Herbs with Rosalee

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, s...

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 ne...

This often-discarded kitchen staple makes powerful medicine—don’t throw it away!

In today’s episode, Chilean herbalist Constanza Leal discusses an herb that is ubiquitous in my kitchen during the dark months of winter—orange peel (Citrus x sinensis). Together, we explore how this humble peel brings warmth, radiance, and the unmistakable sunny joy of citrus into our homes and our bodies. From supporting digestion and clearing the lungs to brightening our mood in the heart of winter, orange peel offers far more than most people realize.

Constanza shares so many ways to help you savo...

How can one tree be said to bless, protect, seduce… and curse?

In this episode, I’m joined by herbalist and writer Ruthie Kølle for a deep dive into one of my all-time favorite plants: hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). Together, we explore hawthorn’s rich folklore, its potent heart-centered gifts, and the magic woven into its thorns, blossoms, and berries. Drawing from her Celtic heritage, Ruthie shares how hawthorn is not just a medicine, but a living bridge to old-world traditions and ancestral ways of healing.

Ruthie brought us her recipe for Anam Cara Heart Opening...

From opening the lungs to easing grief, pine offers both physical and emotional medicine.

In this week’s episode I’m joined by herbalist Liz Neves, who shows us how to tap into pine’s gifts through working with its resin, needles, and the simple yet profound medicine of just being in its stately presence.

Liz reveals the many ways she works with pine (Pinus spp.), from crafting pine needle baskets to making medicine with the resin and needles, and even a surprising  use for pine-infused porcupine poop (no, I’m not kidding—that really came up in...

What makes calendula a must-have herb for gardeners and herbalists worldwide?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Helena del Pesco, whose background as a chef and fermentation enthusiast gives her unique insight into the world of herbs. Together we explore the many faces of calendula (Calendula officinalis)—from its glowing orange blossoms and otherworldly seeds to its remarkable gifts for soothing skin, supporting tissue repair, and inspiring generosity in both garden and spirit.

Calendula is beloved in herbal oils and salves to heal and protect the skin, but it shines in so many other...

Could the secret to a calmer mind and a healthier gut be hiding in your morning bowl of porridge?

In this episode, I sit down with Swedish herbalist and nutritionist Karoline Karttunen to discuss one of my favorite breakfasts — the humble oats (Avena sativa).

Grains have gotten a bad rap in recent years — and it’s true that highly processed or sugar-laden versions don’t do us any favors. But as Karoline reminds us, whole-grain oats are a true nutritional powerhouse that also carry the same medicinal gifts as oat straw and milky oats — beloved herbal all...

From easing hot flashes to calming muscle tension, black cohosh has long been a trusted ally for cycles of change.

In this episode, I’m joined by herbalist, author, and Appalachian plant steward Patricia Kyritsi Howell for a fascinating deep dive into one of the forest’s most mysterious and misunderstood herbs: black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). Patricia shares how this powerful woodland plant first “brought her back to herself” during a time of personal healing—and how that experience shaped decades of herbal practice and advocacy. Together, we explore the magic, medicine, and conservation of a plant that’s as...

Why have so many herbalists stopped using American ginseng — and what would it mean to welcome it back?

In this episode, I sat down with Appalachian herbalist Phyllis Light to discuss American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), an herb that her family has had an intimate relationship with for generations. Wow, what a wealth of information she had to share about this legendary herb! Our conversation wound through the folk history of ginseng’s use in Appalachia, ginseng trade routes, and the many, many ways we can work with it to benefit our health. Phyllis also explored the widespread beli...

What can this velvety, rose-family herb teach us about transformation and healing?

In this episode, I’m joined by the luminous Robin Rose Bennett to discuss lady's mantle (Alchemilla spp.), a plant that embodies both strength and tenderness, ancient alchemy and modern healing. Robin Rose shares how this ancient herb supports women through every life stage, from menstruation to menopause, and what its alchemical nature can teach us about transformation, healing, and self-love.

Together, we dive into the folklore, magic, and medicine of this lovely herb. Along the way, Robin Rose offers her Lady’s Luxu...

What happens when we follow one plant deeply enough to uncover its stories, traditions, and medicines?

In this episode, I sit down with herbalist, artist, and folk magic researcher Rebecca Beyer to talk about her lifelong devotion to spicebush (Lindera benzoin)—a plant rooted in Appalachian folk tradition and brimming with story.

Rebecca shares how a difficult illness first led her to herbal medicine, and how she eventually came to see spicebush as her patron plant. We explore its many gifts—from its role in spring tonics and colonial kitchens to its modern uses as a wa...

Can you believe we’ve made it to 200 episodes of the Herbs with Rosalee podcast?! 

Week after week, I get to sit in the host’s chair—asking the questions, guiding the conversation, and shining the spotlight on other herbalists (and the plants we love). Honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to do.

So when we realized the 200th episode was coming up, we knew it had to be something different. 

At first, someone suggested I should be the one in the hot seat. My reaction? Hard no. Absolutely not.

But the...

When I first started studying herbs over two decades ago, I learned herbs (like many people do) by memorizing herbal actions, memorizing lists, and then throwing it all together. But I found that choosing herbs for people using these memorized lists didn’t always work, which was incredibly discouraging!

Luckily, I found out about herbal energetics, and that’s what I’ve based my herbal practices on ever since.

Instead of a usual podcast this week, I’m inviting you to join my free mini Herbal Energetics Course so that you, too, can begin to experien...

What happens when a playful kid turns dandelion fluff into mischief?

