Skip to content
The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine
  • About
  • Courses
  • Resources
    • The Aromatic Medicine Blog
    • Video Library
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Close Search Form     Open Search Form
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
Student Login
Tag

aromatherapy healing

Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Plant Profiles
February 26, 20260Comments

Yarrow in Herbal & Aromatic Medicine: History, Uses, and Energetics

The first time I truly met Yarrow was on a group hike with one of my herbal teachers. As we walked, he pointed out the feathery leaves at our feet
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
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 History & Lore
Ayurveda
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Natural Perfumery
Plant Profiles
November 7, 20256Comments

Cardamom Benefits: The Ancient Spice for Digestion, Clarity, and Vitality

Imagine a single seed pod, no larger than your fingertip, holding within it the power to kindle digestive fire, clear stagnant breath from congested lungs, and lift the fog of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
October 16, 20250Comments

5 Common Myths About Incense (and the Truth Behind Them)

Lighting incense has a way of transforming not just the space around you, but the atmosphere within you. The match strikes, the incense tip glows amber-red, and within moments the
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Alchemy
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
September 18, 20250Comments

From Hobbyist to Healer: Stepping Into Herbal and Aromatic Practice

Many of us step onto the plant path as hobbyists, captivated by herbs and aromatic plants, experimenting with teas, oils, or incense blends for personal use. Sometimes we share our
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
« Older Articles

