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Peaches are sweet, juicy, and familiar—but what if there has been medicine hiding in the leaves all along? In this episode, I sit down with herbalist and nutritionist Betsy Miller to explore the often-overlooked medicine of peach leaf (Prunus persica). While peaches are widely celebrated as food, Betsy shares how the leaves of the tree offer powerful support for patterns of heat and irritation in the body, especially when it comes to nausea, digestive discomfort, and nervous system overwhelm. Weaving together clinical insight, personal experience, and a deep appreciation for the subtle ways plants support healing, Betsy offers a closer look at the medicine of peach leaf. From tongue diagnosis (yes, she even sticks out her tongue on the show!) to herbal formulation, she shares practical and insightful ways to know when peach leaf is the right fit. If you’re inspired to try peach leaf yourself, you’ll love Betsy’s simple and delicious recipe for Peach Leaf Elixir! You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► What the classic “peach leaf tongue” looks like—and what it can reveal about what’s going on in your body ► Why peach leaf shines in situations where more commonly recommended herbs (like ginger) fall short ► Betsy’s go-to herbal formula for easing nausea during pregnancy ► The type of anxiety that is best supported by peach leaf ► The best time to harvest peach leaves—and tips for sourcing them if you don’t grow your own ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Betsy Miller is a clinical herbalist and nutritionist in northern Virginia. She loves working with women's health, particularly fertility challenges, prenatal care and postpartum support, and has also begun working more with pediatric clients since becoming a mother. In addition to her clinical practice, Betsy teaches at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, and enjoys mentoring budding herbalists as they begin practicing in a clinical setting. Whether you’re new to peach leaf or are already familiar with its gifts, I hope this conversation inspires you to look at peach with fresh eyes—and perhaps discover even more to love about this familiar fruit tree! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Betsy at PlantWisdomWellness.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Everyone’s trying to get rid of it—but around the world, it’s treasured as medicine. What if pennywort could change the way you see your backyard? Pennywort (Hydrocotyle spp.) is one of those plants that many people overlook (or actively try to remove!). Yet across the globe, it’s commonly harvested and enjoyed as both a nourishing food and a traditional remedy. In this conversation, herbalist and botanist April Punsalan shares how this unassuming, persistent plant became one of her most meaningful allies. Drawing from her background with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and years of hands-on experience with wild plants, April brings a unique perspective that blends ecology, science, and intuition. She explores pennywort’s rich chlorophyll content, its role as a fresh, nutrient-rich herb, and why she prefers working with it in simple preparations that feel more like daily nourishment than “taking medicine.” Along the way, she invites us to rethink our relationship with the plants growing all around us—and to consider what we might discover if we slow down enough to truly notice them. April shares a simple, vibrant way to bring fresh plant nourishment into your daily routine with her Hydrocotyle Chlorophyll Refresher. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card for this delightful, energizing drink here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why pennywort is so widely used around the world (even though it’s often seen as a weed in the US!) ► What makes fresh pennywort preparations uniquely potent—and why drying may reduce its benefits ► How the botany and habitat of pennywort can help clue you in to its health benefits ► Several ways pennywort can support your health—providing benefits for the skin, the urinary system, the brain, overall vitality, and more! ► Why herbalism is as much about connecting with plants as it is about their medicinal uses ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, April Punsalan is a botanist, herbalist, author, and founder of Wild Herb Academy, an online school devoted to ecological remembrance and plant-based healing. A former botanist for the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she spent years protecting endangered plants before answering a deeper call to teach. April’s lifelong relationship with plants led to degrees in botany and more than twenty-eight years of studying medicinal and edible species. Today, she weaves together botany, ethnobotany, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom, helping people reconnect with the Earth as stewards, healers, and conscious participants in the living ecosystem worldwide today. Whether you’ve been pulling pennywort out of your garden or walking past it without a second glance, I hope this episode inspires you to pause, look closer, and maybe even begin a new relationship with this humble plant. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find April at WildHerbAcademy.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Nettle has a reputation, and like many beloved herbs, it’s picked up a few myths along the way. In this short podcast, I untangle some of the most common misunderstandings about this deeply nourishing plant. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re getting the most from nettle, this is a great place to begin. And if you’re interested in going even deeper with nettle, I’ve got you! My friend Mason Hutchison and I teamed up to bring you the Nettle Immersion, a 30-day deep-dive into this amazing, nourishing herb. This immersive experience includes over 100 minutes of video lessons spanning 10 modules, a community space where you can discuss your love of nettle, a cookbook filled with nettle recipes, and so much more. We’d love to have you join us! Learn more and sign up at https://courses.folkmethodology.com/nettle-immersion.

