Herbs with Rosalee

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 belief that American ginseng is ‘too endangered to use’—and why the truth is more complex than we might think. Phyllis shared about several different herbal preparations of American ginseng, including her recipe for Ginseng Honey—a simple and delicious way to work with this beloved herb. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here [https://herbswithrosalee.aweb.page/unlock-ginseng-honey-recipe]. There are so many ways that American ginseng can benefit your health! Here are just a few reasons you might want to work with American ginseng: ► To improve memory and cognitive ability ► To benefit your immune system (and even help antibiotics work better!) ► To help you build strength and muscle mass, boost energy, and increase endurance To learn even more ways that you can work with American ginseng, be sure to check out the entire episode! By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► How the global ginseng market impacts use of American ginseng in the United States ► Why Phyllis considers American ginseng to be a “panacea herb” ► How American ginseng can be worked with to benefit sleep—and the particular kind of insomnia that it is most appropriate for ► When it’s best to use American ginseng on its own, and when to formulate it with other herbs ► The legal and ethical implications of buying wildcrafted American ginseng (or of wildcrafting your own!) ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Phyllis D. Light, a fourth-generation herbalist and healer, has studied and worked with herbs, foods, and other healing techniques for over 30 years. She is traditionally trained in Southern Folk Medicine with lessons from her grandmother as well as Tommie Bass, a renowned Southern herbalist.  Phyllis has a master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Health Studies, nutrition and healthcare.  She has taught CEU classes for allied healthcare professionals. She is director of the Appalachian Center for Natural Health and is the author of Southern Folk Medicine: Healing Traditions from Appalachian Fields and Forests. I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/health-benefits-of-american-ginseng.html] Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here [https://youtu.be/9jJP5ky1jxE] for the video. You can find Phyllis at PhyllisDLight.com [https://www.phyllisdlight.com]. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://rmcsample.aweb.page/p/9a1dfc11-c62f-4f32-93db-e0209220a6ad]. 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 [http://herbswithrosalee.com/]. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140195006X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=metvalher-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=140195006X&linkId=015132911186b966727b15dabec8da5d] and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine [https://amzn.to/3a2G3R4]. 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 [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/rosalee-de-la-foret.html].

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 Luxury infusion recipe—a beautiful blend that nourishes both body and spirit. In fact, I’ve been making this tea regularly since our discussion, and it’s delightful! I can’t wait to share it with you. You can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card here [https://herbswithrosalee.aweb.page/p/3066f50b-39ef-4e07-97cf-d273ef27a79e]. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► The ancient alchemy behind lady’s mantle—and why herbalists have treasured this plant for centuries ► The secret of the sparkling “dew” on the leaves of lady’s mantle (and why it’s even more magical than it looks!) ► Why lady’s mantle has been called the ultimate ally for women through every life transition—from maiden to mother to elder ► How the simple act of gathering herbs with gratitude can transform your medicine making ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Robin Rose Bennett is a storyteller, writer, and herbalist, offering classes in Herbal Medicine and EarthSpirit Teachings since 1986 - at herb conferences, festivals, medical schools, and most joyously, outside with the plants.  Robin Rose shares herbal medicine with gratitude for the loving generosity of the plants and the magic, mystery, and beauty of the web of life. She is the author of: Healing Magic - A Green Witch Guidebook to Conscious Living, The Gift of Healing Herbs - Plant Medicines and Home Remedies for a Vibrantly Healthy Life,  A Young Green Witch’s Guide to Plant Magic - Rituals and Recipes from Nature, and A Green Witch's Pocket Book of Wisdom-Big Little Life Tips. I’m delighted to share our conversation with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/podcast202.html] You can find Robin Rose at RobinRoseBennett.com [https://www.robinrosebennett.com/]. You can learn more about Robin's courses here [https://www.robinrosebennett.com/classes-events-workshops]. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://rmcsample.aweb.page/p/9a1dfc11-c62f-4f32-93db-e0209220a6ad]. 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 [http://herbswithrosalee.com/]. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140195006X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=metvalher-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=140195006X&linkId=015132911186b966727b15dabec8da5d] and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine [https://amzn.to/3a2G3R4]. 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 [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/rosalee-de-la-foret.html].

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 warming, aromatic ally. Rebecca also invites us into her creative world, where her herbal practice meets her art, tattooing, and deep love for regional traditions. Fresh spicebush berries are notoriously difficult to dry, so Rebecca likes to find other creative ways to preserve their peppery, citrus-spiced flavor. She’s shared her recipe for Spicebush Honey Bounce—spicebush berries infused in honey, plus a little something extra! You can find a beautifully-illustrated copy of Rebecca’s recipe here [https://herbswithrosalee.aweb.page/p/d2b90a2c-568c-43af-8418-042a0814621c]. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► Why spicebush holds such a beloved place in Appalachian folk traditions, bridging the worlds of food, medicine, and seasonal ritual ► Four medicinal benefits of spicebush ► Rebecca’s trick for drying the fruit so they keep their flavor for years and don’t mold—quite a challenge for these juicy berries! ► Six ways to work with spicebush for food and medicine, from the bark to twigs, leaves to fruit ► Why embracing many teachers—and a community of learning—is key to becoming a better herbalist ► and so much more… For those of you who don’t know her, Rebecca Beyer is an Appalachian folk herbalist and magical practitioner, tattooer, author, and crafts woman. She studies and teaches foraging, regional folk medicine and handicrafts at her home in the mountains of Western North Carolina through her school, Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft, and tattoos at her studio, Pars Fortuna. This conversation is full of history, heart, and plant wisdom. Whether you’re new to spicebush or already love the plants of Appalachia, I know you’ll come away inspired by Rebecca’s joyful relationship with this fragrant, generous shrub. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/spicebush-lindera-benzoin.html] You can find Rebecca at BloodAndSpicebush.com [https://www.bloodandspicebush.com/]. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://rmcsample.aweb.page/p/9a1dfc11-c62f-4f32-93db-e0209220a6ad]. 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 [http://herbswithrosalee.com/]. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140195006X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=metvalher-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=140195006X&linkId=015132911186b966727b15dabec8da5d] and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine [https://amzn.to/3a2G3R4]. 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 [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/rosalee-de-la-foret.html].

