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

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
woman's hand lightly touching a fresh lavender plant
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Ritual
August 28, 20250Comments

Why True Plant Wisdom Goes Beyond Facts & Recipes

We live in a culture that loves quick fixes. If you’ve got a headache, there’s a pill for that. Feeling run down? Take Reishi. Feeling anxious? Chamomile. Trouble sleeping? Just
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Ritual
August 21, 20250Comments

How to Make an Aromatic Herbal Oxymel (+ Why You Should)

Honey and vinegar have been mixed together for thousands of years, creating what the ancient Greeks called an oxymel (from the Greek words for “acid” and “honey”). Add in a
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
glass cork bottle of benzoin oil next to benzoin resin on a counter
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Natural Perfumery
Plant Profiles
Ritual
August 13, 20250Comments

Why Benzoin Resin Belongs in Your Apothecary: Benefits & Ritual Uses

Imagine something that looks like a beautiful golden rock, but upon closer inspection, you're greeted with sweet, balsamic, resinous notes, with hints of vanilla that feel like a warm embrace.
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Sustainability
July 29, 20250Comments

Wild Harvesting with Integrity: Respectful and Sustainable Harvesting Practices

There’s a kind of botanical magic that only summer can bring – the scent of a sun-warmed Rose bush in full bloom, the crisp brightness of Lemon Balm brushing against
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Topical Medicine
July 7, 20250Comments

Top Essential Oil Blends for Bug Repellent

Summer is finally here! And with it, the sweet return of long, golden days spent outdoors. Whether you're hiking through sunny trails, swimming in crystal-clear lakes, camping under the stars,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
bottle of Rosemary essential oil
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
June 20, 20250Comments

How to Use Rosemary for Holistic Health

Sure, Rosemary makes a great addition to roasted potatoes and Mediterranean dishes, but its true power lies far beyond the kitchen. For centuries, healers, herbalists, and aromatherapists have turned to
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
bundle of fresh mugwort herbs for dreamwork
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
June 10, 20250Comments

Aromatic Plants and Dreams: Scents for Deep Sleep and Inner Wisdom

Have you ever woken from a dream so vivid it blurred the line between memory and imagination? Dreams can be fun, strange, symbolic, emotional, or eerily real. They arise most often
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Ritual
Topical Medicine
May 30, 20250Comments

Making Your Own Aromatic & Herbal Remedies

As a plant person, you likely already know this: Aromatic plants and herbs hold incredible healing potential. Beneath their beautiful scents and vibrant leaves lies a world of medicine, just
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense Crafting
Natural Perfumery
Ritual
May 22, 20250Comments

The Energy You Bring to the Craft: Intention as an Ingredient

Have you ever followed a recipe exactly, only to have it fall flat, while someone else makes the same thing and it comes alive? Or crafted an herbal or aromatic
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
« Older Articles Newer Articles »

