Podcast
Herbs with Rosalee
Hosted by Rosalee de la Forêt · EN
Curious about the healing nature of plants? You're in the right place. I’m Rosalee de la Forêt and I'm passionate about helping people discover the world of herbalism and natural health.
On this 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.
My goal is that you’ll walk away from each episode feeling empowered, knowledgeable, and inspired to start working with herbs in your everyday life.
Sometimes you’ll sit down with just me and other times I may have special guests join the conversation. We’ll hear what their favorite herb and recipe is for the season.
All you have to do right now is make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast in your favorite podcast player so you don’t miss a thing.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Japanese Knotweed for Lyme, Inflammation, and Infections with Emily French
2w ago00:59:58Tap to summarizeWhat happens when we stop looking at Japanese knotweed as a problem to solve and start looking at it as a teacher?Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is often used as a go-to herb for Lyme disease, but in this fascinating conversation, herbalist Emily French invites us to see this remarkable plant through a much wider lens. From chronic inflammation and joint pain to menstrual stagnation, skin care, and beyond, Emily shares why knotweed has become one of her most trusted herbal allies—and why reducing it to a single use misses the bigger picture entirely.Along the way, we explore knotweed's role as a blood-moving herb, its powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and the surprising ways it supports both ecological and personal healing. Emily also offers thoughtful reflections on knotweed's controversial reputation, revealing how this much-maligned plant may have more to teach us about cooperation, resilience, and reciprocity than many of us realize.Japanese knotweed also makes a delicious wild food! Emily has shared her recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Knotweed Galette, a rustic dessert that transforms young knotweed shoots into a memorable seasonal treat. You can download your copy here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► Over fifteen medicinal benefits of knotweed (far beyond just being a “Lyme herb”!)► Three tips for harvesting knotweed roots► The fascinating ways that knotweed helps prevent Lyme-causing bacteria from taking hold► When to use the roots of knotweed—and when the leaves and stems are best► What makes this plant such an amazing ally for burns, bruises, and sprains► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Emily French is a clinical and traditional herbalist who works 1:1 with clients and also teaches about herbalism online and in her 3 year herbal apprenticeship. Her work revolves around her love for reconnecting people with the sophisticated art and science of plant-based healing that we've all known, somewhere in our bones, for thousands of years. She is a passionate and intuitive herbalist, educator, wildcrafter, farmer, medicine maker, and mama. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Emily has a broad understanding of both acute and chronic health issues, and of working with the healing plants to help people move toward balance and vitality.Emily's passion for Japanese knotweed is contagious! By the end of this episode, you may find yourself seeing this controversial plant in an entirely new light.----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 Emily at Emily-French.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.
Transcribe →Balsam Fir: Lung Support, Wound Healing, and the Medicine Right Outside Your Door with Erica Macrum
3w ago00:42:14Tap to summarizeCould the tree outside your window become one of your greatest herbal teachers?Living at the edge of the boreal forest, Erica Macrum is surrounded by balsam fir (Abies balsamea), and over the years this fragrant conifer has become one of her closest plant allies. But rather than relying on books, Erica has learned much of what she knows about balsam fir through observation, experimentation, and simply spending time with the tree itself.In this episode, Erica shares her favorite ways to work with balsam fir's resin, needles, and bark, as well as the unexpected lessons she's gathered from years of companionship with this remarkable tree. Together, we explore its gifts for healing, the role of curiosity in herbal practice, and the wisdom that can emerge when we spend time getting to know the plants growing around us.Erica also shared her recipe for Spring Forest Herbal Salt, a delicious way to add a taste of the forest to your own kitchen. Be sure to download your copy here!By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► How balsam fir resin naturally protects the tree—and how you can harness that healing power► The surprising differences between working with the resin, bark, and needles► How Erica uses balsam fir to support respiratory health► Why "playing" with a plant can be an important part of herbal learning► What plants can teach us about compassion, patience, and meeting people where they are► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Erica Macrum is the owner of Sweet Fern Apothecary and has a deep passion for the healing arts. The ancient wisdom of Earth-based energetic modalities keeps Erica engaged and continuously learning. As a clinical herbalist, she loves sharing about the healing properties and energetics of plant medicine and strongly encourages the people around her to hold healing in their hands.Erica has been studying and practicing Chinese medicine for over 20 years. She is a graduate of the East West School of Planetary Herbology, where she helped facilitate and teach the case studies class with her mentor Susan Kremer. When she is not working with herbs, you will find Erica in the garden, walking in the woods, or spending time with her family.Whether balsam fir grows outside your door or hundreds of miles away, I hope this conversation inspires you to spend a little more time with the plants around you—and who knows, you just might find yourself looking at those familiar plants in a whole new way!----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 Erica at SweetFernApothecary.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.
