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incense

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
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
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Topical Medicine
Uncategorized
August 9, 20225Comments

Aromatic Plants for Bug Repellent

Summer is one of my favorite times of year – the wild plants are thriving and the weather is perfect for being immersed in nature. Camping, hiking, swimming, lounging by
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Human/Plant Connection
June 2, 20225Comments

Energetics in Plants and People

Have you ever wondered why exactly it is, that an aromatic remedy may work great for you, but not for your neighbor?This is because every person is incredibly unique, and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
May 24, 20224Comments

Essential Oils and Pets

Can you use essential oils with pets? Are essential oils bad for dogs and cats? We get these types of questions a lot. The answer is not a simple yes
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
April 26, 20224Comments

Incorporating Incense Into Your Herbal Practice

Incense as medicine has been utilized for ages in cultures around the world, but has unfortunately been forgotten by most modern herbalists. We often hear from our students that they
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
March 30, 20228Comments

How to Use Aromatic Plants for Allergies

Spring is such a magical time of year; it can be so exciting and inspiring to witness the Earth bursting at the seams with color and smells. However, some of
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Incense as Medicine
Incense Crafting
Topical Medicine
March 16, 20225Comments

Your Guide to the Topical & Internal Herbal Preparations for Healing & Beauty

When it comes to working with plants, knowing where to start can feel intimidating. However, don’t let the vast amount of information available overwhelm you, or stop you from giving
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy
Aromatic Recipes
Incense as Medicine
Plant Profiles
February 14, 202210Comments

