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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
Top 5 Aromatherapy Oils for Congestion Relief text over green eucalyptus leaves
Aromatherapy
May 15, 20250Comments

Top 5 Aromatherapy Oils for Congestion Relief

Congestion – the unwelcome guest that steals sleep, muddles your mind, and makes every breath feel like a struggle. When a stuffy nose or relentless sinus pressure strikes, finding relief
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Plant Profiles
April 25, 20250Comments

Jasmine Benefits for the Mind, Body, and Soul

The alluring aroma of Jasmine is more than just a scent – it’s an experience that lingers in the soul. Ethereal, intoxicating, and deeply evocative, Jasmine carries an almost sacred
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Bottles of essential oil with frankincense resin and candles
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
April 10, 20250Comments

Aromatherapy for Stress Relief & Relaxation

Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or simply glance at your to-do list, and it’s clear – stress has become an unavoidable part of modern life. From the
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Natural Perfumery
Ritual
March 13, 20250Comments

Poetry in a Bottle: The Art of Natural Perfumery

Natural perfumery is the art of the unseen, a symphony of botanicals and emotions, creating an aura that is uniquely yours. A great perfume is more than just a fragrance
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
February 20, 20250Comments

Ginger Root Benefits and Uses

Imagine walking through an ancient spice market, where the air is thick with the scent of exotic herbs and roots. Among the vibrant displays, one root stands out with its
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Topical Medicine
February 11, 20250Comments

Aromatherapy Blends for Respiratory Health

It starts with a tickle in your throat, then a stuffy nose. Before you know it, you’re wrapped in blankets, battling congestion that makes it hard to breathe. Whether it’s
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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What's the one thing missing from most people's ho What's the one thing missing from most people's home apothecary… that ancient cultures considered absolutely essential?

It's not an herb you'd find in a typical supplement aisle. It’s something that’s been used by healers, perfumers, priests, and traditional physicians across virtually every culture on earth for thousands of years.

Tree resins.

These raw, aromatic substances — the same ones that flow through a tree's wounds to seal, protect, and heal them — have been at the heart of aromatic medicine, ritual, and beauty care since before the time of the ancient Egyptians. 

And somewhere along the way, most of us just... forgot about them.

They can help to calm a burned-out nervous system, soothe cuts and wounds, fight infection, rejuvenate skin, boost mental clarity, lift a heavy mood, and so much more. And they can be made into everything from first aid salves and skincare products to natural perfumes and ceremonial incense — right in your own kitchen.

We just released lesson 1 in the FREE Botanical Resins Workshop Series, covering the benefits of resins and exactly how to start incorporating them into your own practice.

In this 3-part series, you'll learn how to:
✨ Choose the right resin for your intention
✨ Properly extract raw resins into remedies and aromatic creations
✨  Avoid the sticky messes and gritty textures that often happen with your first resin crafting projects
✨  Make your own resin-infused salve (downloadable recipe included!)

🌲 Join the free series at the link in our bio.

P.S. This free workshop is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait too long to join. I’ll see you inside!

 #botanicalresin #treeresin #resinmedicine #freeworkshop #herbalmedicine #medicinemaking
What if one of the most powerful tools in herbal m What if one of the most powerful tools in herbal medicine has been hiding in plain sight? 🌿

Botanical resins have been cherished for thousands of years in incense, perfumery, ritual, and medicine. But in modern herbalism, they're widely underused.

That’s why I'm hosting a FREE Botanical Resins Workshop Series, and I'd love for you to join us!

Here’s what’s inside:

✨ The true potential of resins and how they can elevate your creations
✨ The key differences between resin species and how to choose the right one for your intention
✨ How to dissolve, extract, and transform raw resins into usable forms
✨ Tips for avoiding common beginner mistakes (no more sticky disasters!)
✨ A step-by-step resin-infused salve tutorial with a downloadable recipe guide

If you've ever felt like something was missing from your herbal practice, this might be it.

🌿✨ Save your spot at the link in our bio (yes, it’s free!).

This series is only available for a limited time, so be sure to join us soon!

 #aromaticmedicine #resins #aromatherapy #herbalism #aromaticherbs #traditionalmedicine #freeworkshop
There's a word that gets thrown around a lot in we There's a word that gets thrown around a lot in wellness circles these days: grounding. At its core, grounding is the practice of bringing your awareness back into your body and into the present moment — a felt sense of being settled, stable, and connected to the earth beneath you. 

Tree resins are one of the most effective tools for cultivating a grounding energy, helping us feel more rooted, present, and embodied. Especially now, when so many people are living almost entirely in their heads: scrolling, thinking, staring at screens, disconnected from our bodies and the natural world around us.

Working with resins as a daily ritual can be an antidote to that. And it makes sense intuitively… Resins are medicines of the trees. If anything in nature embodies being rooted, grounded, and solid, it's a tree. 

When you work with tree resin with the intention of grounding, you're connecting with the energy of the tree it came from, and as you inhale its volatile oils, you can feel that downward-moving quality — that calming, slowing-down sensation of grounding.

In our Magic & Medicine of Botanical Resins video blog series, we explore the vast therapeutic benefits of tree resins, their sacred status and ritual uses, and how to bring this ancient practice into your modern life.

Inside, you’ll discover:
✨ Why tree resins are considered sacred across cultures
✨ How aromatic compounds influence your nervous system and energy
✨ How resins can calm the mind and support emotional balance
✨ The powerful skin-healing and first-aid uses of resins
✨ Simple, creative ways to start working with resins at home

Parts 1 and 2 are now live on our blog.