Spoiler alert—those days of early herbal mischief may just turn into a lifelong passion for the plant world, as it did for my good friend Mason Hutchison.

In this episode, Mason discusses the many virtues of the much-maligned (though not in the herbal world!) dandelion, Taraxacum officinale. From stories of childhood antics to his first taste of this “gateway herb,” Mason shares how dandelion has shaped his path as an herbalist and community builder. Along the way, we taste-test dandelion creations (all delicious, though...

What hidden stories of women are tucked inside this humble herb—linking old folklore, a touch of alchemy, and even today’s healing practices?

My guest today, Alyssa Dennis, invites us into the world of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla spp.), a plant whose cloak-shaped leaves hold both practical healing gifts and threads of ancient story. From her experiences in urban herbal sanctuaries to a life-changing encounter on the sacred isle of Iona, Alyssa shares how this humble herb invites us to see plants not just as remedies, but as storytellers and companions on the path of reconnection.

A...

Warrior, healer, and protector—could this common roadside plant be nature’s ultimate ally for both body and spirit?

In this episode, herbalist and educator Carolyn Jones shares about a plant often called the “mother of all wound healers”—yarrow (Achillea millefolium). I was so excited that she chose to discuss this plant, as it’s my herbal ally for the year and one I hold close to my heart. Although I’ve worked with yarrow for many years and already know it well, it’s such a multifaceted herb that, like a dear friend, there’s always more to lea...

What if the “ordinary” marigold in your garden was actually a sacred plant with centuries of healing tradition behind it?

In this week’s episode, Texas-based herbalist Lauren Peterson shares how she first learned about the medicine of yauhtli (Tagetes lucida), an herb hiding in plain sight all around her. Commonly referred to as Mexican tarragon or Texas tarragon, this cheery little marigold is a common landscaping plant in Texas, and yet it has so many medicinal gifts (and it is oh so fragrant and delicious, too!).

There are many ways you can work with yauhtl...

Have you been missing this amazing and underrated mushroom? Chances are if you’ve ever gone out in the woods in North America, you’ve walked past the mushroom red-belted conk (Fomitopsis pinicola)—though you may not have noticed it. This ubiquitous, yet often-overlooked mushroom may not be well known among herbalists, but it certainly deserves to be! As this week’s podcast guest, Logan Keister, describes, there are so many benefits to working with red-belted conk, from aiding digestion to reducing inflammation, and so much more.

Logan also explains in detail one of his favorite ways of worki...

Once beloved in root beer and medicine cabinets, sassafras was later banned as dangerous. So...is it poison or a powerful plant ally?

In this episode, we’re diving into the wild and winding story of Sassafras albidum—a tree deeply rooted in Southern culture, traditional herbalism, and kitchen magic. From thickening gumbo to flavoring root beer (before it was pulled from shelves in the 1970s), sassafras has played many roles—and stirred up plenty of controversy.

Herbalist Matthew Hunter joins me today to shine a light on this misunderstood tree. He shares his favorite ways t...

I am so excited to share this conversation with Dana Hutchinson! I really identified with her herbal path – like me, as a young person she suffered from a debilitating autoimmune condition, and it was through her search for healing that she found herbalism. As a clinical herbalist herself now, she offers so much hope for others in similar situations.  

Dana had so much to share about one of the first herbs that she worked with to help her overcome her illness, jujube dates (Ziziphus jujuba). This delicious, nourishing herb has so many gifts! Here are just a few...

I’ve been looking forward to this interview with Lorna Trigg for a while now! Lorna’s herbal path was strongly influenced by the practices of the indigenous people who lived near her childhood family farm in South Africa, and she has such a creative and unique perspective that I just had to learn more from her.

Lorna shared about a plant that she has known since childhood, the beautiful passionflower (both the Passiflora edulis she grew up with in South Africa, and the Passiflora incarnata that called to her as an adult here in the United Stat...

I was so excited to talk about St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) with this week’s podcast guest, Kyle Denton. St. John’s wort is one of my all-time favorite herbs, and Kyle told me he’d be sharing a few things about it that you don’t commonly hear. He certainly didn’t disappoint! Kyle discussed mythological and poetic aspects of the plant, how he understands it via the lens of the doctrine of signatures, and the science behind potential contraindications of St. John’s wort (hint: how you take the plant matters!). His enthusiasm and love for this plant...

I had such a lovely time chatting with this week’s podcast guest, Josh Williams, about one of my favorite tree medicines, and one that is often found in urban landscapes – the lovely linden (Tilia spp.). Josh shared so many gems about this beloved tree, from harvesting tips to how to make the most of its medicine, and he even told a beautiful story about linden from Roman mythology.

Every year during linden bloom time, Josh gathers its sweetly-scented flowers and prepares a syrup with them, for use in beverages, to drizzle over food, in baking, and more...

In this week’s episode, I sat down with the lovely Yemaya Kimmel to discuss milky oats (Avena sativa). Yemaya is not only a wonderful herbalist, but as you’ll see in this episode, she’s also an amazing singer! She shared so many deep insights about the benefits of milky oats – an herb that most people these days could probably benefit from – plus a beautiful song to cap off the episode.

Yemaya mentioned during our chat that she enjoys naming tincture formulas after songs (and I may have had a little too much fun coming up with Tori...

I was so happy when today’s podcast guest, Tiffany Harper, told me she’d like to talk about red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea syn. C. stolonifera). This striking shrub is very common in North America, both in wild lands and cultivated landscapes, and I was excited to learn more about it!

Tiffany brings so much heart and wisdom to everything she shares in this episode—the powerful medicine of red osier dogwood, the value of forming connections with the natural world around you, the often-overlooked importance of postpartum care.

