your body to absorb. Most of it passes right through you before it ever gets used.

But add a little bit of Black Pepper to the mix, and the active compound in Pepper (piperine) slows down how quickly your liver breaks curcumin apart, giving your body more time to actually absorb it. Studies have shown this pairing can boost curcumin absorption dramatically!

This isn't some new hack, either. Ayurvedic medicine has combined Turmeric and Black Pepper for centuries, long before anyone understood the biochemistry behind it.

So next time you’re reaching for a Turmeric latte, Golden Milk, or supplement, be sure to include a touch of Black Pepper to maximize the benefits of that Turmeric.

📌 Save this post for your next spice cabinet audit!
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#turmeric #turmericblackpepper #synergy #herbalsynergy #Curcumin #tumerictea #tumericlatte #tumericpowder #tumericbenefits
Frankincense has been burning in sacred spaces for Frankincense has been burning in sacred spaces for over 5,000 years. 🔥

Egyptians burned it in their temples and used it in embalming rituals. It was one of the key ingredients in Ketoret, the sacred incense of the Temple in ancient Israel. Arabian traders built entire fortunes moving it along trade routes where its value rivaled gold. 

Light a piece, and the smoke rises bright and resinous, almost citrusy, like sunlight distilled into scent.

Perhaps that's why so much of Frankincense's ancient symbolism is connected to the sun. ☀️

Frankincense was offered as sacred smoke to solar deities across cultures, burned in honor of the sun god Ra in ancient Egypt and Apollo in Greece, its rising smoke thought to carry prayers and offerings upward, linking earth to sky.

Today, Frankincense is still burned in many spiritual traditions to symbolize prayers ascending to heaven and to purify sacred spaces.

There's a reason people have turned to this resin in ritual and meditation for thousands of years; some traditions describe it as a key to unlocking deeper insight and connection to the divine.

✨ Light a piece and experience this sacred resin for yourself. Link in bio.

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#frankincense #frankincenseresin #incense #incenseresin #pureincense #sacredincense #naturalincense
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