aromatic_medicine

🌿 Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration, plant knowledge, aromatic wisdom, and one-of-a-kind courses 🌿
Winter is the season of rooting. 🌱 When the light Winter is the season of rooting. 🌱 When the light fades and the world grows cold and quiet, life doesn’t disappear – it moves underground. Into roots. Into reserves. Into what will carry us through. In our newest blog, we explore why roots are winter’s most powerful plant allies, and how aromatic roots like Ginger, Vetiver, Angelica, and more support warmth, grounding, resilience, and emotional balance through the cold months. If you’ve been feeling tired, scattered, heavy, or simply called inward… this one is for you. ❄️ Read “Aromatic Roots for Winter” by clicking the link in our bio. _______________ #winteraromas #winterherbs #aromatherapy #herbalism #herbalroots #ginger #vetiver #angelica
How long do essential oils last? The answer depen How long do essential oils last? The answer depends on how it’s made. Essential oils are produced in mainly 3 different ways: steam distillation, solvent extraction, and cold press distillation. Most essential oils are made using steam distillation, with an exception of Citrus oils which are primarily created using cold press distillation (also known as expression). In this process, mechanical pressure is used to rupture the volatile oil-containing glands in the plant material, then the resulting mixture is filtered to obtain just the essential oil. Absolutes are made using solvent extraction, where plant materials are submerged in a solvent such as ethanol, hexane, or carbon dioxide, to release their aroma, and then the solvent is removed, leaving behind the volatile oils. Most steam-distilled essential oils generally have a shelf life of 3 years. Citrus oils have the shortest shelf-life, about 2 years. And absolutes have a shelf-life of around 5 years. There are a few plants that are an exception to this rule and actually get better with age – like a fine wine – such as Patchouli and Vetiver. The older these plant oils get, the more the aroma shifts and expands over time. To get the most out of your essential oils, always store them in amber-colored bottles and away from direct sunlight. The standard recommendation is to store the bottles in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or closet. Always keep the lids on to reduce oxidation. ____________ #essentialoils #aromatherapy #essentialoils101 #essentialoileducation #absolutes #co2extract #naturalperfumery
Chamomile has an energetic influence on our solar Chamomile has an energetic influence on our solar plexus – the complex network of nerves located in your stomach area. Lying halfway between the area where we get our “gut instinct” and the empathetic heart, the solar plexus represents the center of our psychological needs and wants. It’s an important part of your sympathetic nervous system, which controls your body’s “fight or flight” response to danger or stress. Chamomile has an affinity for soothing nervous tension and anxiety felt in the solar plexus, particularly in times when our emotional needs and wants feel intensified or unmet. This can come out in many ways, such as actions of overbearing, over-controlling, self-criticism, irritability, frustration, depression, or resentment. Chamomile is the plant of calm composure and easy embrace. Chamomile can help us let go of fixed expectations, calmly see and acknowledge our limitations, and open up to receive the support that others have to give. Just as the flower resembles the sun, it inspires a more sunny disposition inside our emotional and mental realms. ______________ #chamomile #chamomileoil #chamomilebenefits #chamomiletea #ChamomileCalm #aromatherapy #aromaticmedicine
In the cold winter months here in the Pacific Nort In the cold winter months here in the Pacific Northwest, life naturally turns inward. We spend more time indoors, tending the hearth, the home, and our inner landscapes. One of my favorite winter rituals is a stovetop herbal steam. Across many cultures and household traditions, aromatic plants have long been simmered gently to freshen and uplift the home, invite warmth and positivity, offer subtle spiritual protection, and serve as simple medicine for the immune and respiratory system, especially during the darker months of the year. Here’s a DIY Aromatic Winter Herbal Steam you can make at home. Feel free to adapt it to what you have on hand or what feels good to add. 🌿 Ingredients 8 slices of Citrus (Orange, Lemon, or Grapefruit) 1 sliced apple 1 cup evergreen needles (Fir, Pine, Spruce, or Cedar) 5 Cinnamon sticks 10 whole Cloves 5 Star Anise A thumb-sized piece of fresh Ginger 🔥 Directions Add all ingredients to a stovetop pot and cover with water. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Allow it to steam for several hours, filling your home with warmth, fragrance, and quiet magic. These small seasonal rituals remind us that tending our spaces is also a form of medicine—one that nourishes the body, lifts the spirit, and keeps us in relationship with plants. 🌲✨ For another similar recipe, check out our Herbal Steaming blog post. Link in bio. __________ #herbalsteaming #diyherbalism #aromatherapy #aromaticmedicine #herbalsteam #herbalsteamingblends
“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. “Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” – Yoko Ono __________ #yokoono #yokoonoquotes #inspiringquotes #winterweather #inspirationalquotes
When’s the best time of year to harvest resin? N When’s the best time of year to harvest resin? Now! ✨ The wintertime is ideal for resin harvesting. It can be harvested any time of year, but a tree’s energies are condensed inside its wood and resin most in winter, making it more potent in many ways. 🌲 The types of trees with resin easiest to find in North America are conifers like Pine, Fir, Cypress, Spruce, and Cedar. ✨ How to harvest: Find a Conifer tree with some resin on its surface, make sure to properly identify the tree, and harvest by scraping the outer layer of resin off the tree using a knife. Glass containers are best for storage, but plastic or ceramic work too. 🌲 Keep in mind that resin is the tree's defense mechanism, so don’t take too much or you’ll risk harming the tree. ✨ It’s easiest to harvest hardened resin. In colder weather, it may be hard enough to simply break off, rather than scrape it. If harvesting fresh resin, use foil or something similar to help you collect it, and let it dry for several weeks to months, depending on the resin species and climate you’re in. Curious how to work with tree resin? Explore our Aromatic Medicine Blog for more tips! Link in bio. 🌲 __________ #treeresin #incenseresin #sustainableharvesting #resin #wildharvesting #aromaticmedicine
DIY Pine Tip tea (and why you should drink it)… P DIY Pine Tip tea (and why you should drink it)… Pine Needles have many medicinal benefits, both aromatically and internally. They’re high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, providing support to your immune system and decreasing your risk for serious health issues. They help boost mental clarity and relieve depression, in addition to easing respiratory ailments like a sore throat, cough, and chest congestion, making it a great Wintertime herbal tea. Making Pine Tip tea is quite simple… 🌲 Forage for Pine Needles by going for a nature walk with some garden clippers. Make sure to properly identify a Pine Tree, then snip off some needles. The fresher tips will be fresher and might have a lighter green color compared to the older growth. 🌲 Boil some water and pour it over your Pine Needles. Cover it to keep in the medicinal aromatics and leave to infuse for 20-30 minutes, then strain and serve. 🌲 You can enjoy it on its own, or add it to your favorite herbal tea. I love mixing it with chai spices to make Forest Chai tea! ✨ Learn more about the history, harvesting, and health benefits of Pine Tip tea in our blog: Pine Needle Tea Benefits, Harvesting Tips + Recipe! Link in bio. _________ #pine #pineneedles #pineneedletea #pinetree #aromatherapy #herbaltea #tearecipe
Have you ever tried burning Bay leaves? Bay Laur Have you ever tried burning Bay leaves? Bay Laurel, also known as Sweet Laurel or Sweet Bay, is an important historical tree for prophecy and divination. In Ancient Greece, the psychic priestesses at the Oracle of Delphi, known as the Pythia, chewed Bay Laurel leaves and inhaled the incense of burned leaves to support their visionary trances. Pythia were highly regarded and it was believed that they channeled prophecies from the Greek god Apollo while deep in a dreamlike state. The ritual to interpret the word of Apollo started with the Pythia bathing in the Castalian Spring, sacrificing a goat, then entering a special chamber beneath a temple which was filled with the aroma of burning Laurel leaves. She would sit in the center of the temple, on a covered cauldron over a deep well-like chasm, enveloped by vapors and shaking Bay branches. From here, the Pythia would fall into a trance state and channel the prophecy of Apollo. Those seeking the help of Apollo and his priestess would bring offerings of Laurel branches, money, and animal sacrifices. #baylaurel #Apollo #pythia #aroma #aromaticplants #herbalmedicine
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.