🌲 Visit the full vlog at the link in our bio.
~ Gums vs Resins ~ Do you know the difference? ~ Gums vs Resins ~

Do you know the difference? 

It’s pretty common to mix up the two, or think they’re the same thing!

Resin and gum are sticky, protective, healing substances that ooze out from a shrub or tree’s bark, each with its own unique chemical composition.

The main differences between gums and resins is that:

- Resins aren’t water soluble, gums are
- Gums are not oil or alcohol soluble, resins are
- Resins contain a high content of volatile aromatics (essential oils) and other constituents
- Gums have a small amount of aromatics, but have their own therapeutic properties, to a lesser degree

Resins are most commonly used in herbalism, aromatherapy, beauty and cosmetic products, perfumery, incense, and other aromatic and therapeutic preparations. 

Gums are mainly used for emulsification, thickening, and for their adhering properties in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, incense, perfumery, food and beverage, and textile industries.

There are also gum-resins, which are a natural mixture of both gum and resin, that possess the properties of both groups. Examples of gum-resins are Frankincense and Myrrh.
~ Gums vs Resins ~ Do you know the difference? ~ Gums vs Resins ~

Do you know the difference? 

It’s pretty common to mix up the two, or think they’re the same thing!

Resin and gum are sticky, protective, healing substances that ooze out from a shrub or tree’s bark, each with its own unique chemical composition.

The main differences between gums and resins is that:

- Resins aren’t water soluble, gums are
- Gums are not oil or alcohol soluble, resins are
- Resins contain a high content of volatile aromatics (essential oils) and other constituents
- Gums have a small amount of aromatics, but have their own therapeutic properties, to a lesser degree

Resins are most commonly used in herbalism, aromatherapy, beauty and cosmetic products, perfumery, incense, and other aromatic and therapeutic preparations. 

Gums are mainly used for emulsification, thickening, and for their adhering properties in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, incense, perfumery, food and beverage, and textile industries.

There are also gum-resins, which are a natural mixture of both gum and resin, that possess the properties of both groups. Examples of gum-resins are Frankincense and Myrrh.
Ever wondered how trees heal themselves, and what Ever wondered how trees heal themselves, and what we can learn from them? 🌲

When a storm snaps a branch, the bark splits, and suddenly the tree is vulnerable…but almost immediately, the tree's wisdom begins to stir, creating a golden, aromatic substance. It makes its way through intricate networks of tiny canals towards the wound, sealing it off, protecting it from infection, and slowly restoring what was broken.

This substance is resin. It's the tree’s medicine and means of protection. Its way of surviving in a world that doesn't stop throwing things at it. 

Thousands of years ago, humans were paying close attention to this process. Through simple observation, they began to understand something profound: the same substance trees use to heal and protect themselves could be used in much the same way for us.

In ancient times, resins were applied to wounds, used to guard against infection, and valued for their ability to support the body’s natural healing processes. Over time, people also began to notice these aromatic substances had a powerful effect on the mind and emotions, helping to calm the nervous system, sharpen awareness, and support a deeper sense of presence. 

It’s almost as if resins offered protection for the body, mind, and soul. This is why resins have been used for generations in rituals, ceremonies, and therapeutic practices around the world.

So how do you take this raw, sacred material and turn it into something practical for healing, ritual, and everyday use?

In our Magic & Medicine of Botanical Resins video blog series, we explore exactly that! You'll learn about the vast therapeutic benefits of tree resins, their ritual uses, and creative ways you can begin incorporating them into your own herbal remedies or aromatic creations.

🌲✨ Comment RESIN to get the full video blog series sent straight to your inbox.

Parts 1 and 2 are now live!
“Over every mountain there is a path, although it “Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” 

– Theodore Roethke

__________
#poetry #TheodoreRoethke  #lifeisamountain  #theodoreroethkequote  #climbthemountain  #naturemetaphors
Across cultures and continents, tree resins have p Across cultures and continents, tree resins have played a central role in spirituality, ritual, and sacred ceremony for thousands of years. But why have these substances been so universally revered?

In many spiritual and healing traditions around the world, resins have been viewed as the living essence, or spirit, of the tree itself. When we work with resins, especially when they’re burned as incense, it’s often considered as an invitation for the spirit of the tree to join and support whatever intention we bring to the ritual.

In other traditions, including ancient Indigenous cultures and even Biblical teachings, burning incense or resin is believed to create a direct connection to the spirit world. The rising smoke is seen as carrying prayers and offerings upward, drawing the attention of God, gods, or spiritual forces. 

In fact, many cultures referred to these resins as the “Food of the Gods.” Their aromas were believed to please and appease divine beings more than any other offering.

Because of this, resins have long stood at the heart of sacred ceremonies around the world. The fragrant smoke released from these substances – drawn from the very heart of trees – is offered through fire as a bridge between the earthly and spiritual realms. 

In many traditions, this act is not merely symbolic. The smoke of incense is believed to open a pathway of communication, helping prayers and intentions reach the spirit world more clearly.

*This is an excerpt from our new video blog, The Magic and Medicine of Botanical Resins. 

In the vlog, you’ll discover: 

• What tree resins actually are (and how they differ from sap)
• Why cultures around the world consider them sacred
• Their powerful therapeutic properties
• How they’re used in incense, perfumery, and herbal medicine
• A simple way to begin working with resins at home

🌲 Read the full blog and watch the video at the link in our bio.

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#treeresin #incenseresin  #harvestingtips  #wildharvesting #sustainableharvest  #incensecrafting  #botanicalresin
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