The recipe that Tiffany shared with u...

It was such a joy to have my good friend, Thomas Easley, on the show. For some reason, the herb he chose to discuss – blue vervain – surprised me (perhaps because it hit so close to home?), but his insights about it were both thoughtful and expansive.  He shared about the type of person who tends to really benefit from vervain, the best time of day to take it, some lesser-known ways of working with it, and so much more!

Blue vervain is perhaps best known for its gift of helping wind you down, and so it’s often i...

There are so many ways that working with herbs can benefit you – and health challenges related to chronic inflammation are no exception.  In this short compilation, I share four of my favorite herbs that help to cool inflammation, along with some of the specific inflammatory conditions where these herbs shine.  By the end of this episode, you’ll see just how versatile and supportive these amazing plants can be!

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► Why marshmallow is like a soft herbal hug for your digestive tract

► What makes rosemary a great part...

Who doesn’t love cacao in some way, shape, or form? (Of course, dark chocolate is the best kind of chocolate in my not-so-humble opinion, but that’s beside the point.) In this episode, I got to interview Marcos Patchett, a London herbalist with a very interesting backstory, who also happens to be an expert  on cacao.

Marcos shared so many fascinating aspects of this amazing plant, from its rich history in South America to its chemical constituents and the way it affects our bodies.  He also dove into its many health benefits – so now you have an excus...

I’ve been wanting to have 7Song on the podcast for a really long time now, so it was exciting to finally get to sit and chat with him.  7Song is well known for his work in first aid and disaster relief, and our conversation touched on many different aspects of this work.  People often want to help when there’s been a natural disaster like a hurricane, wildfire, or flooding, and 7Song shared some of his best tips on how herbalists can help, along with some of his favorite herbs to have on hand for first aid situations.

O...

A major hazard of inviting herbalists on this show is that with each conversation, I get so excited about the herb we discussed that I want to run out and get it and start working with it right away! I often have to remind myself that I don’t need to try every single herb, and that many of my most versatile and beloved herbal allies are the ones that I already have in my garden and my spice rack.

This conversation with Dr. Orna Izakson about thyme was a great reminder that herbs don’t need to b...

Rosemary Gladstar was the very first person I interviewed for this podcast nearly four years ago, and it was truly an honor to be able to have her on the show again. She is such a presence in the world, having brought so much love and wisdom to the herbal community for decades. Rosemary’s work has inspired many thousands (at least!) of budding and experienced herbalists, and I am so incredibly grateful for every moment I get to spend with her.

Rosemary discussed a variety of topics in this interview, but there was one major thread th...

You’re in for a treat! In this episode, I had such a delightful conversation with joAnna Sanchez, who has been “beckoned by the plants,” as she so lovingly puts it, for decades. She shares such hope for the world, gained through her work with the plants and relationships with other students of nature, and her positive attitude is infectious – I found myself just beaming after speaking with her!

I was thrilled that joAnna chose to speak about  Lobelia inflata, a plant that she has been working with closely for many years. She had so much to share abo...

This conversation with Julie Caldwell was such a joy! It brought me back to a time when I was just a baby herbalist studying in Santa Cruz, California, where the surrounding mountains are home to countless towering redwood trees.  

The redwood forest where Julie lives is a few hundred miles north of Santa Cruz – but as she pointed out, the entire northern hemisphere  used to be covered in redwoods, and those of us who live on this part of the earth are connected by the land’s memory of these ancient beings.  These trees and their connections to the s...

I was thrilled to have a chance to interview Dr. Jacqui Wilkins! I’ve been following her on social media for some time now, and her posts always brighten my day with their beauty and insight.  Our conversation went so many places – from the ways that herbalism can reconnect us with the land and our ancestors, to more technical aspects of how chemical constituents of plants interact with our hormones.

I was also really excited Dr. Jacqui chose to speak about yarrow, my plant ally for the year.  Yarrow is an amazingly versatile plant with so many gifts...

It was such a delight to sit down and chat with Bevin Cohen – he has such a deep love and appreciation for plants, and so many gems of herbal wisdom to share!  Our conversation was centered around wintergreen, a plant that he has been learning with since he was a child, but also touched on so many other aspects of living a life rooted in herbalism: from the importance of being in the moment and forming personal relationships with plants, to the crossover between food and medicine – a great reminder that plants’ gifts are not solely found in salves, tinctur...

It was such a pleasure to have KhadiYah Preciado on the podcast - her curiosity about the plant world and its many gifts is inspiring, and it was just delightful to hear about her love for chickweed and the ways that she works with this abundant springtime herb! 

One of the many ways that KhadiYah works with chickweed is in her Itch Relief Oil – a fantastic medicine to make in the spring, when chickweed is abundant, in anticipation of the inevitable mosquito bites of summer!

You can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card here: https://bit.ly...

It was such a joy to meet Dr. Ryan Shepherd! In our conversation, we dove into the many benefits of licorice root, which is one of the most frequently worked-with plants in herbal medicine, thanks to its wide use in Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas. Ryan also shared about his herbal journey from London to China to Texas – a story that is perhaps as varied and unique as licorice itself!

In addition to discussing the medicinal benefits of licorice root, Ryan showed just how versatile this herb is by including it in his mouth-watering recipe for Qi-Boosting Chicken. (I...

It’s always an honor to connect with EagleSong, and this conversation was no exception. She has such a deep and dynamic presence in the herbal world, and I knew our conversation would be rich with wisdom and insight. We talked about the interconnectedness of people, plants, the earth, and human history—big, beautiful themes that EagleSong brings to life through her stories and experiences.