Transcribe →3 Surprising Herbs for Stress
4w ago00:05:55Tap to summarizeWhen people think about herbs for stress, they often reach for the usual recommendations. But some of the most supportive herbs aren't always the most obvious.Here, I share three surprising herbs that I frequently think about for different types of stress and nervous system support.► Milky oats for deep depletion and nervous system nourishment► Lavender for anxiety and acute stress support► Reishi for chronic, long-term stress and resilienceI also share an important lesson I've learned after many years of working with herbs: while herbs can be incredible allies, lasting resilience comes from understanding your unique constitution and changing your relationship to stress itself.That's exactly why Rebecca Altman and I created the Building Resilience Course, which combines herbs, self-awareness, and practical tools for building resilience from the inside out.Learn more and join here.
Transcribe →Nettle as a Restorative Herb for Minerals, Vitality, and Long-Term Healing with Juliet Howard
4w ago00:59:28Tap to summarizeWhat can an old fairy tale teach us about one of herbalism’s most trusted plants?In this episode, herbalist and storyteller Juliet Howard shares one of my favorite stories, "The Wild Swans," an old tale in which stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) plays a central role in healing, devotion, and liberation. From there, our conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of nettle’s gifts—from its nourishing minerals and restorative qualities to its role as a fiber plant, natural dye, and lifelong herbal companion.Through story, personal experience, and practical herbal wisdom, Juliet reveals why stinging nettle remains such a treasured herbal ally. Along the way, she offers a thoughtful reminder that some of the most meaningful healing happens slowly, through relationship, consistency, and practice.Juliet also shares her Heavy Nettle Daily Tonic, combining nettle with a few beloved herbal allies to make a deeply nourishing infusion. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► Why stinging nettle is a gateway herb for so many herbalists► How nettle is able to break real-life “enchantments” and help bring you back into yourself► Why nettle works best as a long-term herbal ally► A simple daily practice that can transform your relationship with this common weed► What it means to think of plants as friends (rather than simply as resources)► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know her, Juliet’s relationship to the wisdom and magic of the plant world began at a very early age while living on the wild cliffs of the Oregon coast. The purpose of her work is to help people come home to themselves through fostering deeper relationships to plants and the natural world. It is her strong conviction that plants are a powerful portal into the magic and wonder of being alive and embodied.With her book, The Girl Whose Garden Comes Alive, Juliet’s intention is to help children cultivate lifelong reciprocal relationships with the green world, making them feel both empowered and connected to the land around them.This episode is part herbal conversation, part story hour, and entirely delightful. Whether you already love stinging nettle or are just getting to know it, you'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the many ways this humble plant nourishes, restores, and surprises us.----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 Juliet at TheGirlWhoseGardenComesAlive.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.