Nettle all day, everyday. Does this sound exciting to you? Perhaps it sounds a little intimidating…or maybe you’re just curious why on earth you’d want to submit yourself to so much of a plant that literally stings you. (But not when it’s properly prepared, which is super simple to do, I promise!) Well, my friend Mason Hutchison and I are certainly excited about nettle—and that’s why we teamed up to bring you the Nettle Immersion, a 30-day deep-dive into this amazing, nourishing herb. This immersive experience includes over 100 minutes of video lessons spanning 10 modules, a community space where you can discuss your love of nettle, a cookbook filled with nettle recipes, and so much more. We’d love to have you join us! Learn more and sign up at https://courses.folkmethodology.com/nettle-immersion.

Isn’t smoking bad for you? Yes…but the conversation around smokable herbs may be more nuanced than you think. In this episode, I’m joined by herbalist and founder of Puff Herbals, Lian Bruno, for a grounded, thoughtful conversation about smokable herbs—especially mullein (Verbascum spp.). While many herbalists shy away from this topic, Lian approaches it through a lens of harm reduction, compassion, and what she calls “holistic hedonism.” LIan explores why mullein has long been used in smoking blends, how formulation dramatically changes the smoking experience, and why all-or-nothing thinking can make conversations about smoking harder, not safer. This episode isn’t a blanket endorsement of smoking, nor is it a how-to guide. Instead, it’s an invitation into nuance: understanding energetics, honoring ritual, and supporting people exactly where they are. During our conversation, Lian shares her recipe for Lung Lube, a syrup that offers both immediate relief and long-term support for lungs irritated by smoke or sickness. You can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Four reasons mullein is considered a classic smokable herb ► Why mullein should rarely be smoked alone (and what to pair it with) ► How smokable herbs can serve as a bridge for reducing nicotine or cannabis use ► How to formulate a smoking blend with intention, matching plant energetics to your desired effect ► Eighteen examples of smokable herbs—and the reasons you might include them in a smoking blend ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Lian Bruno is a clinically-trained herbalist, holistic health educator, writer, and founder of Puff Herbals — a brand redefining smoking rituals with tobacco-free, cannabis-free herbal alternatives. With a background in ethnobotany, she blends science, storytelling, and subculture into smoking blends designed for modern rituals. Rooted in harm reduction and what she calls holistic hedonism, Puff Herbals makes herbalism approachable for anyone looking to light up — from the sober-curious and wellness-obsessed to skeptics and smokers looking to quit or cut back. Whether or not you ever work with smokable herbs, I hope this conversation encourages curiosity over judgment and reminds you that herbalism is ultimately about relationship — with plants, with our bodies, and with one another. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Lian at PuffHerbals.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

What if working with hawthorn isn’t just about supporting your cardiovascular system, but also about influencing how your body expresses health at the deepest level? In this heartfelt conversation, I’m joined by herbalist Betzy Bancroft to explore the many layers of hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)—a plant that nourishes and protects the heart in more ways than one. Though hawthorn is widely known for supporting cardiovascular health, Betzy shares how its effects go far deeper, helping regulate gene expression, improving flexibility of the blood vessels, and overall supporting the body’s natural resilience. At the same time, this beloved plant offers profound emotional medicine. Betzy shares how hawthorn can help soften grief, ease emotional tension, and encourage us to stay open-hearted while also maintaining healthy boundaries. Whether you’re seeing physical nourishment or emotional resilience, hawthorn is a true ally for the heart on every level. Betzy also shares so many ways to work with hawthorn! She includes her recipe for a delicious, warming Hawthorn Cordial; you can download a beautifully-illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► What makes hawthorn such a wonderful tonic for the cardiovascular system ► The fascinating way that hawthorn influences your body’s own ability to react to oxidative stress ► Practical tips for extracting hawthorn effectively (and why preparation matters!) ► Why consistency is key when working with hawthorn ► Eleven different (delicious!) ways to bring hawthorn into your daily life ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Betzy Bancroft has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades at herbalism schools and events. Betzy is one of the founders of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, where she teaches classes including medicine making and formulation, and is a mentor for clinical interns. She also teaches and often leads herb walks at Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary. She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and serves on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. Her book, Herbal Pharmacy, will be out in April of 2026. Whether you’re drawn to hawthorn for its cardiovascular or emotional support, this is a plant that invites a lifelong relationship—one cup, one sip, one season at a time. However you choose to work with hawthorn, may it support you in cultivating a heart that is steady, resilient, and deeply alive. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Betzy at HerbalPharmacyBook.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Stinging nettle has a reputation as a mineral-rich powerhouse—but what happens when you drink it every day for decades? For many herbalists, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the first plants they fall in love with—and for herbalist Mary Blue, that relationship has only deepened over time. In this episode, I sit down with Mary to explore the many ways stinging nettle can nourish and support the body, as well as what it means to build such a deep, lasting relationship with a single plant. Mary shares stories from her decades of working closely with stinging nettle, from harvesting hundreds of pounds each spring to drinking daily infusions and incorporating it into nearly every tea blend she creates. Her lifelong connection with nettle shows how even a common plant (one some consider a weed!) can support both physical and emotional health and become a profound source of nourishment, resilience, and daily support. As delicious as it is medicinal, stinging nettle makes a wonderful addition to everyday meals. Mary shares one of her favorite ways to enjoy nettle as food: Stinging Nettle Pesto. You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card for Mary’s pesto recipe here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► How stinging nettle can help support seasonal allergies ► When nettle works best as an infusion—and when a tincture might be useful ► The role nettle can play in supporting kidney health and detoxification ► How nettle can be worked with topically (yes, using the sting itself!) to ease joint pain and arthritis ► Why understanding herbal solvency is critical when deciding how to prepare herbs ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Mary Blue is a community herbalist, educator, and activist with over 25 years of experience. She founded Farmacy Herbs in Providence in 2006, growing it into a nationally respected hub for herbal education, farming, and health justice that has trained over 1,000 students and launched herb businesses across the country. Her work focuses on using herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle to support health. Mary has taught and delivered keynote addresses and taught nationally including at universities, conferences, and community institutions. She has served as a Teaching Associate and Associate Professor at Brown University Medical School and spoke about herbalism at the United Nations Council on Women in 2012. A widely cited and award-winning herbalist, Mary is a leading voice in community-centered herbal medicine. I’m delighted to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Mary at FarmacyHerbs.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

What if our ancestors already found solutions for our modern health problems—and the answers are hiding in plain sight in your spice cabinet? Allspice (Pimenta dioica) may be small, but as Asia Dorsey shares in this episode, its medicine is mighty. Used throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and beyond, this aromatic berry carries anti-fungal, circulatory, and even menopausal support (all while making your food taste incredible!). But this conversation goes far beyond herbal actions. Asia weaves together ecology, fermentation science, ancestral cooking techniques, and herbal healing into a powerful reminder: everything we need is already here. Along with spices, fermented foods (from wine to jun, sauerkraut to kimchi, and more) are Asia’s jam! If you’ve ever been curious about making your own living foods, you’ll definitely want to try her simple, delicious recipe for Living Habanero Hot Sauce. You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why allspice deserves far more respect than its “holiday spice” reputation ► The surprising way this tiny berry supports women’s health ► How allspice (and many other spices!) protects the body from modern inflammatory stressors ► Why fermentation makes certain foods easier to digest ► How bioregional and ancestral herbalism can deepen your relationship with plants ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Asia Dorsey is a bioregional rootworker and nutritional therapist centering gut-mind healing through ancestral food as medicine. She has apprenticed with wise women across the globe to discern the pattern language of healing though land and lineage. Her Colorado practice stewards 1:1 clients and mentored students towards embodied liberation. This episode is a celebration of bioregional herbalism, cultural reverence, and the intelligence of food as medicine. I hope it inspires you to see your kitchen not just as a place to cook, but as a living apothecary rooted in lineage and place. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Asia at BonesBugsAndBotany.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