We also spent time with one of my favorite plant allies, hawthorn. But rather than just listing its herbal benefits, EagleSong shared how she’s worked with this sacred plant for decades, offeri...

Sometimes, I have a pretty good idea what guests on the podcast are going to talk about.  But going in to this conversation with Carin Fortin, I wasn’t sure what to expect - I knew very little about Carin and even less about her chosen herb, ashitaba (Angelica keiskei)!  At first I thought this plant would be similar to angelica (Angelica archangelica) or even dong quai (Angelica sinensis). 

But no! Ashitaba is an amazing herb with its own unique gifts. 

It was fascinating to hear all that Carin had to say about this versatile, streng...

Where do your herbs really come from? What happens before they land in your tea cup, tincture bottle, or spice jar?

The journey from seed to shelf is full of twists and turns, and the choices we make as herbalists and consumers can shape that journey in meaningful ways.

In this episode, I’m talking with Ann Armbrecht, the author of Following the Herbal Harvest. Ann has spent years exploring the global herbal supply chain, and she’s sharing four essential questions to ask before buying herbs—questions that can help you make more informed, ethica...

When Tim Scott’s book, Invasive Plant Medicine, came out in 2010, it was an instant favorite of mine. In fact, it still influences the way I view plants and the natural world!  I was so delighted to finally have the chance to interview Tim, and our conversation touched on many important threads from the book – from the question “what is native” to some of the actual benefits of invasive plants, and so much more.

Tim also discussed a plant that inspires anger in many of the places it has taken hold: Japanese knotweed.  Yet there is much to love ab...

I’m a big fan of behind-the-scenes stories – apparently, even, when it comes to my own podcast and school!  While I might be the face of Herbs with Rosalee, it’s important to me that you know about the amazing team that works to support everything we do here.  

In today’s episode, I had a delightful conversation with Emilie Thomas-Anderson, who serves as the project manager for this podcast.  Emilie not only shared all about what goes into the podcast production from start to finish, but also discussed her love of black walnut and her family’s annual tradi...

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 t...

Where are you in your herbal learning journey? Where would you like to go? What steps will you take to get there? These are all questions I’ve asked myself many times over the years, and reflecting upon the answers has helped to guide me to where I am today.

Last year, one of the answers that jumped out at me was: go back to herbal school! This may seem a little silly or strange – after all, I already have years of study behind me and even have my own herbal school. So why would I go back...

Ashwagandha is one of the most revered herbs in the Ayurvedic tradition, and it’s easy to see why!  This amazing herb can be a wonderful ally if you’re struggling with sleep issues, anxiety, and stress – and even if you’re not.  It’s a wonderfully grounding and rejuvenative herb that, when taken at the right dose, can support your health in so many ways.  (However, it is worth noting that ashwagandha can have some side effects and isn’t for everyone - so be sure to tune in to learn about whether it’s the right herb for you!)

I...

A few months ago, a listener emailed me to suggest I bring herbalist Lucy Jones on the podcast - and I’m so glad she did! I bought one of Lucy’s books and almost immediately filled it with notes and highlights, and I was delighted when she agreed to come on the show and talk about one of my favorite plants, marshmallow.

In this conversation, Lucy shared all about an amazing, often-overlooked way that she works with marshmallow – including how she literally used it to save someone’s leg! You can find a beautifully illustrated recipe card for...

I had the pleasure of meeting Helen Ward earlier this year at an herbal retreat in Italy, and I was immediately taken with her warm and kind spirit. It was such a joy to catch up with her again in this interview! Helen’s connection with elderberry runs deep, and in this conversation we get to hear all about how this plant became such a big part of her herbal path – and how it continues to nurture her both physically and as a way to bring her closer to nature and her community.  For me, this conversation really gets to th...

It was such an honor to sit down again with Robert Rogers - he’s been working with plants for over fifty years and has such a wealth of knowledge to share!  I was so excited that he chose to discuss rhodiola, a plant that I love to reach for in the cold, dark days of winter. Robert was a key player in getting sustainable sources of the plant to the market many years ago (you’ll hear all about that in our conversation!), and had so much to share about this sweet-smelling herb.

Robert also shared with...

In honor of this week's Thanksgiving holiday in the US, we're replaying a listener favorite here at Herbs with Rosalee - The Benefits of Sage!

There are sooooo many benefits of sage! In the United States, the sage herb often gets ignored except as a tasty addition to the Thanksgiving stuffing. But there are lots of reasons to love sage every day of the year. 

In this episode, I share my love of sage, including sage tea benefits. You’ll also receive a yummy sore throat relief recipe featuring sage and lemon. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is...

I’ve known Thomas Elpel for several years, and was really excited to have the chance to talk with him again. Tom sat down with me to discuss how a basic understanding of botany can be helpful for herbalists, but our conversation went way beyond that.  While not strictly an herbalist, Tom is definitely a plant person through and through, and his curiosity about the natural world is infectious!

Tom has written many books about a variety of subjects.  His book Botany in a Day, which can help you learn to recognize and identify plants through their bota...

I’ve got something a little bit different for this week’s episode!

You know all those commercials for pharmaceutical drugs? The ones that list all the crazy side effects while showing people strolling on the beach or at a dinner party having fun? Well, for this week’s episode I envisioned what it might be like if there was a similar ad for herbs.

You’ll also hear about one of my online courses, Cooling Inflammation.  Not all inflammation is bad, but when it runs amuck, it causes all sorts of problems, including chronic pain and...