Aromatic Plants for the Heart

As humans, we experience the gift, and sometimes what can feel like a curse, of love. A risk of love is loss – it requires courage to take risks, and
by NW School of Aromatic Medicine
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What if the “weed” growing along the roadside was What if the “weed” growing along the roadside was once carried into battle to save lives? I still remember the first time I truly met Yarrow. I was on a hike with one of my herbal teachers when he stopped, bent down, and brushed his hand across a patch of feathery leaves at our feet. “This plant,” he said, “was carried into battle to slow bleeding from wounds. And if you’re ever hiking without a first-aid kit… or bleeding during the zombie apocalypse… a poultice of Yarrow should do the trick.” I laughed…But I never forgot it! Yarrow is a powerful plant of paradox. It can slow bleeding… and move stagnant blood. It can cool heat… and stimulate circulation. It can protect boundaries… and open what’s stuck. For centuries, it’s been called many names: Staunch Weed, Soldier’s Woundwort, Nosebleed, and Life Medicine. Legend says Achilles used it on the battlefield to take care of his soldiers. Chinese divination traditions use their stalks to consult the I Ching. Herbalists call it the “master of blood.” And beyond the physical, Yarrow has long been known as the herb of the wounded warrior and wounded healer – a plant for those who have had to become strong because they first had to survive something. In our new video blog, you’ll learn: • The mythology of Achilles and Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • Its powerful support for digestion, circulation, skin issues and menstrual struggles • How it works in aromatic medicine and emotional boundary work • Practical ways to use it in tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more By the end, you may never look at this “common weed” the same way again. ✨ If you’ve ever felt called to understand this plant beyond just its benefits – to really know its story, its spirit, its intelligence – this one is for you. 🌿 Watch/read the full story of Yarrow at the link in our bio. ________ #yarrow #yarrowflower #aromaticmedicine #emotionalboundaries #boundarysetting #weedsaremedicine #herbalmonograph
Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exact Have you ever met a plant that seems to know exactly what your body needs? For me, that plant is Yarrow. Yarrow is a plant of opposites. It’s described as both cooling & warming, grounding & uplifting, moving & stabilizing, opening while protective. On a physical level, it can slow bleeding, yet it can also help move stagnant blood. There’s something deeply reassuring about this paradox – a plant so attuned to the body that it responds to imbalance rather than forcing change in a single direction. That kind of intelligence is what makes Yarrow one of the most fascinating herbs I’ve ever encountered. Its Latin name, Achillea millefolium, tells part of the story. “Millefolium” means “thousand-leaved,” referring to its feathery foliage, while “Achillea” honors Achilles, the great warrior of Greek myth who used Yarrow to tend his soldiers’ wounds in battle. According to legend, Achilles’ mother, Thetis, tried to make him invulnerable by dipping him in the sacred River Styx. But she held him by his heel, the one place untouched by the protective waters. That small, forgotten place became his only weakness, and it was there that Paris’ arrow struck him. (This is where the phrase “Achilles heel” comes from!). Over time, Yarrow became known as the herb of the wounded warrior. And just as it helps seal physical wounds, it has long been associated with strengthening emotional and energetic boundaries. Yarrow is often called the herb for empaths, those who feel overwhelmed by external intensity or who absorb the emotions of others. Many healers see it as a boundary-setting herb for people who need help keeping their own energy separate and safe while supporting those around them. In our new video blog, you’ll discover: • The mythology of Achilles & Chiron • Yarrow’s traditional uses across cultures • Its powerful support for digestion, circulation & the uterus • How it works in aromatic medicine & emotional boundary work • Practical ways to use it as a tea, tincture, essential oil, hydrosol, incense & more 🌿 Watch/read the full Yarrow story at the link in our bio. _____________ #yarrow #yarrowflower #empaths #emotionalboundaries #aromatherapy #herbalism
Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t Did you know: What we call Juniper berries aren’t actually berries! These “berries” are really fleshy cones called a galbulus, which take 2-3 years to ripen from green to deep blue-black. Junipers are either male or female. Male trees produce tiny yellow cones, while female trees grow the bluish-green cones we know as “berries.” Have you ever spotted a male vs. female Juniper? 🌿 ___________ #juniper #juniperberries #junipertree #botanynerd #aromaticmedicine #herbalism
Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and th Nature is our greatest teacher. 🌿 The Earth and the botanical kingdom are always offering wisdom. The question is… are we listening? One of the most powerful ways to learn from nature is to slow down and simply be with it. To spend unhurried time with the plants. To notice their scents and textures. For many of us, especially those living in cities, that connection can feel distant – and even more so in the depths of winter, when the cold keeps us indoors. But we can always invite nature in. Simmer evergreen needles on the stovetop. Line your windowsills with acorns or pinecones. Burn grounding aromatics like Fir, Pine, Cedar, Tulsi, or Thyme. Draw an herbal bath. Prepare a simple herbal steam (you’ll find some recipes on our blog!). These small rituals remind the body and spirit that we belong to the Earth, even when we’re inside. What’s one way you bring nature into your indoor life this season? 🌲 _______________ #natureisourteacher #connectwithnature #plantsareteachers #aromatherapy #naturalliving #naturalincense #winterritual
