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aromatherapy

Aromatic History & Lore
March 6, 20260Comments

Astrology & Plant Medicine

Incorporating astrology into herbal medicine or aromatherapy can be a beautiful way to make your practice more holistic. Astrology shows us how to understand the archetypal forces of nature, which
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
February 19, 20260Comments

Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist

In late 2025, an investigation by Originality.ai revealed something staggering: roughly 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon were at least partially generated by AI [1]. Pause for a moment
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
February 12, 20260Comments

Aromatic Roots for Winter: Warming & Grounding Herbs

Winter is the most yin of all the seasons: inward, dark, quiet, conserving. In classical Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describe the great rhythm of life, opposing yet interdependent forces
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Natural Perfumery
January 7, 20260Comments

Natural Perfumery & Aromatherapy: Where Scent Becomes Medicine

Long before scent was bottled, branded, or adulterated, it was burned, worn, prayed with, and brewed into medicine. Across cultures and centuries, aromatic plants have lived at the crossroads of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
Sustainability
December 18, 20250Comments

The Sacred Scents of the Season: Frankincense, Myrrh & Beyond

The scents of Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, and Ginger drift from the oven. Fresh Pine fills the living room from the Christmas tree and evergreen boughs framing the fireplace. Dried Oranges
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
December 11, 20250Comments

Plant Allies for Returning the Light: Aromatic Herbs for Hope & Renewal

On the morning of the Winter Solstice, something subtle – but powerful – happens. The world seems to slow down. The sun lingers at its lowest point on the horizon,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
December 4, 20250Comments

Aromatic Rituals for Holiday Stress, Boundaries & Nervous System Support

You’re standing in your childhood kitchen when it begins: your mother casually asking why you’re still single (again), your sister spiraling about seating arrangements, and your uncle launching into opinions
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
November 25, 20250Comments

Herbal Holiday Gift Guide

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect moment to celebrate the magic of small businesses. Beyond the glittering lights and busy crowds, these herbal businesses offer handcrafted remedies and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
woman touching a field of chamomile outside on a sunndy day
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
November 17, 20250Comments

The 4 Elements in Traditional Medicine: The Foundation of Energetics & Constitution

Have you ever wondered why the same essential oil that melts away your tension leaves someone else feeling restless? Or why your favorite go-to digestive herb doesn’t help your friend?
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Topical Medicine
November 13, 20250Comments