I’ve known Beth for many years, and I knew from experience that the two of us were going to have a lively conversation!  It was a joy to sit down with her to discuss kava - a plant that has been supporting her since day one of her herbal journey, and one that I have also found to be super helpful in times of stress and anxiety.  Beth has gotten to know this plant so well that her friends sometimes even refer to her as the Kava Queen!

Beth has worked with kava in so many diff...

I’ve only worked with black birch a little bit, and I was really excited when Amelia South told me she was interested in discussing this beautiful tree!  Amelia had so much to share about black birch, and I left the conversation wishing I could be out in the woods smelling and tasting it right then.  I’d be surprised if you don’t leave this episode feeling super interested in black birch, too!

One of the things Amelia shared was how black birch has supported her with pain relief in so many different situations, from arthritic pain to...

I’ve heard about Pam Montgomery for many years, so I was excited to finally meet her!  Pam’s approach to herbalism really focuses on developing relationships with the plants, and it was fascinating to hear her discuss the ways she makes those connections and gets to know herbs on a deeper level.

Pam recently had the opportunity to do a deep-dive with lavender in the fields of Provence, and she had so much wisdom to share about this lovely herb!  She also shared her very versatile recipe for Lavender Syrup - something you’ll want to have in...

It’s been many years since Patricia and I have been together in person, and it was an honor to sit down with her again and hear her stories and wisdom.  She had a lot of insights to share about the process of becoming a Registered Herbalist through the American Herbalists Guild (including why you would want to do so in the first place!), as well as tips about some of the most important herbal knowledge that new herbalists often don’t consider.

And of course, Patricia also discussed how she works with an often-overlooked part of the e...

It was such a pleasure to have Yarrow on the show!  Yarrow is a dynamic speaker who is super passionate about building relationships with herbs and their ecosystems.  As you’ll hear in this conversation, Yarrow sees herbalism as a bridge to help people tune back in to the natural world, and he weaves in nature connection with everything he does.

Yarrow spoke extensively about reishi mushrooms - not just how they can benefit us physically, but also how they can improve our mental and emotional health, and how they can help us to better understand and lear...

I’ve been emailing with Holly for years, but as much as we’ve interacted via email and recipe exchange, this was our first time face-to-face and it was great to finally get the chance to meet her!  In this episode, Holly shares so much fascinating information about elderberry (one of my very favorite herbs!) - from folklore, to crafty uses for the twigs, to tips for harvesting the berries, and of course the many ways this amazing plant can be worked with medicinally!

Holly also shared her recipe for Bright Vinegar for Colds, which just looks so de...

In place of a regular podcast this week, I’m offering an entire webinar all about working with herbs during the cold and flu season!  In this webinar, we’ll look at five of my very favorite herbs to work with to help with common cold and flu symptoms, as well as to help prevent getting sick in the first place!  

When you join the webinar, I’ll also share with you my ebook, 5 Herbs for the Cold and Flu Season, which contains seven recipes that you can use when managing your health during the cold and flu seaso...

When I first started studying herbs over two decades ago, I learned herbs (like many people do) by memorizing herbal actions, memorizing lists, and then throwing it all together.  But I found that choosing herbs for people using these memorized lists didn’t always work, which was incredibly discouraging!

Luckily, I found out about herbal energetics, and that’s what I’ve based my herbal practices on ever since.  However, I’ve noticed over the years that there are a lot of misconceptions about this helpful system of matching herbs to people! In this episode, I’ll share what p...

It’s easy to love the taste of thyme in stews and roasts and sauces, but have you taken the time to really taste thyme? When you have really good quality thyme, it’s highly aromatic and very spicy and hot!

Tasting an herb and experiencing how it feels in your body when you take it as food and medicine is at the heart of herbal energetics. This system is a great way to really get to know the plants you’re working with, and to choose the herbs that are best suited to your unique body and co...

There are so many medicinal benefits of meadowsweet herb! Some people think of meadowsweet simply as a natural form of aspirin.  While it does shine at relieving pain (especially a particular type of pain!), meadowsweet’s gifts go far beyond this.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing my love of this beautiful member of the rose family, as well as one of my favorite ways to enjoy its pain-relieving benefits with my recipe for Meadowsweet Flower Pain Relief Tea.  You’ll find a link to your free, beautifully illustrated recipe card here: https://bit.ly/4gaHvnE

By...

This is the first time I’ve sat down with Leslie, and I enjoyed listening to her winding story of learning about herbs through the decades!  I was equally amazed by the extensive information she shared about the medicinal benefits of magnolia.  She really opened my eyes to the gifts of this beautiful, ancient tree. 

Leslie shared several ways to work with magnolia, including her recipe for Magnolia Bark Oxymel (and you’ll hear how Leslie uses it both internally and externally). A beautifully illustrated recipe card for Leslie's oxymel can be found here: https://bit.ly/3yDvBCc<...

It was truly a pleasure to chat with Richard Mandelbaum about self heal!  He not only discussed many medicinal gifts of this lovely little herb, but also dove deeper into nature connection, herbal energetics, and the intricacies of medicine making, weaving all of these things together in such a beautiful way.  Richard’s joy in embracing his curiosity about the world is so delightful, and I just know this episode is one I’ll be listening to again.

Richard also shared his  incredibly detailed recipe for making a Fresh Tincture of Self Heal - making it easy for bot...

This was my first time meeting Molly, and it was an absolute joy to talk with her and hear the many ways she is working with herbs to strengthen relationships and build connections.  I just loved when Molly walked me through how she connects with mugwort through the five senses - what a delightful way to begin to build a relationship with a plant!

