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incense

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
Bio-Regional Aromatic Medicine
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
January 9, 20250Comments

The Benefits of Pine Resin & How to Harvest It

I will never forget meeting my friend Sam (name changed to spare them any embarrassment), a budding herbalist radiating excitement and curiosity about the wonders of the natural world. One
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Ritual
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
December 19, 20240Comments

The Power of Frankincense: Boosting Immunity and Overall Well-Being

Thousands of years ago, in ancient kingdoms, the air was thick with the rich, aromatic smoke of Frankincense. This sacred resin, harvested from Boswellia trees, played a central role in
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Herbal Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
December 9, 20240Comments

The Many Benefits of Jasmine

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of smelling Jasmine, you know how captivating its scent is. Beyond its delightful fragrance and ornamental appeal, Jasmine offers a treasure trove of health
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Ayurveda
Herbal Medicine
December 3, 20240Comments

Aromatic Herbs for Digestion

If you’ve ever had a stomachache, you know how much it can derail your day. Our digestive system is a cornerstone of our health and vitality, responsible for breaking down
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Herbal Medicine
Sustainability
Topical Medicine
November 25, 20240Comments

Herbal Holiday Gift Guide

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect moment to celebrate the magic of small herbal businesses. Beyond the glittering lights and busy crowds, these businesses offer handcrafted remedies and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Aromatic Recipes
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Ritual
October 1, 20240Comments

Incense 101: Aromatic Medicine Beyond Incense Sticks

The scented swirls of incense smoke carry a profound story – the life cycle of each botanical ingredient, the journey from seedling to thriving herb, nurtured by the sun and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Human/Plant Connection
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Ritual
September 25, 20241Comments

Aromatic Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality

In a world where we often retreat to the comfort of our homes, the indoor air we breathe has never been more crucial to our health. Did you know that
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Eucalyptus Benefits for Sinus Congestion and Allergies
Aromatherapy
Aromatic History & Lore
Herbal Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
Topical Medicine
August 22, 20240Comments

Eucalyptus Benefits for Sinus Congestion and Allergies

It’s the middle of the night, and you’re tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep because you can’t breathe through your nose. Whether it's due to a cold, seasonal
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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🌈✨ Have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree?! 🌈✨ Have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree?!

There are over 700 types of Eucalyptus trees, but the Rainbow tree is by far the most colorful. Eucalyptus deglupta, also known as Mindanao gum or rainbow gum, is the only Eucalyptus that lives in the rainforest and is one of only four species that are not native to Australia. It grows in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, where it can rise up to 250 feet tall!

The tree trunk takes on different colors as the bark sheds and the inner bark is exposed to the air.

As it sheds, it first reveals a bright green color, which changes over time, aging into different colors of blue, purple, orange, and maroon. The varied, colorful striations are a reflection of the tree bark shedding at different times throughout the year. 

The result is a stunning display that is in perpetual metamorphosis, a beautiful representation that the only constant in life is change. 

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 #rainboweucalyptus #rainboweucalyptustree #eucalyptus #eucalyptustree #natureismagic #aromatics
As spring brings new life all around us, you might As spring brings new life all around us, you might be wondering what wild-harvesting opportunities lie outside your doorstep…

Just as the outside world affects us, the energies within plants also ebb and flow along with external influences. The changing seasons, elements, the sun, moon, stars, and planetary positions all affect how and when plants move their life force within their bodies.

Learning how to read these rhythms can help you understand when certain plants and their plant parts are the most potent, and when is the best time to harvest them.

Observing nature can teach us many things – you can actually oftentimes see where plants put their energy and how they move it. 

For example, in the spring, a dead-looking, bare branch will suddenly burst to life with a vibrant shoot or bud, eventually turning into a leaf or flower. In the summer, that flower might bloom and die, with a fruit ripening in its place. In the fall and winter, the plants move their energy into their bark, wood, and roots, preparing to hibernate as their leaves wither and fall.