Transcribe →Passionflower for Sleep and Overthinking: What the Research Shows
May 2700:04:18Tap to summarizeHave you ever found yourself lying in bed unable to sleep, thoughts spinning in your head like a hamster wheel? Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) may just be the herb for you!In this short episode, I discuss what I love about passionflower, when it truly shines for dealing with insomnia, and my favorite ways to work with it.As you’ll hear, passionflower can be a wonderful herbal ally for certain types of insomnia—but unfortunately, sometimes all the herbs in the world can’t help if chronic stress is what’s keeping you from being able to sleep. When this happens, it’s time to work on things at a deeper level.That’s why my friend Rebecca Altman and I created our free Building Resilience mini course, which will help you to start shifting your relationship to stress at its core—and yes, there will be herbs involved, too!You can sign up for the free mini course here. We’d love to have you join us!----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould 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.
Transcribe →3 Underrated Herbs for Oral Health
May 2200:03:37Tap to summarizeWhen most people think about oral care, they think about toothpaste or mouthwash. But herbs have a long history of supporting the mouth, gums, and oral tissues in ways that are both practical and deeply nourishing.In this short podcast, I share three of my favorite underrated herbs for oral health and why each one works so differently.► Plantain for supporting tissue healing► Marshmallow root for soothing dry, irritated tissues► Echinacea for oral discomfort and deeper tissue supportI also talk about one of the most important shifts in herbalism: learning how to match herbs to the tissues and patterns involved instead of using the same approach for everyone.This way of thinking is exactly what Kyle Denton teaches inside the Herbal Dental Care course. Kyle combines 15 years of experience in the dental field with clinical herbalism to teach oral care through an herbalist lens.Enrollment closes soon, so if you’ve been curious about herbal oral care, now is the time to join us.Enroll here: https://courses.herbrally.com/a/2148266690/XqYp4jfE
Transcribe →Mimosa as Emotional Medicine with CoreyPine Shane
May 2001:06:45Tap to summarizeWhat if one of the most beloved herbs for emotional healing isn’t just uplifting—but helps us gently reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve had to tuck away to survive?In this episode, I sit down with CoreyPine Shane to discuss mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), often affectionately referred to as the “tree of happiness.” And what a fitting name! Mimosa is celebrated as a joyful, uplifting herb, and is commonly reached for to help relieve anxiety and depression—though as CoreyPine shares in this conversation, its benefits are much more nuanced than that.CoreyPine also shares thoughtful insights about trauma, the body, and emotional healing, describing how herbs like mimosa may help us gently release what’s been held for too long. Along the way, we explore what it means to work with plants not just as remedies, but as companions for moving through life’s most tender and transformative moments—and the deep comfort of making connections with the living world around us.Don’t miss CoreyPine’s Peach Mimosa Elixir recipe! This fragrant, uplifting cordial might just be “happiness in a bottle”. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► The important differences between mimosa flower and bark medicine► Eight different herbs to pair with mimosa (and when to reach for one over another)► What it means when emotions become “stuck” in the body—and why mimosa is such a helpful herbal ally for helping to move them along► Important considerations for when NOT to use mimosa► and so much more…For those of you who don’t know him, CoreyPine Shane is Director of the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, and a core member of the mutual aid group, The Appalachian Herb Collective. He has been teaching and helping clients for 30 years, artfully blending Chinese and Western herbal traditions with a focus on local plants. His book Southeast Medicinal Plants covers how to identify, ethically harvest, and use the wild plants of the Southeastern United States.Whether you’re navigating transition, tending old wounds, or simply delighting in the beauty of mimosa flowers, may this episode remind you that healing often begins with connection: to our bodies, to each other, and to the rest of the living world around us.----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 CoreyPine at BlueRidgeSchool.org and PinesHerbals.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.
Transcribe →Herbal Oral Care Recipes for Teeth & Gums
May 2000:03:47Tap to summarizeHerbs can be incredible allies for oral health, but knowing how and when to use them makes all the difference.Here, I share three of my favorite herbal recipes for supporting the mouth, gums, and oral tissues, along with practical tips for actually making them effective.► A powerful herbal mouthwash with echinacea, sage, and plantain► A sage and rose tooth powder for everyday oral care► A turmeric mouth pack for deeper long-term gum supportI also talk about one of the biggest mistakes people make with herbal oral care: not giving herbs enough time and consistency to truly work with the tissues.If you’d like all three recipes in one place, you can download the ebook here.