Molly shared many ways of working with mugwort, including her process for creating beautiful, seasonal herbal garlands using this dreamy plant along with other natural materials.  See the resource section below to download yo...

It’s been on my mind to have Michael Pilarski on the show for quite a while now, so when he dropped by the other day to see my garden, it seemed like the perfect time to invite him to be here.  I loved talking with Michael about his experience of both wildcrafting and farming, and his perspective about the benefits and drawbacks of both of those ways of working with the land.  And it was so much fun chatting with him about our love for herbal gatherings!

Michael also shared some fantastic tips on gathering arnica and...

I had such a great time catching up with Phyllis Light in this conversation!  Hearing Phyllis’ unique herbal story and her philosophy about herbs and herbalism was a real treat.  Plus, she shared such an abundance of information about sumac and its medicinal gifts that I am inspired to start working more with this amazing plant!

Phyllis shared so many ways to work with sumac, including her recipe for Sumac Elderberry Syrup (along with several suggestions of how to use that syrup).  You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card for Phyllis’ syrup here.

You will be...

It was so much fun to meet the famous Brigitte Mars, who has been an herbalist for over fifty years.  I’ve admired her work for such a  long time, and found in this interview that she is also quite the character!  

Brigitte has such a strong thread of creativity that just bursts out of her, and our conversation went in many unexpected directions – way beyond simply talking about our mutual love for dandelions!

It’s truly bizarre to me that some people reach for poisons to eradicate certain plants in their lawn - especially when so ma...

I have fallen in love with Mary Morgaine Squire’s plant love letter newsletters lately, and when I sat down to interview her, it was made even more clear to me just how deep her connection with the herbs is!  I’m excited that she chose ginkgo (GIngko biloba) for her herb – it’s a new plant for the show and one I haven’t worked with much myself. I really enjoyed learning more about it.  I’m even trying to find a place to grow a ginkgo tree in my own yard now!

Mary shared so many wonderful...

I’ve known Kristine Brown for many years, and it was such a delight to sit down and chat with her about her love of nettle – a plant that herbalists love to love!  Even though I have immersed myself in nettle love for years, I learned some new things about this wonderful herb during our conversation.  And it was so much fun to hear about Kristine’s herbal journey and how she came to develop her herbal zine and amazing herbal learning system for children.

If you homeschool your children – or even if you don’t, but simply enjoy...

It was so delightful to sit down and chat with Anjali Deva about Tulsi.  I just love it when I interview someone and their love of the plant they choose shines through so clearly, which was definitely the case in this conversation.  Anjali’s descriptions of seeing Tulsi growing in India made me wish I could grow whole fields of it myself!

Anjali discussed the many ways she loves to interact with Tulsi, both on a physical and a spiritual level, and I loved her very practical and specific indications for when to try her Tulsi Chai reci...

I am a huge fan of the work done through United Plant Savers (UPS) and so it was truly an honor to have Susan Leopold, the executive director of UPS, on the show! 

I had so much fun talking with Susan.  Of course she discussed the UPS’s efforts to catalog and protect at-risk native medicinal plants, but this conversation also went places I didn’t expect,  including some of the history of herbal medicine in the United States and a sneak peek at next year’s International Herb Symposium.

Susan also talked about some of the ma...

It was so much fun to interview Dr. Jillian Stansbury!  She is a plant nerd in all the best ways, and every section of this conversation has so much wisdom infused into it.  Not only does Dr. Stansbury give a ton of information about chamomile’s many gifts but she also touches on the differences between the use of herbs and pharmaceuticals, her passion for ethnobotany, and so much more. If you like to nerd out on herbs then you are going to love this conversation!

A master at herbal formulation, Dr. Stansbury also discusses herbs that part...

This is Maria Noël Groves’s second time on the show, and I’m thrilled to have her back!  You can tell that Maria is an herbal teacher, because this episode is packed with in-depth herbal information about lemon balm.  She shares so much wisdom about lemon balm’s gifts that I just  can’t wait to get into the garden and work with this wonderful plant again!

Maria also shared many ways to work with lemon balm, including her recipe for Lemon Balm Fresh Tincture.  (You can find the link to your free, beautifully illustrated recipe card h...

I've spent many hours poring over Thomas Avery Garran’s materia medica books.  In fact, his first book was one of the first herbal books that I bought when I started studying Chinese medicine!  And as you’ll see in this episode, Thomas clearly loves plants and has wonderful insights into them, from their gifts and energetics to how to grow and harvest them.

I was surprised when Thomas chose motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) as his plant for the interview – I just didn't see it coming!  But as you’ll see, it’s obvious how much he loves motherwort, a...

I am thrilled to have David Winston back on the show! Like his last episode, which featured nettles, this episode is absolutely packed with knowledge and wisdom from David’s 55 years of experience. (Speaking of his incredible storehouse of herbal know-how, if you’d like to study with David, he’s enrolling students now! You can get the details in the show notes. I'm proud to promote David's course as an affiliate partner.)

David’s love of rose really shines through in this episode, and he shares so many ways to work with this wonderful plant!  

As a list...

If you’re new to herbs, you might be most familiar with oats as a breakfast staple. But they’re so much more than that! As my guest today, Kimberly Gallagher, shares, oats can soothe frazzled nerves, contribute to endocrine balance and sexual wellness, provide a wealth of easily-absorbed minerals, and much more. (Note that in this episode, Kimberly discusses her latest work with aphrodisiacs, so this interview is best for adults.)

