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aromatic medicine

person holding fresh rosemary plant in between their fingers
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Plant Profiles
April 12, 20230Comments

The Many Gifts and Benefits of Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most commonly used and widely known aromatic plants. Chances are you’ve eaten this herb in food, perhaps on roasted potatoes, or met this plant growing
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 29, 20230Comments

Fragrance Oils and Synthetics Exposed

From the fragrant days of cave dwelling, to the glory of the ancient incense and spice routes, to mass-produced, chemical-based, aromatic mimicry, the evolution of humanity’s relationship with scent is
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 14, 20230Comments

Addressing Stress & Anxiety with Aromatic Medicine & Mindfulness

You can’t treat plants like pills. Too often, aromatherapy is used as a quick fix for our problems, when it doesn’t really work that way. If you have a headache,
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
December 21, 20229Comments

The Magic and Medicine of Douglas Fir

With autumn behind us, many plants have shed their leaves in preparation for winter and wild-harvesting opportunities can feel sparse. But there is one particular type of plant you can
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
December 9, 20229Comments

Aromatic Plants for Colds and Flu

‘Tis the season – of cold and flu. Now more than ever is a great time to focus on strengthening your immune system. As you may already know, winter tends
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Sustainability
November 29, 20228Comments

Herbal-Minded Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season has arrived, and this is often a time when we think of giving something special to those we love and care for. However, the idea of picking
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Plant Profiles
November 15, 20227Comments

The Benefits of Clary Sage

Clary Sage has been revered for ages for its ability to both nourish and uplift, on a physical, mental, and emotional level. This majestic plant has lovely heart-shaped leaves and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
September 22, 202211Comments

Incense Crafting: A Path to Healing & Personal Fulfillment

The Art of Incense CraftingImagine walking through the depths of the forest; it’s so quiet that all you hear are the treetops swaying from the light breeze, it smells like
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatic Recipes
Ayurveda
Uncategorized
September 13, 20227Comments

Aromatic Plants for Oral Care

Plants have been used for ages throughout history for addressing a wide variety of health problems, including oral health support. Before modern dentistry, and still to this day, native and indigenous
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Incense as Medicine
August 25, 20229Comments

10 Aromatic Plants for Overcoming Anxiety

The world can feel overwhelming at times. There are so many herbs that can help ease anxiety, it’s almost as if the plants know how chaotic life can feel and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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Have you tried working with resins before, but end Have you tried working with resins before, but ended up with sticky tools and wasted materials?

You're not alone — and it's not your fault. Most people are never taught how to handle them correctly.

Resins are some of the most concentrated, aromatic, and prized materials in the plant kingdom, used for centuries in aromatic medicine, ritual, perfumery, and incense. And once you know how to work with them properly, they open up a completely different level of formulation.

Lesson 2 of our free Botanical Resins Workshop Series is live. 

In this session, you'll learn:
✨ How to process different resin types based on their natural consistency
✨ The key technique that prevents sticky, unusable results
✨ Which resins work best for salves, incense, tinctures, and more
✨ How to source high-quality, sustainable resins (and what to avoid)

Plus, you'll get the Preparing Resins for Herbal Crafting Workbook to get hands-on right away.

🌲 Watch for free at the link in our bio.

📌 Save this post — you won’t want to miss Lesson 3, which covers a step-by-step Frankincense Resin Salve using my personal formula.

 #frankincensesalve #frankincense #botanicalresin #treeresin #incenseresin
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
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