Transcribe →Herbal Oral Care: 3 Things I Wish I’d Learned Sooner
May 1600:03:50Tap to summarizeMost people think oral health starts and ends with the teeth. But the mouth may be telling a much bigger story.Here, I share three important shifts in thinking that completely changed the way I understand herbal oral care.► Why oral health is deeply connected to the rest of the body► How herbal energetics can help us better understand gum and tissue patterns► Why consistency matters when using herbs for oral careI also share why I’m so excited about the free Herbal Dental Care mini course created by my friends Kyle Denton and Mason Hutchison. Kyle combines 15 years of experience in the dental field with clinical herbalism to teach oral health in a way I rarely see discussed in herbal education.If you’d like to explore herbal oral care more deeply, you can join the free mini course here: https://courses.herbrally.com/a/2148265685/XqYp4jfE
Transcribe →How to Read Signs in Your Teeth, Gums & Tongue with Kyle Denton
May 1301:01:38Tap to summarizeMost of us were taught to think about dental health in isolation—brush, floss, rinse, repeat. But what if your mouth is actually a gateway to understanding your entire body?In this episode, my friend Mason Hutchison and I interview Kyle Denton to explore a more holistic approach to dental care. Drawing from his overlapping backgrounds in clinical dentistry and herbalism, Kyle shares how the mouth can reflect patterns of health throughout the body (and the many ways that herbalism can help us work with those patterns rather than simply masking them!).We also get into some surprisingly nuanced topics, including toothpaste ingredients, mouthwash myths, the oral microbiome, and why “one-size-fits-all” dental advice often falls short. Throughout the conversation, Kyle shares practical ways to approach oral care with more awareness, intention, and personalization.If this conversation intrigues you and you want to learn even more about how to care for your mouth in a holistic way, you’ll love Kyle’s free Herbal Dental Care mini course! You can join the mini course here. It’s only available for the next few days, so be sure to check it out soon!By the end of this episode, you’ll know:► The biggest misconception people have about dental care► How to tell the difference between types of bad breath—and what they might mean► Why “killing germs” isn’t always the goal when it comes to oral health► Five common ingredients to avoid when buying toothpaste► How understanding tissue states can completely change the way you approach oral care► and many more insights for supporting your oral health naturally….For those of you who don’t already know him, Kyle Denton is a clinical herbalist, medicine maker, and teacher whose roots in dentistry give him a rare and comprehensive view of the body’s inner design. For 15 years he worked in the dental field: chairside, lab fabrication, patient care and clinical management. This daily mentorship developed a deep understanding of the technical, structural, and human sides of oral care. During his later years in dentistry, Kyle’s study of herbalism began to merge with his clinical work, revealing a living bridge between oral anatomy and the energetic, emotional, and ecological dimensions of health.As the founder of Tippecanoe Herbs and Root Radical Herbal Academy, Kyle has taught hundreds of students through courses that blend hands-on medicine making with vitalist philosophy, plant energetics, and the electric field anatomy. His teaching style unites practical knowledge with mytho-poetic insight and light humor, helping students see the mouth as an intelligent gateway of breath, nourishment, and expression, as well as the mechanical structures.Kyle brings together his dual lineages of dentistry and herbalism to empower others with the tools, context, and confidence to care for their oral health naturally, while deepening their understanding of how the mouth reflects the rhythm and balance of the whole body.Whether you’re rethinking your daily routine or simply becoming more curious about the signals your body is sending, I hope this episode inspires you to listen more closely, stay curious, and bring a little more intention to the ways you care for yourself each day.----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 Kyle at TippecanoeHerbs.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.
Transcribe →