In a world of constant sensory overload, how do we care for the mind without burning it out? In today’s episode, I sit down with Jennifer Kurdyla to discuss gotu kola (Centella asiatica), an herb that has long been known for supporting calm focus, emotional spaciousness, and long-term nervous system resilience. Through the lens of Ayurveda, Jennifer explains how gotu kola cools inflammation, supports the gut–brain connection, and nourishes the senses. She reflects on her personal journey with gotu kola, highlighting how this quietly powerful herb helped to bring her back into balance after a mysterious, unexplained illness, and how it continues to be a part of her daily herbal practice. Jennifer shares the many ways she likes to work with gotu kola, including her recipe for Spacious Mind Herbal Cacao—perfect as a coffee alternative or as an evening ritual! You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card for this delicious herbal beverage here. Gotu kola isn’t just an herb for the brain! Here are just a few other ways that gotu kola can benefit your health: ► Encourages strong, well-knit tissue repair during wound healing ► Soothes inflamed or ulcerated tissues in the digestive tract ► May slow stress-related hair loss and premature graying To learn even more benefits of gotu kola, be sure to check out the entire episode! By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► How gotu kola can help cultivate calm, spacious focus without overstimulation ► The role of gotu kola in calming inflammation—and why that makes it so beneficial for both the body and the mind ► Why gotu kola is so often paired with ghee in Ayurvedic medicine ► A surprising way to work with gotu kola to encourage healthy hair growth ► How nasya (Ayurvedic herbal nose oiling) with gotu kola supports the brian and nervous system ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Jennifer Kurdyla is an Ayurvedic practitioner, herbalist, yoga teacher, and writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Committed to sharing the ancient tools of Ayurveda and yoga with modern communities, she helps her clients and students discover personalized rituals that support their well-being in body, mind, and spirit. Jennifer thrives in the creative space of her kitchen, where she crafts seasonal plant-forward recipes with a focus on supporting digestion and reviving our sensory experience with food prepared fresh and with love. She has studied Ayurveda at the Kripalu School of Ayurveda and clinical herbalism with David Winston. A former book editor and graduate of Harvard University, Jennifer is also the co-author of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness (Tiller Press), and the author of Sense-Care is Self-Care: Ayurveda and Yoga for Mental Resilience. I’m thrilled to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Jennifer at JenniferKurdyla.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Is there anything black seed can’t do? In this episode, herbalist and nutritionist Abrar Al-Shaer takes a deep dive into the many gifts of black seed (Nigella sativa), a revered herb that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Abrar has been studying this plant since she was a child, and has so much to share about it—from the home remedies her mother gave her as a child, to ancient teachings from Islamic medicine, and even modern-day medical research on this celebrated plant. Abrar also shares her recipe for Black Seed Herbal Energy Bites—combined with warming spices and fragrant rose water, this is a deliciously nourishing way to get black seed into your diet! You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here. As Abrar notes, it is traditionally thought that black seed can help with almost any ailment—and if it can’t, it’s just because we haven’t figured out how to properly prepare it yet! Here are just a few ways that black seed can be worked with to benefit your health: ► Supports lung health, providing relief for coughs, bronchitis, and asthma ► Promotes cardiovascular health, including healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels ► Topically, black seed oil helps to nourish and protect the skin To learn even more of black seed’s benefits, be sure to check out the entire episode! By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why black seed has been revered for centuries in traditional Islamic medicine ► The many ways black seed can be prepared: mixed into honey, added to water or food, pressed into oil—or even applied by the drop into the nostrils! ► What modern research says about black seed’s role in cardiovascular and metabolic health ► How black seed can support both acute concerns, such as chest congestion or tooth pain, as well as long-term chronic health concerns like inflammation and immune resilience ► Simple, food-based ways to incorporate black seed into everyday meals ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Dr. Abrar Al-Shaer, PhD, RD is a registered dietitian and herbalist and the owner of Precision Women’s Care, a women’s health, integrative nutrition & herbal medicine practice. She is also a clinical teaching professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine, where she teaches advanced case management in integrative nutrition therapy. Dr. Abrar completed her PhD in nutritional biochemistry & immunology with a dietetic specialization in high-risk OBGYN. With over a decade of experience as an herbalist, she frequently weaves together her herbal medicine and medical nutrition backgrounds to provide patients the highest quality of care. I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Dr. Abrar at PrecisionWomensCare.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