When a plant is putting its energy into a particular plant part, it is usually most potent during that time, and likely at its peak potential for harvesting. For example, the spring is the most ideal time to harvest fresh shoots, leaves, buds, and early flowers; in the summer, foliage and flowers; in the fall, fruiting bodies, seeds, resins, gums; and in the winter, woods and roots.

Of course, this is a general rule of thumb. Many plant parts can also be harvested year-round if you can’t get to them at the most ideal time. Also, not all plants are on the same schedule. Remember, whenever wild-harvesting, to always harvest sustainably! 

To learn more about this topic, check out our vlog: Harvesting Your Own Aromatic Plants Along With the Seasons.

🌿 Link in bio.

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#wildharvesting #wildharvested #wildcrafting #sustainableharvest #sustainability #aromaticplants
Terpenes from trees are nature’s aromatic medicine Terpenes from trees are nature’s aromatic medicine.

Recent studies have shown that exposure to the natural environment is beneficial to human health, and “forest bathing” has many beneficial health effects. 

Forest bathing, or forest therapy, generally means taking in the forest atmosphere using all of your senses. This is more than simply a walk in the woods, but also the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest.

Forest air is full of terpenes, which are aerosols emitted by various plants and trees, particularly conifers. Terpenes aid in the defense mechanism of the plant against herbivores and the environment, as well as their developmental physiology.

Some observed benefits of terpenes on human health include: 

🌲 ​​mood boosting qualities
🌲 therapeutic effects in children with asthma and atopic dermatitis
🌲 strong anti-inflammatory properties 
🌲 anti-tumorigenic effects
🌲 neuroprotective effects

Just a few more reasons to spend some time in forests!

Here’s a link to a scientific study if you’re curious: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5402865/

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#terepenes #forestbathing #foresttherapy  #benefitsofnature  #natureistherapy #natureismedicine
Do you know the many benefits of bitters? Bitter Do you know the many benefits of bitters? 

Bitters are not only used to effectively support digestion and ease digestive upset, but they may also help deliver a gentle liver detox to your body. Supporting the liver is a great thing to do at the start of Spring, when our bodies are beginning to wake up from Winter hibernation and move more.

Common herbs used in bitters include Dandelion Root and Burdock Root, but there are also a lot of aromatic plants traditionally used as well, like Angelica Root, Mugwort, Grapefruit Peel, Orange Peel, Tangerine Peel, Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, Yellow Dock, Gentian, and even Juniper Berries. 

Traditionally, bitters are taken before a meal, but often folks like to add them to drinks or cocktails, too. 

Do you take bitters? What’s your favorite way to consume them?

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#bitters #aromaticroots #herbaltinctures #herbaltips #spring #dandelionroot #ginger
Aromatic smoke has always occupied a special place Aromatic smoke has always occupied a special place in human experience — a bridge between the physical and the invisible, the seen and the unseen.

Scent is the sense most deeply tied to memory and emotion, which means aromatic smoke can reach places deep within us. It can soften grief, lift mental fog, signal a transition, or simply tell the body: something is different now. It's okay to let go.

Perhaps this is why aromatic plants have been considered sacred across cultures for centuries. They stir something within us that's hard to describe.

For thousands of years, people around the world have turned to aromatic plants, incense, and smoke cleansing rituals to mark new beginnings, clear stagnation, and refresh both their homes and their minds.

As we move into spring, it's the perfect time to reconnect with these ancient traditions and with the plants growing all around you. Local plants carry a special resonance because they grow in the same ecosystem you inhabit and move through the same seasons you experience. 

They feel like home because, in a very real sense, they are.

