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.

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.

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Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

You can find Rebecca at BloodAndSpicebush.com.

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...