What if one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs isn’t in your supplement cabinet—but already in your kitchen? In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of my students, Mylinda Ogundipe, to talk about a plant that has quietly become a lifelong ally for her family: turmeric. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the most widely used herbs in the world—and that familiarity can make it easy to overlook just how powerful this plant really is. In this heartfelt and practical conversation, Mylinda shares how turmeric moved from being a favorite culinary spice to a foundational part of her family’s daily care, particularly in supporting her daughter, who lives with sickle cell disease. She also shares reflections on her time in our Rooted Medicine Circle course, exploring how learning in rhythm with the seasons and in community deepened her relationship with plants—and ultimately shaped the way turmeric became a daily ally in her home. Mylinda shares her fantastic recipe for Creamy Golden Sauce—a delicious way to incorporate turmeric into your diet—along with her recipe for Black-Eyed Pea Fritters (perfect for dipping in the sauce!). You can download a beautifully-illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why capsules are a great way to take large daily amounts of turmeric (and how to do this without breaking the bank!) ► Five simple ways that Mylinda works turmeric into her family’s daily meals ► How turmeric has helped Mylinda support her daughter and ease common symptoms associated with sickle cell disease ► A surprising way that turmeric can benefit the menstrual cycle ► How studying herbs in a seasonal, relationship-based way can deepen your confidence in making herbal medicine ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Mylinda Ogundipe is a community herbalist, sickle cell disease advocate, wife, and homeschooling mother whose journey with plants began as a way to nurture and support her daughter living with sickle cell disease. Rooted in ancestral wisdom, storytelling, and an everyday herbal practice, she invites families to rediscover their relationship with the earth, one dandelion, one cup of tea, and one story at a time. Blending her love of community-centered learning with accessible kitchen remedies, Mylinda weaves together bioregional herbalism, Ayurveda, and the wisdom of ancestral traditions to make plant medicine empowering for everyday families. I’m delighted to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Mylinda on Instagram. Access sample pages from Mylinda’s dandelion activity book here. Learn more from Mylinda about herbs for sickle cell disease here. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Register for our free webinar, “Avoid Common Herbal Pitfalls So You Can Make Remedies That Heal,” by visiting http://www.herbalminicourse.com/. In this webinar, my co-teacher Emily Han and I will be diving into the most common mistakes people make when working with herbs (as well as how to avoid them). You’ll also get access to our free Rooted Medicine Circle mini course when you register. But don’t delay, the webinar and mini course are only open for a short time! For all the details about the free webinar and mini course, be sure to tune in to the whole episode! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Is there a “right” way to use herbs topically? Most people are familiar with salves, lotions, and creams—including non-herbalists!—but there are so many other ways that herbs can be used topically beyond these popular applications. From herbal baths and compresses to poultices and liniments (and yes, even suppositories!), topical remedies offer powerful, often immediate ways to support the body—that is, of course, if they’re used appropriately. In this episode, I’ll explore several different ways to work with herbs topically, and when you might choose one herbal preparation over another. You’ll learn why some topical remedies work beautifully while others fall short—and how choosing the right form can make all the difference. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Ten different topical herbal preparations—and situations when each of them shines ► One common mistake that will make your herbal oils much less effective ► When to reach for a topical remedy made with water or alcohol instead of oil ► Which topical remedies are best for localized situations, and which can provide whole-body support ► When topical herbal preparations are great on their own—and when they’re best paired with internal remedies and lifestyle support ► and so much more… I’ll also share details about how to join the free mini course that my friend and co-teacher, Emily Han, and I will be offering next week. This is a free series designed to give you a taste of how we teach and how we think about herbal medicine inside our course Rooted Medicine Circle. If you’re curious to learn more about how to choose the right form of medicine for the situation you’re dealing with, this mini course is for you! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

