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Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Incense as Medicine
January 30, 20200Comments

The Ancient Indian Philosophy of Aroma & Incense, Part II

In my last blog, The Ancient Indian Philosophy of Aroma & Incense, Part I, I spoke about the beautiful tradition of healing plant smoke, Dhumapana, and the many used of
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“Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the r “Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon. 

With the sound of the river and the waterfall. 

With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds. 

Heal yourself with mint, neem, and eucalyptus. 

Sweeten with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. 

Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and a hint of cinnamon. 

Put love in tea instead of sugar and drink it looking at the stars. 

Heal yourself with the kisses that the wind gives you and the hugs of the rain. 

Stand strong with your bare feet on the ground and with everything that comes from it. 

Be smarter every day by listening to your intuition, looking at the world with your forehead. 

Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier. 

Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember ... you are the medicine.” 🌿

– María Sabina
Cooler weather means herbal bath season is upon us Cooler weather means herbal bath season is upon us! 

An easy and therapeutic way to receive aromatic medicine and practice self-care is with a fragrant herbal epsom salt bath. 

Try this basic recipe to help relax and relieve stress. If you don’t have a bath tub, you can still follow the recipe and place everything in a large bowl for a calming and grounding foot soak. 

Ingredients 
2 cups epsom salt
½ cup dried Rose petals
½ cup Chamomile flowers
¼ cup dried Lavender flowers

Instructions: 
1. Boil 6 cups of water in a large pot, then turn off the heat. 

2. Add all the ingredients and stir well. 

3. Place the lid on the pot and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. 

4. The lid will help trap the plant aromatics until you’re ready for your bath. While you wait, prepare your bath by filling the tub with warm or hot water. When you're ready to get in, ensure that all the salt in the pot has dissolved. If not, give it another stir.

5. Strain the herbs from your pot and add the tea to your tub or foot soak bowl. 

6. Soak and enjoy! 

Important Note: Essential oils are not water-soluble. Adding them directly to bathwater will result in undiluted essential oils floating on the surface, which can potentially damage your skin and limit their healing benefits. 

If you want to incorporate essential oils into your bath, use a carrier oil such as Olive or Coconut oil, or even castile soap, to help disperse them. Mix 5-10 drops of essential oil with a tablespoon of oil or soap, mix thoroughly, and then add it to the bathwater. 

 #herbalbathsoak #herbalbaths #aromaticbath #diyspa
When things cool down and the leaves turn brown, y When things cool down and the leaves turn brown, you may think your foraging options are limited, but that’s so far from the truth! Autumn holds a bounty for foragers. 

Fall is the season of roots, fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds! Roots are best harvested now because it’s the time of year that plants are preparing for Winter, so they send all of their energy into their roots. Roots also tend to have the most vitamins and minerals during the fall. 

Here’s a list of some of our Fall favorites:

🌿 Elderberries: Well-known for their immune-boosting properties, they’re great to stock up on for the Winter. You can make Elderberry syrup or tincture, try infusing them in raw honey, or you can dry them to make tea later.

🌿 Rose Hips: These are the red fruits after the Rose flower has bloomed. They’re also great for the immune system since they’re high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Rose Hip jelly is my favorite, but you can also make them into a syrup, tincture, or dry them to use for tea. 

🌿 Hawthorn Berries: There are many varieties, but some taste better than others. All varieties are safe to eat, but avoid the seeds since they’re slightly toxic. They’re high in pectin and make a great jam or jelly, you can also make them into a tincture or dry them for tea.

🌿 Acorns: The nuts of Oak trees! They require processing to make them edible, but once you finish, Acorn flour is super tasty and great for your health. 

🌿 Chestnuts: Sweet Chestnuts are a classic Fall food and are a tasty treat when roasted. Also a great source of vitamins and minerals!

🌿 Dandelion Root: A highly abundant plant that’s often considered a weed, the roots are bitter and make a great bitter tincture to help stimulate the liver and support healthy digestion. 

To consider:

🍃 Always be 100% certain with plant identification before harvesting and especially before consumption. 

🍃 Make sure to leave enough for wildlife in the Winter! They’ll likely need it more than you, and many animals depend on these plants for food.

🍃 When you harvest a plant’s roots, you’re risking killing the plant, so make sure to only harvest the roots of plants that are abundant and never endangered.
Eucalyptus leaves are much more than just koala fo Eucalyptus leaves are much more than just koala food! 🍃

For generations, this tree has been traditionally used to support wellness in countless ways, from herbal steams and leaf infusions to incense, essential oils, and topical preparations. Each method offers its own unique benefits.

Best known for supporting the respiratory system, Eucalyptus can help ease cold and flu symptoms, soothe coughs, encourage easier breathing, support the immune system, and promote mental clarity.

Curious how to use Eucalyptus beyond essential oils?

We put together a complete guide exploring its history, therapeutic benefits, and the many ways to work with this amazing aromatic plant.

Comment "BLOG" below, and we'll send the full Eucalyptus guide straight to your inbox! 🌿

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#Eucalyptus #EssentialOils #Herbalism #AromaticPlants #RespiratoryHealth #PlantMedicine
As we shift from summer to fall, the changing of s As we shift from summer to fall, the changing of seasons is a lovely reminder to slow down and support our mind and body through the transitions of life. Try out this nourishing tonic tea recipe that's packed with nutrients and herbs to help you feel in harmony with a touch of stress relief. 

Ingredients:

1 cup hot water
1 tsp dried Nettle leaves 
1 tsp dried Chamomile flowers
1 tsp dried Rosehips 
1 tsp dried Lemon Balm leaves
1 spoonful raw honey (optional)

Directions:

Boil water and pour it over the dried herbs in a mug or teapot. Cover the container to keep in the precious volatile oils and let the herbs steep for about 10-15 minutes. Strain, stir in honey, and enjoy! Find a cozy spot, take a deep breath, and savor your nourishing tonic.

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#HerbalTea #NourishingTonic #FallHerbs #Herbalism #PlantMedicine #CozyVibes
Blended fragrance is like music - there are many d Blended fragrance is like music - there are many different aromatic notes that make up an incense or perfume, just like there are many different musicians that make up a band.

When a musician plays alone, it’s beautiful, but when all of the musicians in a band play together in harmony, it’s purely magical.
The Pine tree is considered sacred in many culture The Pine tree is considered sacred in many cultures.

Pine trees are deeply revered and honored in Korean tradition. The trees are respected as wise entities and are sometimes worshiped as divine beings or spirits.

In China, Pine is considered a symbol of the New Year. 

Pine tree forests throughout Europe were the birthplace of many timeless fairytales and legends. 

Pine is found in countless stories of antiquity, from Greek and Roman tales of gods and goddesses, to Germanic and Nordic tales of dwarves, witches, elves, and werewolves. 

It was even the tree in which the wizard Merlin climbed, never to return to the world of Men. 

To many Native Americans and First Nations peoples, Pine has been an important tree resembling wisdom and longevity for ages.

Celtic and Northern European peoples believed Pine to protect them from harmful, negative energies and influences. 

Pine has long been used as incense in many cultures to promote courage, strength, protection, and prosperous health.

I share more about these ancient stories and traditions of Pine, from near and far, in our blog, The Medicine & Magic of Pine. 

Read more here: https://aromaticmedicineschool.com/the-medicine-magic-of-pine/
“One thing I’ve learned in the woods is that there “One thing I’ve learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. Everything is steeped in meaning, colored by relationships, one thing with another.”

― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
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