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, soothing herb, and how it works without being forceful or stimulating. She also includes a recipe for a cozy, delicious beverage to soothe not just the gut, but also the spirit—her Creamy Marshmallow-Nutmeg Overnight Infusion. You can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card here.

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

► The importance of tasting and experiencing an herb in different ways

► How best to prepare marshmallow root (and why this is a point of contention among herbalists!)

► When marshmallow leaf and flower might be a better medicinal choice than the roots

► Why Maria includes marshmallow leaf in most of her tea blends

► How marshmallow can help heal your digestion—from cooling inflamed tissues to feeding your gut microbiome (and more!)

► When to use caution with taking marshmallow

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Maria Noël Groves is a clinical herbalist nestled in the pine forests of New Hampshire. She runs Wintergreen Botanicals, and is devoted to education and empowerment via classes, health consultations, and writing with the foundational belief that good health grows in nature. Maria is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self Care, as well as Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies, Herbal Remedies for Sleep, and the new Herbal Gut Health.

Marshmallow offers an important reminder that some of the most profound healing comes not from pushing harder, but from learning how to soften. I hope this conversation with Maria inspires you to give your body the care, protection, and nourishment it needs in the new year and beyond.

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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 Maria at WintergreenBotanicals.com.

If you're interested in Maria's fantastic new book, Herbal Gut Health, you can preorder it here or wherever books are sold.

For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!

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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.

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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.