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Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
Sustainability
December 18, 20250Comments

The Sacred Scents of the Season: Frankincense, Myrrh & Beyond

The scents of Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, and Ginger drift from the oven. Fresh Pine fills the living room from the Christmas tree and evergreen boughs framing the fireplace. Dried Oranges
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
December 11, 20250Comments

Plant Allies for Returning the Light: Aromatic Herbs for Hope & Renewal

On the morning of the Winter Solstice, something subtle – but powerful – happens. The world seems to slow down. The sun lingers at its lowest point on the horizon,
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
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Ritual
Topical Medicine
January 16, 20250Comments

Tree Resins: Unlock the Power of this Underappreciated Natural Remedy

There’s something very magical about tree resins. These golden, aromatic droplets are born from a tree’s natural healing process – a protective substance that seals wounds, guards against infection, and
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
Aromatic Recipes
Topical Medicine
January 5, 20240Comments

Preparing Winter Medicine with Tree Resins

Guest Article Written By Dan Riegler, founder of Apothecary's GardenAs we enter another winter here in the Northern hemisphere, questions about chest rubs, cough and cold syrups, salves, and liniments for
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
December 20, 20200Comments

Holiday Smells: Aromatic Traditions from Winters Past

Fresh cut Pine and Spruce trees, Cedar boughs, pots of evergreen needles steaming on the wood stove. Aromas of Cinnamon and Clove rising from the oven. Orange peel and Star
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine

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🌞 Your Sun Sign Is Only the Beginning… What if you 🌞 Your Sun Sign Is Only the Beginning… What if your birth chart could help you choose the right plant remedy, not just for a symptom, but for your entire constitution? For centuries, physicians and herbalists studied astrology alongside plant medicine. They understood something we’ve largely forgotten: the same cosmic forces that shape human nature also shape the plants growing from the earth. Astrology isn’t just personality traits and fun horoscopes. Your birth chart reflects patterns in your body, mind, temperament, and even predispositions. The 12 signs, houses, and planets were traditionally used to understand constitution and to guide more precise plant selection. And the plants themselves even carry planetary signatures. A beautiful example of planetary patterns in plants is St. John’s Wort and its connection to the Sun. With its vibrant yellow flowers, love of hot, dry climates, and tendency to grow in open, sun-drenched spaces, it embodies solar energy in both form and habitat. Energetically warming and uplifting, it brings light to dark moods and is often used during the long winter months to strengthen our inner sun. This is the art of Astrological Herbalism, where plants and people are brought together through pattern, timing, and deep observation. In our blog, we explore: • Why your sun sign is just the surface • How planetary patterns relate to body constitution • How plants reflect cosmic forces • How astrological timing can even enhance the potency of your preparations If you love plants AND astrology (and if you’ve ever felt there was more to both of them)… This is your invitation to explore it! 🌞🌿 Click the link in our bio to read the full article. And when you’re done reading, tell us: What’s your sun sign, and have you ever worked with plants through an astrological lens? 👇 _________ #astrology #herbalism #astroherbalism #sunsign #stjohnswort #astrologicalremedies #herbalremedies
What type of Frankincense matches your mood? Fran What type of Frankincense matches your mood? Frankincense resin is one of the world’s most revered aromatic treasures, used for centuries in sacred rituals, meditation, healing, and energetic alignment. Our sister company, Higher Mind Incense, now offers 4 different types of sustainably sourced Frankincense. Each species offers its own subtle magic: ✨ Boswellia carterii: Bright, citrusy, slightly piney, with warm honey-like undertones. A beloved classic used for serenity, purification, and creating a peaceful atmosphere. ✨ Boswellia rivae: Fresh, slightly sweet, and softly woody with gentle floral accents. Uplifting and mood-brightening, often used to enhance clarity and elevate the spirit. ✨ Boswellia neglecta: Deep, earthy, and balsamic with a touch of spice. Wonderfully grounding and calming. ✨ Boswellia serrata: Warm, resinous, and gently balsamic with a soft natural sweetness. Traditionally used to cultivate tranquility, deepen breathwork, and support meditative practices. Let your senses choose their favorite. Each variety brings beauty, depth, and intention to your incense rituals and aromatic recipes. Not sure which variety to choose? Experience all 4 with our Frankincense Variety Pack! Link in bio. _________ #frankincense #frankincenseresin #incenseresin #treeresin #naturalincense #incense #sustainablysourced
Tree resin is the beautiful defense mechanism of a Tree resin is the beautiful defense mechanism of a tree. Resin is a combination of essential oils, volatile oils, and other organic compounds that are secreted from trees and shrubs as a means of protection from infection and pests. In essence, tree resins have a protective nature. They have antibiotic and antimicrobial qualities that provide powerful protection topically. The ancients observed this long ago and began employing them for physical, energetic, and spiritual protection. Just as a tree produces this precious resin to seal and heal its own wounds, resins and gums have been used topically to treat wounds, cuts, abrasions, and other external skin issues of humans for ages. Mayan and Aztec warriors were treated after battle with melted resin or resin ointments to prevent infection and speed recovery and healing. It’s quite a magical reflection that resins work to protect trees and can provide the same protection to humans, too… A beautiful example that we are, in fact, a part of nature. _________ #incenseresin #treeresin #naturalincense #aromaticmedicine #aromatherapy #treesarebeautiful #treesarelife
What if your astrological chart could change the w What if your astrological chart could change the way you work with plants? Most people think astrology begins and ends with their sun sign. But your birth chart is so much more than a horoscope! It’s a blueprint of your constitution, your personality, and even potential imbalances within the body and mind. For centuries, physicians and herbalists studied astrology to better understand plants, people, and patterns of health. This was the art of Medical Astrology, a system that saw the cosmos, the human body, and the plant world as deeply interconnected. When you look at a birth chart beyond the surface, you begin to see: ✨ How planetary energies correlate with temperament and constitution ✨ Why certain imbalances show up the way they do ✨ Which plants may resonate more with an individual Astrology can amplify aromatic medicine. It moves you beyond “use this for that” remedies and into a more intentional and personalized plant practice. And it doesn’t stop there… The plants themselves carry planetary signatures. From their physical form and habitat to their energetics and actions, they reflect celestial patterns. When you begin to see this, plant work becomes an art form of celestial matchmaking. If you’ve ever felt like there might be a deeper layer to herbalism and aromatherapy… there is. In our blog, we explore: • Why your sun sign is only the beginning • How planetary correspondences guide plant selection • How astrological timing can potentize your preparations • And why working with cosmic cycles can transform your practice If you’re ready to expand how you see plants, people, and the world around you… 🌙 Tap the link in our bio and read the full article now. ________ #astrology #herbalism #astroherbalism #astrologicalchart #medicalastrology #sunsign #astrologysigns