Speaking of aphrodisiacs, though, herbal medicine can be delicious! And as a listener, you have access to a beautiful, watercolor-illustrated recipe card for Maple Oat Squa...

What a treat you have in store with today’s episode about the lovely (and, as you’ll see, very yummy!) rose plant. The best teachers breathe love and life into what they’re teaching. And my guest today, Liz Knight, is no exception! She reminds me of a little fairy, with her sparkly smile and deep rooted love of the green world.

I know you’re going to love Liz, the bits of culinary and life wisdom she sprinkled like flower petals throughout our conversation, and last but not least, her wonderful recipe for Sweet Rose Dukkah...

Today’s episode is a little different from the usual. 

To give context for newer audience members, Anna Rósa Róbertsdóttir was one of my earliest guests on the podcast. When Anna Rósa was last on the show, she shared a big adventure and new project she was just about to embark on, empowering women in refugee camps in Iraq. 

Since we last saw her, that project has been realized and today, Anna Rósa is sharing an update with us. This is a really interesting adventure and you’re definitely going to want to...

In this episode, my bestie, Rebecca Altman, and I dive deeper into one of our favorite herbs for resilience, tulsi (also known as holy basil). While we do talk about what tulsi can do for you, this episode is much more than a simple list of tulsi health benefits!

Instead, we’re showing you how much fun you can have, creatively welcoming tulsi into your life. We share some delectable tulsi recipes and ideas with you. And we share our approach to Building Resilience, which includes not only forming relationships with herbs like tulsi, but also transforming yo...

Today is a special episode! 

That’s partly because I’m with my bestie, Rebecca Altman. But also because we’re talking about something near and dear to both of our hearts: simple and practical ways to build resilience. 

Because life’s too short and too precious to be trapped in a dread of Monday mornings, right? “Monday mornings” might not ever go away, but your experience of them can change.

►►► That’s why we’re excited to share a week-long herbal resilience adventure that’s all about fun, ease, and spaciousness! (If you’re already busy or ove...

Today marks the first time mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been spotlighted on the show. And as you’ll see, this is a plant with a variety of culinary, medicinal, and historical uses! So I love that today’s guest, Corinna Wood, chose mugwort as a focus for our conversation. 

As a listener, you also have access to Corinna’s recipe for Mugwort Vinegar. Corinna shares that mugwort is her favorite herbal vinegar because it’s sooooo flavorful! There’s a free, downloadable and printable recipe card available just for you, so you can try out mugwort vinegar for yoursel...

After 50 years of working with herbs, Dr. Mary Bove has a lot of wisdom and insights to share! In this episode, we get to hear about her love for lemon balm. She also gives a great summary on the lemon balm and hypothyroidism issue.

You’ll also get to hear her take on herbs for pregnancy. This is something I’m asked about a lot and Mary is an expert in the subject. So I’m excited to be able to share her thoughts.

And as a listener, you also have access to Mary’s recipe f...

It was so much fun to have Richo Cech on the show to talk about the benefits of Andrographis, also known as the “king of bitters.” Besides all things Andrographis, Richo also covers some gardening advice and even life philosophies. We also hear why Richo loves chilis so much and what he includes in his herbal medicine kit. 

As a listener, you also have access to Richo’s recipe for Andrographis tincture (and you’ll hear why this is one of the herbal medicines Richo reached for when he came down with COVID). There’s a free, downloadabl...

Weeds are some of our most powerful and most loved medicines and self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a fantastic example of this. So I was really happy when my guest today, Caroline Gagnon, chose the beautiful and unassuming self heal as the focus herb for this episode. 

Do you already love self-heal? After listening in, I have no doubt you’ll catch Caroline’s enthusiasm for this lovely herb! As you’ll see, she includes  self-heal in herbal formulations for all sorts of health concerns, everything from chronic ear infections to menopausal night sweats.

I was seriousl...

I felt like I found a kindred spirit in this interview! And not just because we both love cats!

Dr. Laurie Dohmen, an herbalist and veterinarian, deeply loves valerian (Valeriana officinalis) just like I do. And she works with valerian in a very interesting way. For example, she shares how a valerian tea blend really saved the day when she had an extremely stressful experience after being robbed (and how valerian helped her to still show up for her patients). 

As a listener, you’ll also have access to Dr. Dohmen’s Calm but Focus Tea B...

Today’s episode is my third interview with jim mcdonald and it’s brimming with soooo much information about the health benefits of mullein (Verbascum spp). 

When jim told me he wanted to do a really long episode on mullein, I admittedly wasn’t prepared for how long he really wanted to go. But he told me that he never feels like he gets to truly share all that he wants to share about mullein. And who am I to deny him (or you, for that matter!) that opportunity?

So grab your cup of tea, get coz...

Do you love chamomile? I love chamomile! Yay, Matricaria chamomilla! 

And as you’ll see, my guest today, Rebecca Luna, loves chamomile, too. We talked about chamomile tea, chamomile oil, chamomile glycerite, chamomile baths… 

We full-on fan-girled about chamomile’s gifts for babies, for harried parents,  throughout menopause, and into elderhood. We also chatted about what it’s like running an herbal apothecary, something Rebecca’s been doing for almost 20 years.

I think herbal baths are a totally underutilized preparation… and Rebecca has shared a wonderful recipe for a chamomile lavender bath. If taking a little...

In this episode, I’m excited to explore the benefits and properties of California poppy with Benjamin Zappin, one of my first ever herb teachers down at the East West School of Herbology in California. 

When might you reach for California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)? Among other things, it’s a wonderful herb to support sleep, relaxation, and emotional quiet. (Know anybody who could use more of those things in their life?) ;) 

There’s a lot more to know about this beautiful plant, though, so be sure to listen in to the entire episode for all the deta...

