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,...

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.com

Would 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.com

Would 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...