A Rescue Remedy for Flu Season: Herbal Steaming 🌿💨 A Rescue Remedy for Flu Season: Herbal Steaming 🌿💨 Cold and flu season is still here…and congestion, heaviness, and fatigue often come with it. Before reaching for an over-the-counter spray with ingredients you can’t pronounce, consider returning to this time-honored tradition. Herbal steaming is an age-old therapeutic practice used across cultures to support the respiratory system and ease cold and flu symptoms. While it’s often praised in skincare rituals, its roots run much deeper, as a gentle, effective way to work with aromatic plants and their volatile oils. To create an herbal steam, aromatic plants (fresh or dried) are added to hot water. As the water heats, it releases the plant’s volatile compounds into the air (much like a simple distillation), allowing you to inhale their therapeutic properties directly. Steam is naturally warming, opening, and moistening. When combined with aromatic plants, it can gently penetrate the mucosal tissues, helping to soothe congestion and invite clearer breathing in a localized, supportive way. Certain aromatic plants also offer immune support alongside antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, helping ease sore throats, sinus pressure, fatigue, and that run-down feeling that often comes with seasonal illness. ✨ Ready to try it yourself? All you need is a pot, hot water, a towel, and a handful of aromatics. Comment “STEAM” and we’ll send you our free Herbal Steaming Guide, complete with step-by-step instructions and our top 10 aromatic plants for herbal steams (+ their benefits!).
Did you know that astrology can be more than horos Did you know that astrology can be more than horoscopes… and actually serves as a powerful tool for working with plants in your aromatherapy or herbal practice? For centuries, the study of the planets and celestial forces has been a core part of aromatic and herbal medicine. This is the ancient tradition of Medical Astrology, a system used to classify plants, understand bodily constitutions, and create remedies that align with both the individual and the cosmos. ​​​​​​​Far from being outdated, these celestial patterns still influence our health, the plants we work with, and the world around us. And when you learn to work alongside them, your plant practice can become deeper, more precise, and more potent, just as practitioners have known across cultures for ages. In our blog post, we dive into the fascinating relationships between astrology, plants, and people. You’ll discover how incorporating astrology can: ▪️ Illuminate the root causes of imbalance and illness ▪️ Guide you in matching people with the remedies that will benefit them most ▪️ Even enhance the potency and effectiveness of your plant preparations You might never look at your astrological chart (or your apothecary) the same way again! 🌿✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full article. ___________ #astrology #herbalism #astroherbalism #medicalastrology #birthchart #astrologicalmagic
Have you ever worked with a plant that was technic Have you ever worked with a plant that was technically the right match for someone – aligned with their constitution, indicated for their symptoms, supported by everything you’ve studied – and yet something about it still felt slightly off? In your mind and on paper, it made sense, but in practice, it didn’t have the impact you'd hoped for. There’s a layer of plant work that lives beyond symptom-matching and even beyond basic energetics. And you don't have to be a wizard to figure it out! It has to do with patterns... the deeper architecture of a person, and the deeper signature of a plant. When I first began exploring the relationship between planets and plants through my buddy Sajah’s work, I was drawn in by how mystical it all felt. But what struck me was how simple and observational it actually was. You can literally see planetary qualities in the way a plant grows, in its structure, its scent, its taste, the direction it moves in the body, and the kinds of imbalances it addresses. And once I started putting it all into practice, everything shifted. Suddenly, the famous alchemical saying “As above, so below” stopped sounding symbolic and started functioning like a super-accurate diagnostic lens. In Lesson 2 of his free Astro-Herbalism Mini-Course, Sajah lays out the exact framework he uses to determine a plant’s planetary signature, and shows how to see which herbs truly correspond to a person’s underlying patterns, not just their surface symptoms. If you’ve ever felt like there’s a deeper pattern at play in plant medicine, something that explains why certain remedies truly resonate, this training can give language to what you’ve already sensed and help you find greater depth, meaning, precision, and confidence in your plant work. ✨ Join the free Astro-Herbalism Mini-Course online using the link in our bio. (It's only available for a limited time, so check it out soon!). ___________ #astroherbalism #astrology #herbalism #herbalist #plantsandastrology #planetsandplants #evolutionaryherbalism
Yarrow’s Latin name, Achillea millefolium, honors Yarrow’s Latin name, Achillea millefolium, honors Achilles, the great warrior of Greek myth who used Yarrow to tend his soldiers’ wounds in battle. Just as Yarrow helps seal physical wounds, it can strengthen energetic boundaries & support empaths who absorb others’ emotions. But to truly understand Yarrow's emotional support, we have to go back to the myths that helped shape its name. In Greco-Roman lore, Chiron, the wise centaur who taught Achilles about medicine, was struck by a poisoned arrow & (though immortal) was condemned to endless suffering. His pain became a lifelong teacher, shaping his ability to tend the wounds of others with unmatched compassion. He was known as the wounded healer. Achilles, on the other hand, embodies the archetype of the wounded warrior. His mother dipped him in the River Styx to make him invincible, but his heel remained exposed and vulnerable – the famous “Achilles heel.” Through these stories, Yarrow became known as the herb of the wounded healer & wounded warrior: uniting strength & vulnerability, courage & compassion. So many people find their way to aromatic medicine and herbs through a similar story; drawn in, as Chiron was – sometimes not by choice but by necessity – to find healing. Through that search for relief and meaning, we learn not only how to mend ourselves but how to support others with hard-won understanding & skill. This is the essence of the wounded warrior-healer: wisdom earned through suffering, then generously shared. Yarrow honors that inner transformation. It reminds us that to serve as a steady presence for others, to truly support others, we must continue tending to our own wounds, too (because that work is never truly finished). In our new video blog, we'll dive into the whole story of Yarrow together: ✨ The mythology & folklore behind its name ✨ How it supports digestion, circulation, skin & uterine health ✨ Its role in aromatic medicine (essential oil, hydrosol, incense, tea, tincture) ✨ Why so many empaths & healers feel called to work with it 🌿 Comment “YARROW” to get the full Yarrow vlog. ________ #yarrow #herbalism #aromatherapy #empaths #herbalfolklore #greekmythology
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