Herbs with Rosalee

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 Ener...

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 bei...

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...

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 som...

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...