With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI With all the AI content lately (AI herbalists, AI teachers, AI everything), it’s starting to feel like you can’t scroll for more than 30 seconds without bumping into another perfectly generated “expert.” Last week, we released a blog, “Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist,” to talk honestly about it (see recent posts). And the funniest thing happened the day before we released it, someone accused me of looking like AI on one of our reels! So I’m here to say I, Evan Sylliaasen, am not a robot… (& here are a few crazy things about my very human life): 🪵 If I weren’t teaching or crafting incense, I’d probably be building furniture. Woodworking is my favorite hobby. 🎵 In my teens, I played drums in a few bands. In my early 20s, I recorded a one-man bluegrass album playing guitar, banjo & mandolin, called Black & Bluegrass. I used to be really good (Now… debatable!). 👖 I was a “child star.” Sort of, not really. I appeared in a Sur La Table magazine at 5 years old in a tie-dye shirt while my fake magazine family wore Canadian tuxedos. I’ve been the black sheep from the beginning. 🎓 I was suspended in junior high once. And no, I’m not telling you why. 💻 I had crippling stage fright as a kid & teen. The irony of teaching online now is not lost on me. 🎨 Before becoming my own boss, I worked 15+ different jobs: dog grooming, land surveying, painting, construction, lead catering, selling SEO, landscaping… I’ve always been willing to get my hands dirty. 🌱 My mom taught me to garden when I was young. Since age 20, I’ve kept my own food & herb garden wherever I’ve lived. That’s where all of this really began. My life has been shaped by years in the garden, working through awkward teenage stage fright, playing music & long days of hard work on construction sites... Real experiences, big mistakes, great mentors, amazing people & real plants. And that’s exactly why I care about what’s happening in our space right now. Thanks for trusting me, and everything my team (also real people) & I have built at the NW School of Aromatic Medicine since 2014. We’re dedicated to you & teaching aromatic medicine from places of real human experience & tradition.
Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the evergreens are some of the only strong aromatics available this time of year. In the quieter months, they become steady companions. I’ll often take a slow walk through the forest, or drive into the mountains closeby, pausing to breathe in the scent of freshly fallen Cedar branches, letting the aroma wake my senses and reconnect me to this land we call home. Cedar has been my favorite tree for as long as I can remember. From early childhood, wandering moss-covered forests and rain-soaked trails of the Pacific Northwest, it has been a constant presence: grounding, familiar, and comforting. For Indigenous peoples along the coast, from Washington all the way to Alaska, Cedar has long been held as one of the most sacred plants. It was everything: warmth from fire, shelter and clothing, tools for weaving and art, canoes for travel, incense for ceremony, and powerful medicine for healing. To many Northwest tribes, Cedar remains the true “tree of life,” woven into nearly every aspect of living. Sometimes I imagine what it would feel like if a single plant touched every layer of our lives today, from the material to the spiritual. Perhaps then we would truly understand what it means to call a plant an ally. 🌲 ___________ #cedar #treeoflife #plantally #plantsareteachers #sacredplants #plantsaremagic
Natural remedies are trending now more than ever. Natural remedies are trending now more than ever. And alongside this resurgence, something new has emerged: the “AI herbalist.” We’re witnessing an explosion of AI-generated herbal blogs, books, and courses, often created by so-called “experts,” often with no education, clinical training, or lived relationship with the plants. Here’s the problem: herbal and aromatic medicine is nuanced, individualized, and deeply contextual. It cannot be reduced to algorithmic AI-pattern recognition or “input symptom, output herb.” True plant medicine is a lived experience. It unfolds in the kitchen, the garden, the apothecary, and the clinic. It engages the senses and touches the spirit. In a world where algorithms can generate polished content in seconds, human expertise matters more than ever. Real herbalists and aromatherapists know the plants intimately. They understand the delicate balance of body, mind, and spirit. They’ve walked this path, felt the plant resin on their fingers, inhaled the deep aroma of incense smoke, and seen the subtle ways plants work. And they pass their knowledge on through mentorship, ensuring plant medicine continues to thrive as a living tradition rather than a recycled dataset. Let us not lose sight of the heart and soul of plant wisdom. In our latest blog, Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist, you’ll learn: 🌱 Why AI is often wrong with plant medicine 🌱 How it doubles down on errors with absolute confidence 🌱 Why trained herbalists and aromatherapists frequently disagree with AI answers 🌱 How to spot an AI herbalist 🌱 How to protect the heart and soul of plant medicine ✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full blog. _____________ #aicontent #plantmedicine #herbalmedicine #herbalist #aromatherapist #herbalism
How can you tell the difference between AI-assembl How can you tell the difference between AI-assembled herbal information and real plant wisdom? It’s honestly getting harder to spot. The branding is clean and polished, and the tone is confident. That’s what makes it so convincing. Natural remedies are trending like never before, and with that surge comes a new problem: the “AI herbalist.” In recent years, AI-generated blogs, social media “experts” with no clinical experience, and even AI-written herbal books and courses have flooded the marketplace. This is especially concerning now that Instagram and Facebook stopped independent fact-checking in early 2025, and about 20% of TikTok content contains misinformation. Confident-sounding advice can spread faster than ever… even when it’s wrong. In our latest blog, Living in the Age of the AI Herbalist, we reveal some shocking examples: last year’s #1 Amazon bestseller in “Herbal Remedies” was written by AI (with a completely made-up author), and roughly 82% of new herbal books on Amazon were at least partially AI-generated. You’ll also learn: 🌱 Why AI is often wrong with plant medicine 🌱 How it doubles down on errors with absolute confidence 🌱 Why trained herbalists and aromatherapists frequently disagree with AI answers 🌱 How to spot an AI herbalist 🌱 How to protect the heart and soul of plant medicine ✨ Click the link in our bio to read the full blog. _______________ #AI #ageofai #herbalism #herbalist #plantmedicine #plantwisdom #herbaleducation #herbalmedicine
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