In a world obsessed with stimulation and strength, what can this gentle, velvety herb teach us about healing? In this episode, herbalist and prolific author Maria Noël Groves joins me to discuss one of the most soothing herbs around—the lovely marshmallow (Althaea officinalis). Together we explore what makes this mucilaginous (read: velvety, not slimy!) herb such a powerful ally for irritated and inflamed tissues—especially in the gut, where marshmallow helps to protect, moisten, and nourish while also supporting the microbiome. Maria shares why she’s fallen so deeply in love with this soft, soothing herb, and how it works without being forceful or stimulating. She also includes a recipe for a cozy, delicious beverage to soothe not just the gut, but also the spirit—her Creamy Marshmallow-Nutmeg Overnight Infusion. You can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► The importance of tasting and experiencing an herb in different ways ► How best to prepare marshmallow root (and why this is a point of contention among herbalists!) ► When marshmallow leaf and flower might be a better medicinal choice than the roots ► Why Maria includes marshmallow leaf in most of her tea blends ► How marshmallow can help heal your digestion—from cooling inflamed tissues to feeding your gut microbiome (and more!) ► When to use caution with taking marshmallow ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Maria Noël Groves is a clinical herbalist nestled in the pine forests of New Hampshire. She runs Wintergreen Botanicals, and is devoted to education and empowerment via classes, health consultations, and writing with the foundational belief that good health grows in nature. Maria is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self Care, as well as Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies, Herbal Remedies for Sleep, and the new Herbal Gut Health. Marshmallow offers an important reminder that some of the most profound healing comes not from pushing harder, but from learning how to soften. I hope this conversation with Maria inspires you to give your body the care, protection, and nourishment it needs in the new year and beyond. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Maria at WintergreenBotanicals.com. If you're interested in Maria's fantastic new book, Herbal Gut Health, you can preorder it here or wherever books are sold. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.

Pedicularis doesn’t shout for attention—but once you meet it, you may wonder how you ever lived without its profound ability to help the body let go. It was such a delight to sit down with Chicago herbalist Alex Williams to discuss the gorgeous pedicularis (Pedicularis spp.). Those who are familiar with this lovely plant treasure it for its ability to help release deep skeletal muscle tension—and yet it remains relatively unknown in the herbal world. In this rich and reflective conversation, Alex weaves together the clinical uses of pedicularis for pain, injury, and nervous tension with its surprising ecological role as a parasitic plant. He practically gushes about this beloved herbal ally, sharing its physical benefits along with the more metaphorical ways pedicularis has taught him to be a better human. Alex shares how his experience as a bartender helped shape his path to herbalism, and the recipe he included is a fun reflection of this! His Potion of Delight can be prepared as either a tea or a low alcohol fermented beverage; you can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why pedicularis shines in cases of chronic pain, headaches, and injury recovery ► What ethical wildcrafting really looks like with sensitive native plants ► How parasitic plants like pedicularis can actually increase biodiversity and ecological resilience ► Why “less is more” isn’t just a dosage guideline—but part of pedicularis’ deeper teaching ► How this plant can help loosen rigidity in the body and in the way we move through the world ► and so much more…. For those of you who don’t know him, Alex Williams is a clinical herbalist and founder of Greenspell School of Ecological Herbcraft in Chicago, where he offers herbal consultations, herbalism classes, and plant walks throughout the Chicago region, supporting those he works with in cultivating rest, genuine self-care practices, ecological awareness, and a deep sense of embodied aliveness. Alex also runs First Curve Apothecary which offers sliding-scale herbal supplements, along with herbal compounding services to holistic practitioners. Outside of the apothecary, Alex teaches medical sociology, psychology, and environmental justice at a local university. Every once in a while, he writes an occasional haiku. I can’t wait to share this episode with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Alex at Greenspell.org and FirstCurveApothecary.com. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter. If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.