DIY Aromatic Gifts: 8 Recipes for a Heartfelt Holiday

As the holiday season approaches, what better way to share the spirit of warmth and love than through handmade, aromatic herbal gifts? In this DIY holiday gift blog, we've compiled a
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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Tree resin is the beautiful defense mechanism of a Tree resin is the beautiful defense mechanism of a tree. Resin is a combination of essential oils, volatile oils, and other organic compounds that are secreted from trees and shrubs as a means of protection from infection and pests. In essence, tree resins have a protective nature. They have antibiotic and antimicrobial qualities that provide powerful protection topically. The ancients observed this long ago and began employing them for physical, energetic, and spiritual protection. Just as a tree produces this precious resin to seal and heal its own wounds, resins and gums have been used topically to treat wounds, cuts, abrasions, and other external skin issues of humans for ages. Mayan and Aztec warriors were treated after battle with melted resin or resin ointments to prevent infection and speed recovery and healing. It’s quite a magical reflection that resins work to protect trees and can provide the same protection to humans, too… A beautiful example that we are, in fact, a part of nature. _________ #incenseresin #treeresin #naturalincense #aromaticmedicine #aromatherapy #treesarebeautiful #treesarelife
What if your astrological chart could change the w What if your astrological chart could change the way you work with plants? Most people think astrology begins and ends with their sun sign. But your birth chart is so much more than a horoscope! It’s a blueprint of your constitution, your personality, and even potential imbalances within the body and mind. For centuries, physicians and herbalists studied astrology to better understand plants, people, and patterns of health. This was the art of Medical Astrology, a system that saw the cosmos, the human body, and the plant world as deeply interconnected. When you look at a birth chart beyond the surface, you begin to see: ✨ How planetary energies correlate with temperament and constitution ✨ Why certain imbalances show up the way they do ✨ Which plants may resonate more with an individual Astrology can amplify aromatic medicine. It moves you beyond “use this for that” remedies and into a more intentional and personalized plant practice. And it doesn’t stop there… The plants themselves carry planetary signatures. From their physical form and habitat to their energetics and actions, they reflect celestial patterns. When you begin to see this, plant work becomes an art form of celestial matchmaking. If you’ve ever felt like there might be a deeper layer to herbalism and aromatherapy… there is. In our blog, we explore: • Why your sun sign is only the beginning • How planetary correspondences guide plant selection • How astrological timing can potentize your preparations • And why working with cosmic cycles can transform your practice If you’re ready to expand how you see plants, people, and the world around you… 🌙 Tap the link in our bio and read the full article now. ________ #astrology #herbalism #astroherbalism #astrologicalchart #medicalastrology #sunsign #astrologysigns
A Rescue Remedy for Flu Season: Herbal Steaming 🌿💨 A Rescue Remedy for Flu Season: Herbal Steaming 🌿💨 Cold and flu season is still here…and congestion, heaviness, and fatigue often come with it. Before reaching for an over-the-counter spray with ingredients you can’t pronounce, consider returning to this time-honored tradition. Herbal steaming is an age-old therapeutic practice used across cultures to support the respiratory system and ease cold and flu symptoms. While it’s often praised in skincare rituals, its roots run much deeper, as a gentle, effective way to work with aromatic plants and their volatile oils. To create an herbal steam, aromatic plants (fresh or dried) are added to hot water. As the water heats, it releases the plant’s volatile compounds into the air (much like a simple distillation), allowing you to inhale their therapeutic properties directly. Steam is naturally warming, opening, and moistening. When combined with aromatic plants, it can gently penetrate the mucosal tissues, helping to soothe congestion and invite clearer breathing in a localized, supportive way. Certain aromatic plants also offer immune support alongside antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, helping ease sore throats, sinus pressure, fatigue, and that run-down feeling that often comes with seasonal illness. ✨ Ready to try it yourself? All you need is a pot, hot water, a towel, and a handful of aromatics. Comment “STEAM” and we’ll send you our free Herbal Steaming Guide, complete with step-by-step instructions and our top 10 aromatic plants for herbal steams (+ their benefits!).
Did you know that astrology can be more than horos Did you know that astrology can be more than horoscopes… and actually serves as a powerful tool for working with plants in your aromatherapy or herbal practice? For centuries, the study of the planets and celestial forces has been a core part of aromatic and herbal medicine. This is the ancient tradition of Medical Astrology, a system used to classify plants, understand bodily constitutions, and create remedies that align with both the individual and the cosmos. ​​​​​​​Far from being outdated, these celestial patterns still influence our health, the plants we work with, and the world around us. And when you learn to work alongside them, your plant practice can become deeper, more precise, and more potent, just as practitioners have known across cultures for ages. In our blog post, we dive into the fascinating relationships between astrology, plants, and people. You’ll discover how incorporating astrology can: ▪️ Illuminate the root causes of imbalance and illness ▪️ Guide you in matching people with the remedies that will benefit them most ▪️ Even enhance the potency and effectiveness of your plant preparations You might never look at your astrological chart (or your apothecary) the same way again! 🌿✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full article. ___________ #astrology #herbalism #astroherbalism #medicalastrology #birthchart #astrologicalmagic
