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aromatherapy healing

Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
March 6, 20240Comments

Overcoming Burnout: Reclaiming Your Vitality with Aromatic Medicine

There’s no doubt about it, these days, burnout is everywhere: in the workplace, in our personal lives, and even in our leisure activities. We’ve all done it – held a match
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Human/Plant Connection
Ritual
February 13, 20240Comments

Exploring the Essence of Self-Love with Aromatic Plants

What would your life look like if you treated yourself with the same kindness you showed to others? As Valentine's Day rolls around again, there tends to be a lot
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Herbal Medicine
January 30, 20240Comments

Holistic Aromatic Medicine Through The Ayurvedic Lens

Ayurveda is an ancient healing science from India that offers a holistic approach to well-being and longevity. The very word “Ayurveda” can be translated as “knowledge of life” or “science
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
December 21, 20230Comments

The Health Benefits of Cinnamon Beyond the Kitchen

Cinnamon, the well-known aromatic spice that infuses warmth and depth into our favorite culinary delights, is much more than just a flavor enhancer. From the cozy aroma of chai tea
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
December 15, 20230Comments

Breathing Easier: Aromatic Plants for Respiratory Health

We often breathe without much thought, until a tickle in our throats or a deep, heavy cough reminds us of our lungs' delicate and vital role in our daily life.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Ritual
December 5, 20230Comments

The Art of the Herbal Bath

In a world that constantly buzzes with activity and stimulation, finding moments of tranquility and self-care can feel like an out-of-reach luxury. But self-care can be simple, affordable, and accessible.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Ayurveda
Herbal Medicine
Topical Medicine
November 14, 20230Comments

Fall Self-care Practices to Nourish Body, Mind & Soul

As the air turns crisp, leaves transform into a vibrant tapestry of warm hues and Earth’s critters prepare for the cold – the environment invites us to turn our awareness
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
October 17, 20230Comments

Incense: The Original Form of Aromatherapy

The world of holistic healing is a deep ocean of ancient wisdom and practices. Within the treasure chest of wonderful traditional remedies that have been passed down over time, incense
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense sticks smoldering on table indoors
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
October 9, 20230Comments

Sleep Better Naturally: Aromatic Plants for Restful Sleep

Sound sleep is a key pillar of our well-being, as it restores and rejuvenates our minds, bodies, and senses. However, in the fast-paced world we live in today, sleep-related challenges
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exact Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exactly what your body needs? For me, that plant is Yarrow. Yarrow is a plant of opposites. It’s described as both cooling & warming, grounding & uplifting, moving & stabilizing, opening while protective. On a physical level, it can slow bleeding, yet it can also help move stagnant blood. There’s something deeply reassuring about this paradox – a plant so attuned to the body that it responds to imbalance rather than forcing change in a single direction. That kind of intelligence is what makes Yarrow one of the most fascinating herbs I’ve ever encountered. Its Latin name, Achillea millefolium, tells part of the story. “Millefolium” means “thousand-leaved,” referring to its feathery foliage, while “Achillea” honors Achilles, the great warrior of Greek myth who used Yarrow to tend his soldiers’ wounds in battle. According to legend, Achilles’ mother, Thetis, tried to make him invulnerable by dipping him in the sacred River Styx. But she held him by his heel, the one place untouched by the protective waters. That small, forgotten place became his only weakness, and it was there that Paris’ arrow struck him. (This is where the phrase “Achilles heel” comes from!). Over time, Yarrow became known as the herb of the wounded warrior. And just as it helps seal physical wounds, it has long been associated with strengthening emotional and energetic boundaries. Yarrow is often called the herb for empaths, those who feel overwhelmed by external intensity or who absorb the emotions of others. Many healers see it as a boundary-setting herb for people who need help keeping their own energy separate and safe while supporting those around them. In our new video blog, you’ll discover: • The mythology of Achilles & Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • Its powerful support for digestion, circulation & the uterus • How it works in aromatic medicine & emotional boundary work • Practical ways to use it as a tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more 🌿 Watch/read the full Yarrow story at the link in our bio. _____________ #yarrow #yarrowflower #empaths #emotionalboundaries #aromatherapy #herbalism
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
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