In our new article, you'll discover:
🌿 The history of smoke cleansing across cultures
🌿 Sustainable alternatives to White Sage
🌿 Aromatic herbs that refresh your space and uplift your spirit
🌿 How to make your own dried herb bundles using plants growing around you

Read the full guide at the link in our bio. ✨

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#smokecleansing #herbbundle #smokeritual #naturalincense #whitesage #aromaticherbs #smokecleansingherbs
“Plants are our food, oxygen, and medicine. Some e “Plants are our food, oxygen, and medicine. Some even say they are one of the most pleasurable experiences on Earth! From the flowers to the trees and the seas filled with coral dreams, the earth’s natural flora has inspired and enhanced humans for as long as time can tell. That’s why the power of plants is the key to unlocking our enjoyment of life.”

― Natasha Potter
What are you ready to leave behind this spring? 🌿 What are you ready to leave behind this spring? 🌿 

Spring cleaning isn’t just about clearing out the closet… 

That urge to throw open the windows and start fresh is your inner world responding to the season.

Spring calls us toward new growth, but leaving the energy of winter behind isn't always easy. Some years it clings like a fog in the mind, a sluggishness in the body, or a staleness in the home that's hard to name but impossible to ignore. 

Aromatic plants have long been used to move exactly this kind of feeling: breaking up stagnation, lifting the spirit, and signaling to the body that it's time to begin again.

For centuries, cultures around the world have used aromatic herbs, smoke, and incense in seasonal cleansing rituals and energetic resets. Aromatic plants have a unique ability to awaken the senses and shift the feeling of a space (or our headspace).

In our new article, you'll discover:

✨ The history of smoke cleansing across cultures
✨ Aromatic herbs traditionally used to clear stagnant energy
✨ Sustainable alternatives to White Sage
✨ How scent affects mood, memory, and emotional well-being
✨ Step-by-step instructions for making your own herb bundles using plants from your local landscape

🌱 Comment SPRING to get the full guide sent straight to your inbox!

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#smokecleansing #herbbundle #naturalincense #DIYherbalism #whitesage 
 #smokeritual #aromaticherbs
🌿 Raise your hand if you love White Sage as much a 🌿 Raise your hand if you love White Sage as much as we do…

While we adore this plant’s musky, camphor-like notes & sweet undertones, White Sage holds deep sacred significance for many Indigenous cultures of North America, and that deserves our respect before we reach for it casually. 

Beyond the cultural conversation, there's an ecological one too. Over-harvesting to meet global demand has placed enormous pressure on wild populations, landing White Sage on the United Plant Savers At-Risk Species List. 

Much of the wild-harvested White Sage on the market is thought to come from unauthorized harvesting.

The good news is, aromatic smoke cleansing is an ancient global tradition & there are so many other beautiful herbs to work with:

🌿 Garden Sage: A sustainable alternative to White Sage, traditionally used to clear stagnant energy, purify spaces & boost mental clarity.

🌿 Bay Laurel: Revered since ancient Greece & burned for purification, protection, confidence & creative inspiration.

🌿 Mugwort: Traditionally used in smoke cleansing to clear negativity, sharpen intuition & support dreamwork & meditation.

🌿 Rosemary: Its bold, invigorating aroma helps sweep away mental fog, break up stagnation & rekindle motivation & self-confidence.

🌿 Evergreens: Burned for centuries to purify spaces, offer protection & bring a grounding sense of calm & resilience.

🌿 Lavender: Believed to wash away stress, negativity & emotional turbulence.

The rich, worldwide history of smoke cleansing means there is a way into this practice for everyone, one that feels personally meaningful without intruding on traditions sacred to others.

Getting to know the aromatic plants of your local landscape is a beautiful place to start (or growing your own!). Local plants carry a special resonance because they move through the same seasons we do. They feel like home, because they are.

We just posted a free DIY guide for making your own dried herb bundle using the plants growing around you! Inside, we explore this topic more & give you step-by-step instructions to create your own smoke cleansing practice.

Link in bio! ✨

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#smokecleansing #herbbundle #DIY #ritual #whitesage
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