Have you ever worked with a plant that was technic Have you ever worked with a plant that was technically the right match for someone – aligned with their constitution, indicated for their symptoms, supported by everything you’ve studied – and yet something about it still felt slightly off? In your mind and on paper, it made sense, but in practice, it didn’t have the impact you'd hoped for. There’s a layer of plant work that lives beyond symptom-matching and even beyond basic energetics. And you don't have to be a wizard to figure it out! It has to do with patterns... the deeper architecture of a person, and the deeper signature of a plant. When I first began exploring the relationship between planets and plants through my buddy Sajah’s work, I was drawn in by how mystical it all felt. But what struck me was how simple and observational it actually was. You can literally see planetary qualities in the way a plant grows, in its structure, its scent, its taste, the direction it moves in the body, and the kinds of imbalances it addresses. And once I started putting it all into practice, everything shifted. Suddenly, the famous alchemical saying “As above, so below” stopped sounding symbolic and started functioning like a super-accurate diagnostic lens. In Lesson 2 of his free Astro-Herbalism Mini-Course, Sajah lays out the exact framework he uses to determine a plant’s planetary signature, and shows how to see which herbs truly correspond to a person’s underlying patterns, not just their surface symptoms. If you’ve ever felt like there’s a deeper pattern at play in plant medicine, something that explains why certain remedies truly resonate, this training can give language to what you’ve already sensed and help you find greater depth, meaning, precision, and confidence in your plant work. ✨ Join the free Astro-Herbalism Mini-Course online using the link in our bio. (It's only available for a limited time, so check it out soon!). ___________ #astroherbalism #astrology #herbalism #herbalist #plantsandastrology #planetsandplants #evolutionaryherbalism
Yarrow’s Latin name, Achillea millefolium, honors Yarrow’s Latin name, Achillea millefolium, honors Achilles, the great warrior of Greek myth who used Yarrow to tend his soldiers’ wounds in battle. Just as Yarrow helps seal physical wounds, it can strengthen energetic boundaries & support empaths who absorb others’ emotions. But to truly understand Yarrow's emotional support, we have to go back to the myths that helped shape its name. In Greco-Roman lore, Chiron, the wise centaur who taught Achilles about medicine, was struck by a poisoned arrow & (though immortal) was condemned to endless suffering. His pain became a lifelong teacher, shaping his ability to tend the wounds of others with unmatched compassion. He was known as the wounded healer. Achilles, on the other hand, embodies the archetype of the wounded warrior. His mother dipped him in the River Styx to make him invincible, but his heel remained exposed and vulnerable – the famous “Achilles heel.” Through these stories, Yarrow became known as the herb of the wounded healer & wounded warrior: uniting strength & vulnerability, courage & compassion. So many people find their way to aromatic medicine and herbs through a similar story; drawn in, as Chiron was – sometimes not by choice but by necessity – to find healing. Through that search for relief and meaning, we learn not only how to mend ourselves but how to support others with hard-won understanding & skill. This is the essence of the wounded warrior-healer: wisdom earned through suffering, then generously shared. Yarrow honors that inner transformation. It reminds us that to serve as a steady presence for others, to truly support others, we must continue tending to our own wounds, too (because that work is never truly finished). In our new video blog, we'll dive into the whole story of Yarrow together: ✨ The mythology & folklore behind its name ✨ How it supports digestion, circulation, skin & uterine health ✨ Its role in aromatic medicine (essential oil, hydrosol, incense, tea, tincture) ✨ Why so many empaths & healers feel called to work with it 🌿 Comment “YARROW” to get the full Yarrow vlog. ________ #yarrow #herbalism #aromatherapy #empaths #herbalfolklore #greekmythology
Absolutes vs essential oils: what’s the difference Absolutes vs essential oils: what’s the difference? Essential oils are extracted in various ways, most often through steam distillation, but also solvent extraction, and other methods. Steam distillation extracts the volatile oils from plant materials using a process of heating and cooling water vapor. The end products of this process are essential oils and hydrosol. Absolutes, on the other hand, are highly concentrated aromatic substances similar to essential oils. They are obtained through a solvent extraction process instead of steam distillation. This method is typically used for delicate or highly fragrant plant materials that cannot be effectively distilled using steam distillation. In the solvent extraction process, plant materials are submerged in a solvent, such as ethanol, hexane, or carbon dioxide, to release their aroma. The solvent mixture dissolves the aromatic compounds of the plant and releases them into the liquid, and then the solvent is removed, leaving behind a fragrant, concentrated mixture known as an absolute. It's important to note that absolutes may or may not contain trace amounts of the solvent used in the extraction process. Some folks choose to avoid using absolutes for this reason, others feel the amount is too low to be impactful in any way. By definition, both absolutes and essential oils are highly concentrated liquid extracts containing volatile chemical compounds from medicinal and aromatic plants. Absolutes are often more expensive than essential oils due to the complexity of the extraction process and the amount of raw material required to produce them. Typically, you'll see bottles of essential oils and absolutes sold side by side in stores. To know whether it’s an essential oil or absolute, carefully read the label and look for the word “absolute,” and often you can also find the solvent that was used listed as well. Some examples of aromatic plants that are commonly processed into absolutes include Jasmine and Rose. __________ #essentialoils #absolutes #aromatherapy #essentialoileducation #aromaticmedicine #aromatherapytips #AromatherapyEducation
Have you ever had a physical symptom you knew was Have you ever had a physical symptom you knew was directly related to your emotions, thoughts, or something even spiritual? Or maybe had an intuitive sense that the root cause of someone's problem wasn't exactly physical? If you've ever wondered how to trace these relationships between the body, mind, and soul — to make it easier to use herbs to help people on these more subtle levels — you're in luck! My good friend Sajah Popham just did all the hard work and put it all together in the Astro-Herbalism Mini-Course. Ancient physicians and founding herbalists like Paracelsus and Nicolas Culpeper understood that the most effective path of healing with herbs was through the understanding of the stars and planetary bodies. The School of Evolutionary Herbalism is carrying on this powerful tradition — offering important insights into exactly how astrology and herbalism correspond to each other in their free series. You'll learn how to see the connections between the body, emotions, thoughts, and the evolutionary process of the soul — and how to translate these into finding the specific remedy, whether that's incense, essential oil, or herbs, that gets to the roots of our health problems. If this speaks to you, sign up via the link in bio and start watching the first lesson now. You'll gain a higher perspective about your work with plants that will change everything. 🌿✨ This mini-course is only available for a limited time — if you're curious about the connection between the stars and the plant kingdom, now's your chance! #herbalmedicine #astroherbalism #astrologyandherbalism #astrology #holistichealth
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