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 idea kept tugging at me… and eventually, I caved.  And! If anyone was going to flip the script and interview me, it had to be my dear friend Mason Hutchison from HerbRally. Not only do I love his hosting skills, Mason knows me better than most people on this planet—which meant he could ask the kinds of questions I’d never think to ask myself. And wow… he did. We laughed over bloopers, looked back at how the show has grown, and talked about the ways podcasting has stretched me—not just as an herbalist, but as a person. I shared stories about my ever-evolving plant path—from activism, to my early days with herbs, to how UTIs (yes, really!) shaped my herbal journey in surprising ways. We also pulled back the curtain on what goes into producing this podcast, and chatted about some of the threads that run through my life right now: walking, strength training, friendship, grief, and resilience. There are also a few surprises in there - one that left me in tears.  But! No spoilers! You’ll just have to watch the show. (And I DO recommend watching this one as there’s lots of entertaining b-roll going on.) It was one of those conversations that felt both light and deep at the same time. I’m so grateful to share it with you—and to be celebrating 200 episodes together. Here’s a peek at what we covered: ► Why most podcasts don’t make it past seven episodes—and what it really took for me to reach 200 ► How creating a podcast has shaped me as an herbalist and educator ► The behind-the-scenes teamwork that goes into every single episode ► How my dad’s adventurous spirit and my mom’s ethnobotanical work continue to shape my life today ► How getting arrested as a young activist eventually led me deeper into herbalism (and guided me toward a gentler, less in-your-face approach to bringing herbalism to people!) ► and so much more… For this episode, I also have to give a big shout-out to YOU. Truly, this podcast wouldn’t exist without you listening, sharing, and showing up week after week. Your enthusiasm for the show is what keeps me going. And a special thank-you to all of my students here at Herbs with Rosalee—you make it possible for us to keep producing the podcast.  An extra-special nod goes to our Podcast Circle members, whose direct support means so much. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/podcast200.html] Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here [https://youtu.be/HgJK1flSZI4] for the video. You can find Mason at HerbRally.com [https://HerbRally.com]. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://rmcsample.aweb.page/p/9a1dfc11-c62f-4f32-93db-e0209220a6ad]. 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 [http://herbswithrosalee.com/]. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140195006X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=metvalher-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=140195006X&linkId=015132911186b966727b15dabec8da5d] and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine [https://amzn.to/3a2G3R4]. 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 [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/rosalee-de-la-foret.html].

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 some are decidedly bitter!), dive into its surprising nutritional and medicinal powers, and celebrate the joy this sunny little plant brings. You’ll never look at a patch of dandelions the same way again! Along with several other tasty dandelion beverages, Mason and I said cheers over a warm cup of my Spiced Dandelion-Chicory Herbal Brew. This is a new recipe that I’ve never shared before—and a personal favorite of mine!  Check out the beautifully illustrated recipe card here [https://bit.ly/4mp4vl1], and enjoy this crowd-pleasing dandelion drink with your own friends! By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► How to tell dandelion apart from its many look-alike cousins ► The many nutritional and medicinal benefits of dandelion roots, leaves, stems, and flowers ► One fun way to work with dandelion seeds (aside from the inevitable wish-making, of course!) ► The surprising reason behind dandelion’s French nickname, “pissenlit” ► and so many other reasons to love this humble weed! For those of you who don’t know him, Mason Hutchison is the founder of HerbRally, an herbal community hub that promotes herbalism education and events. He is also the host of The Herbalist Hour, a podcast and YouTube series where he interviews a diverse array of plant people. Mason is a proud father, avid chess, basketball and ping pong player, spring water gatherer, and an enthusiast in the art of frugal nutrition. I’m so excited to share our conversation—and plenty of dandelion love—with you today! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/podcast200.html] Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here [https://youtu.be/DiJ28wP3HUo] for the video. You can find Mason at HerbRally.com [https://herbrally.com/]. For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://rmcsample.aweb.page/p/9a1dfc11-c62f-4f32-93db-e0209220a6ad]. 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 [http://herbswithrosalee.com/]. ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140195006X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=metvalher-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=140195006X&linkId=015132911186b966727b15dabec8da5d] and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine [https://amzn.to/3a2G3R4]. 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 [https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/rosalee-de-la-foret.html].