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably heard me say that herbalism is about so much more than, “Take this herb for that problem.” To me, reciprocal connection with the web of life is at the heart of herbalism and this episode with Laura Gilmour illustrates that beautifully.

You’ll hear stories about white pine, as well as the beautiful ways Laura has developed a relationship with this tree over time. As Laura points out, she isn’t a clinical herbalist and this episode isn’t about giving you lists of ways that white pin...

If you’re like me and love “behind the scenes” content, you’re in for a treat today! We’re pulling back the curtain to look at what it’s like to provide community support here at Herbs With Rosalee. 

My guest today is our Student Services Coordinator, Karin Rose. As a person who loves to interact with students and the herbal community, Karin answers emails, direct messages through social media, YouTube comments and more. She also supports the students enrolled in our online courses.

Besides being the only extrovert on the team and a super-graciou...

In this episode, I’m sharing three ways to win over the herbal naysayers in your life.

Here’s the backstory. Last fall, I sent a survey to my newsletter subscribers to ask them what was on their herbal minds. One of the responses I saw most often went something like this: “Help! I love herbs but my (spouse, partner, friend, etc.) doesn’t think they work. How do I get them to see how powerful herbs really are?”

You asked. I listened… and here are my three best tips, compiled just for you.

After list...

It was an honor to sit down with Mimi Prunella Hernandez to discuss the many gifts of Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.). Mimi also shared her passion for science and her herbal journey that led to becoming the executive director of the American Herbalists Guild and the author of her new book, National Geographic Herbal: 100 Herbs From the World's Healing Traditions (which, by the way, I LOVED). In this episode, you’ll find lots of wisdom and heart-centered inspiration as she shares her own herbal journey and shares about the beautiful gifts of prickly pear.

Also, don’t miss...

There are so many benefits of elecampane root! 

It’s famous for coughs but be warned: it doesn’t help ALL types of coughs. Instead, elecampane truly shines for one type of cough in particular (and yes, I’ve got all the details in the episode). 

Elecampane root is also totally underrated as a bitter herb to support digestion. 

In this episode, I’m sharing my love for this powerful medicinal plant. As a listener, you’ll also get access to my favorite elecampane herbal bitters recipe. (Be sure to download your free, beautifully i...

We all know how important sleep is. Our bodies and minds simply can’t be at their best without sufficient sleep. When we’re ill, sleep is foundational to healing. And yet, so many of us aren’t getting anywhere near the amount of sleep we need. 

So I’m truly excited to have Tammi Sweet on the show to discuss herbs for sleep, as well as her brand new class on getting a good night’s sleep. (Don’t miss downloading your beautifully illustrated recipe card for Tammi’s Sleepy Time Tincture recipe!)

►►►Whether you want to improve y...

It was such an honor to sit down with Rocio Alarcόn and talk about cacao, ancestral and traditional wisdom, hummingbirds, and so much more. 

You can find a wealth of inspiration in Rocio’s stories to help you deepen your own relationship with the plants, animals, family, and larger community in your life. I know you’re going to love the sense of gratitude and joie de vivre that shines through as Rocio speaks! 

Also, don’t miss downloading your beautifully illustrated recipe card for the recipe Rocio shares, a Cacao Beverage from Ecuador. Be sure t...

It was such a pleasure to sit down with Frieda Kipar Bay to talk about angelica (Angelica archangelica). Not only is Frieda a really cool person, but she shared so much wide-ranging and in-depth information about this beautiful and medicinal herb! 

I loved angelica before this interview. Now I feel like I’m falling for it even more and I know you’re going to love it, too. 

Don’t miss downloading your free recipe card for Frieda’s Candied Angelica Root for a delicious way to enjoy angelica’s many gifts:

► Many herbal systems...

My conversation with Dr. Patrick Jones ranged widely, from the wonders of teasel to amazing tales from Doc Jones’ veterinary practice, including how herbs helped heal severe wounds and treat rattlesnake bites. (That last one was my personal question.)

Teasel is an herb I admittedly don’t work with a lot, but it’s a fascinating plant, both in its gifts and how it grows. Doc Jones has seen it help multiple clients in his naturopathy practice with nerve pain or damage. You won’t want to miss the stories he relates about patients who were helped by tease...

In this episode, I’m sharing six important rosemary plant benefits including a recipe for rosemary tapenade, which is a great way to address chronic inflammation (in a delicious way!). I love rosemary not only for how it smells, but also because this plant truly blurs the line between what is food and medicine. In other words, this is a potent medicinal hiding in your kitchen cabinet! 

When might you reach for rosemary?

► To boost your memory, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality.

► As a support for the heart and circulatory system...

In the last few years, there has been a lot of talk about rosemary for hair growth. When an herb gets a lot of attention, you often see some people show up who just want to sell you something. As a result, they may exaggerate or misrepresent the benefits of that herb. In an environment like that,  rosemary for hair growth might, understandably, sound too good to be true and leave you asking yourself, what are the facts?

Luckily, when it comes to knowing the facts about rosemary for hair growth, we can pull from a lot o...

This was a really fun interview for me as today’s guest, Maia Toll, touched on many themes that are important to my own life, like nature connection and working with medicinal plants daily, both as food and simply as a part of life. She also shared interesting back stories on what her book writing process has been like. And, of course, we talked about sage (Salvia officinalis)!

So, when might you reach for sage? Just to name a few…

► A cup of sage tea can be just the thing on one of those raw, damp d...