aromatic_medicine

🌿 Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration, plant knowledge, aromatic wisdom, and one-of-a-kind courses 🌿
Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t actually berries! These “berries” are really fleshy cones called a galbulus, which take 2-3 years to ripen from green to deep blue-black. Junipers are either male or female. Male trees produce tiny yellow cones, while female trees grow the bluish-green cones we know as “berries.” Have you ever spotted a male vs. female Juniper? 🌿 ___________ #juniper #juniperberries #junipertree #botanynerd #aromaticmedicine #herbalism
Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and th Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and the botanical kingdom are always offering wisdom. The question is… are we listening? One of the most powerful ways to learn from nature is to slow down and simply be with it. To spend unhurried time with the plants. To notice their scents and textures. For many of us, especially those living in cities, that connection can feel distant – and even more so in the depths of winter, when the cold keeps us indoors. But we can always invite nature in. Simmer evergreen needles on the stovetop. Line your windowsills with acorns or pinecones. Burn grounding aromatics like Fir, Pine, Cedar, Tulsi, or Thyme. Draw an herbal bath. Prepare a simple herbal steam (you’ll find some recipes on our blog!). These small rituals remind the body and spirit that we belong to the Earth, even when we’re inside. What’s one way you bring nature into your indoor life this season? 🌲 _______________ #natureisourteacher #connectwithnature #plantsareteachers #aromatherapy #naturalliving #naturalincense #winterritual
With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI teachers, AI everything), it’s starting to feel like you can’t scroll for more than 30 seconds without bumping into another perfectly generated “expert.” Last week, we released a blog, “Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist,” to talk honestly about it (see recent posts). And the funniest thing happened the day before we released it, someone accused me of looking like AI on one of our reels! So I’m here to say I, Evan Sylliaasen, am not a robot… (& here are a few crazy things about my very human life): 🪵 If I weren’t teaching or crafting incense, I’d probably be building furniture. Woodworking is my favorite hobby. 🎵 In my teens, I played drums in a few bands. In my early 20s, I recorded a one-man bluegrass album playing guitar, banjo & mandolin, called Black & Bluegrass. I used to be really good (Now… debatable!). 👖 I was a “child star.” Sort of, not really. I appeared in a Sur La Table magazine at 5 years old in a tie-dye shirt while my fake magazine family wore Canadian tuxedos. I’ve been the black sheep from the beginning. 🎓 I was suspended in junior high once. And no, I’m not telling you why. 💻 I had crippling stage fright as a kid & teen. The irony of teaching online now is not lost on me. 🎨 Before becoming my own boss, I worked 15+ different jobs: dog grooming, land surveying, painting, construction, lead catering, selling SEO, landscaping… I’ve always been willing to get my hands dirty. 🌱 My mom taught me to garden when I was young. Since age 20, I’ve kept my own food & herb garden wherever I’ve lived. That’s where all of this really began. My life has been shaped by years in the garden, working through awkward teenage stage fright, playing music & long days of hard work on construction sites... Real experiences, big mistakes, great mentors, amazing people & real plants. And that’s exactly why I care about what’s happening in our space right now. Thanks for trusting me, and everything my team (also real people) & I have built at the NW School of Aromatic Medicine since 2014. We’re dedicated to you & teaching aromatic medicine from places of real human experience & tradition.
Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are some of the only strong aromatics available this time of year. In the quieter months, they become steady companions. I’ll often take a slow walk through the forest, or drive into the mountains closeby, pausing to breathe in the scent of freshly fallen Cedar branches, letting the aroma wake my senses and reconnect me to this land we call home. Cedar has been my favorite tree for as long as I can remember. From early childhood, wandering moss-covered forests and rain-soaked trails of the Pacific Northwest, it has been a constant presence: grounding, familiar, and comforting. For Indigenous peoples along the coast, from Washington all the way to Alaska, Cedar has long been held as one of the most sacred plants. It was everything: warmth from fire, shelter and clothing, tools for weaving and art, canoes for travel, incense for ceremony, and powerful medicine for healing. To many Northwest tribes, Cedar remains the true “tree of life,” woven into nearly every aspect of living. Sometimes I imagine what it would feel like if a single plant touched every layer of our lives today, from the material to the spiritual. Perhaps then we would truly understand what it means to call a plant an ally. 🌲 ___________ #cedar #treeoflife #plantally #plantsareteachers #sacredplants #plantsaremagic
Natural remedies are trending now more than ever. Natural remedies are trending now more than ever. And alongside this resurgence, something new has emerged: the “AI herbalist.” We’re witnessing an explosion of AI-generated herbal blogs, books, and courses, often created by so-called “experts,” often with no education, clinical training, or lived relationship with the plants. Here’s the problem: herbal and aromatic medicine is nuanced, individualized, and deeply contextual. It cannot be reduced to algorithmic AI-pattern recognition or “input symptom, output herb.” True plant medicine is a lived experience. It unfolds in the kitchen, the garden, the apothecary, and the clinic. It engages the senses and touches the spirit. In a world where algorithms can generate polished content in seconds, human expertise matters more than ever. Real herbalists and aromatherapists know the plants intimately. They understand the delicate balance of body, mind, and spirit. They’ve walked this path, felt the plant resin on their fingers, inhaled the deep aroma of incense smoke, and seen the subtle ways plants work. And they pass their knowledge on through mentorship, ensuring plant medicine continues to thrive as a living tradition rather than a recycled dataset. Let us not lose sight of the heart and soul of plant wisdom. In our latest blog, Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist, you’ll learn: 🌱 Why AI is often wrong with plant medicine 🌱 How it doubles down on errors with absolute confidence 🌱 Why trained herbalists and aromatherapists frequently disagree with AI answers 🌱 How to spot an AI herbalist 🌱 How to protect the heart and soul of plant medicine ✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full blog. _____________ #aicontent #plantmedicine #herbalmedicine #herbalist #aromatherapist #herbalism
How can you tell the difference between AI-assembl How can you tell the difference between AI-assembled herbal information and real plant wisdom? It’s honestly getting harder to spot. The branding is clean and polished, and the tone is confident. That’s what makes it so convincing. Natural remedies are trending like never before, and with that surge comes a new problem: the “AI herbalist.” In recent years, AI-generated blogs, social media “experts” with no clinical experience, and even AI-written herbal books and courses have flooded the marketplace. This is especially concerning now that Instagram and Facebook stopped independent fact-checking in early 2025, and about 20% of TikTok content contains misinformation. Confident-sounding advice can spread faster than ever… even when it’s wrong. In our latest blog, Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist, we reveal some shocking examples: last year’s #1 Amazon bestseller in “Herbal Remedies” was written by AI (with a completely made-up author), and roughly 82% of new herbal books on Amazon were at least partially AI-generated. You’ll also learn: 🌱 Why AI is often wrong with plant medicine 🌱 How it doubles down on errors with absolute confidence 🌱 Why trained herbalists and aromatherapists frequently disagree with AI answers 🌱 How to spot an AI herbalist 🌱 How to protect the heart and soul of plant medicine ✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full blog. _______________ #AI #ageofai #herbalism #herbalist #plantmedicine #plantwisdom #herbaleducation #herbalmedicine
Did you know that over 80% of new herbal books on Did you know that over 80% of new herbal books on Amazon in 2025 were likely written by AI? 🤯 Polished, confidently written, and trending, but with no human experience, no clinical training, and no heart behind them. Herbal and aromatic medicine is not just data. It’s intuition, experience, and relationship with plants. One wrong recommendation can cause real harm… and AI doesn’t understand nuance, energetics, or safety. If real plant wisdom is important to you and you want to know how to spot “AI herbalists” before it’s too late, read our latest blog: Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist. 🌱✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full blog. _______________ #aiherbal #artificial_intelligence #herbalism #herbalist #misinformation #ageofai
A common misconception during the dead of Winter i A common misconception during the dead of Winter is that there’s nothing to wild-harvest… However, careful observation of the plant life cycle reveals that’s not necessarily true! As plants lose their leaves, they send their energy into their roots, getting ready to sustain themselves for a long winter. During this time, the life force of plants is concentrated within the woods, roots, and aromatic resins. In the winter months, the plant’s energy is highly concentrated in its root system, before moving back upwards and outwards in the spring and summer to produce more leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. That’s why this is the best time of year to harvest roots, woods, gums, and resins. Plants have a rhythm with how they move their life force according to the seasons and the environment. Don’t let the lack of new growth in the winter deceive you! There’s always abundance in the forest. 🌲 Have you harvested anything new lately?? _____________ #wildharvest #wildharvesting #sustainableharvest #wildcrafting #treeresins #harvesting #incenseresin
Follow on Instagram

OFFERINGS

  • Aromatic Medicine Garden Membership
  • Incense Crafting Course
  • Botanical Resins & Gums Course
  • Materia Aromatica Ebook

QUICK LINKS

  • About
  • Courses
  • The Aromatic Medicine Blog
  • The School
  • Evan Sylliaasen
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay in the know on new releases and special offers

Loading

support@aromaticmedicineschool.com

© 2026 The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine, All rights reserved.