Herbs with Rosalee

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.comWould 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,...

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 savor the full magic of this accessible yet often overlooked medicine, including her Cozy Immune Boost tea—a delicious way to help strengthen your immune system during the winter! You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► The power of connecting on an intimate level with one herb at a time► Why orange peel—the whole thing, white pith included!—is even more beneficial to your health than the fruit itself► A surprising way to work with orange peel to improve your mood (warning: you’re going to get wet!)► Eight ways to enjoy the benefits of orange peel, from food to medicine to cleaning supplies► Why herbal powders are such a great way to work with herbs► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Constanza Leal is a South American herbalist from Chile who started her journey with herbalism in June 2011 after a hit & run bike accident that changed her life.In 2016 Constanza launched her herbalism project, Jardín Secreto, after moving to the mountains of Antioquia, Colombia with her husband. Growing food as medicine, wildcrafting, teaching decolonial herbalism and making small batches of medicine for her community became a dream come true.Since 2017 Constanza has been offering multiple herbalism apprenticeships a year and continues to deepen her relationship with the Tahamie Lands via regenerative agriculture, seed saving, soil microbiology, and biodynamic ways of medicine-making.Constanza teaches herbalism workshops in South America, in New England, and online through the Gaia School of Healing & Earth Education. Constanza’s stories and teachings offer such a radiant reminder that even the most familiar plants hold deep wisdom waiting to be rediscovered. Whether you’re brand new to citrus medicine or already love working with it, I hope this episode gives you fresh inspiration to explore, experiment, and enjoy the radiant gifts of orange peel.----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.You can find Constanza at SomosJardinSecreto.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...

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 Cordial, a delightful blend of hawthorn and other rose-family plants. I love how this recipe can be so easily adapted to reflect the region you live in! You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card here. By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► Three different body systems that benefit from hawthorn’s gifts► What makes hawthorn so nourishing and protective, both for the ecosystem and for the human body► Why most people could benefit from working with hawthorn on a daily basis► Five different ways to include hawthorn in food► Why hawthorn is called the "trysting tree" in Irish lore—and what that has to do with the putrid smell of its flowers► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Ruthie Kølle lives in a cabin situated on the northern hem of her family’s 9th generation farm, which occupies unceded Lenape land. She is deeply rooted to her place there and has apprenticed herself to reconnecting to her own Celtic ancestral ways, weaving them into the stories of the land where she is currently planted. It’s her passion to reconnect with and integrate these traditional and ritual methods of healing into our modern lives.Ruthie has been studying folk and clinical herbalism since 2012, has been practicing intuitive bodywork since 2005, and creating ceramic art for 30 years.This conversation is so full of wonder, story, and heartfelt herbal wisdom. If you’ve ever felt drawn to hawthorn—or are curious why so many people fall in love with this tree—you won’t want to miss this episode!----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.You can find Ruthie at MotherHylde.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...

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 our conversation!).She also shares her recipe for Pine Infused Honey—a simple, delicious way to make the most of pine’s abundant needles. You can download a beautifully-illustrated recipe card here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► What makes pine such a wonderful herbal ally during the cold months of winter► How pine can help to unstick what is stuck— physically, emotionally, and energetically► Six different ways to work with pine pitch► The delightful ways that animals interact with pine► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Liz Neves is a dreamer, wanderer, and Earth lover who seeks to deepen her connection to the elements and other wise beings (plants, animals, fungi). She is passionate about shifting perceptions and lifting unturned stones to find creative solutions to life’s challenges. Since 2008 Liz has been on a meandering journey of developing her skills in herbalism, earth-based living, shamanism, and energy healing. Liz is the author of Northeast Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 111 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness (Timber Press). She currently offers wandering healings, healing plant walks, herbal classes, and dream circles on request.I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today!----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.You can find Liz at GatheringGround.nyc.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

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 preparations, too! Helena shares the diverse ways that she works with this lovely herb, including in her Tissue Tonic Infusion—an incredibly versatile infusion that can help heal and restore tissues both inside and out. To explore it yourself, you can download her beautifully illustrated recipe here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► Six different herbal preparations for calendula (and when you might choose one over the other!)► When to reach for a calendula salve to help heal your skin—and when it might actually make things worse► Why herbal teas often make better medicine than tinctures► How forming relationships with plants and the living world around you can help you become a better herbalist► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Helena’s work as an herbalist weaves together her love of plants with her background as a chef specializing in bioregional cooking and fermentation. Her first taste of wild food as a kid strengthened the sense of belonging she feels in nature. She seeks to walk alongside and support clients as they build relationships with plants. Helena specializes in gastrointestinal and nervous system support (gut-brain connection) and topical remedies. In addition to her studies at the Vermont Center for Clinical Herbalism and Wild Ginger Community Herbal Center, her practice is guided by lived experience of what plant kin can teach us about the physiological, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of being human.I’m delighted to share our conversation with you today!----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.You can find Helena at HelenaDelPesco.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...