Herbal Radio
Herbal Radio

Herbalist Answers: What's Your Favorite Herb Right Now?

March 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The herbalists on this episode of Herbal Radio are asked to name their current favorite herb, and not a single one picks just one. The episode is a rotating roundtable of short, personal answers, each grounded in a specific physical or emotional need the speaker is navigating right now. The throughline is not a grand thesis about herbalism, but a demonstration of how practice follows life: herbs are chosen not because they are objectively "best," but because they match a particular body in a particular season.

Wood Betany for Centering, Mimosa for Lift

One herbalist leads with wood betany (Pedicularis canadensis), which she took that very day. She describes it as a remedy for "monkey chatter"—the constant loop of overthinking, planning, and self-doubt. Her teacher, Suki Roth, taught her that wood betany works on the solar plexus, helping a person "move forward without fear." It also calms you down if you have had too much coffee. The speaker is writing a new book and needs to center her brain without feeling groggy, so wood betany is her current go-to.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:15) **Episode Introduction** - The hosts launch a new mini-episode format asking herbalists about their current favorite herb.
  • 2 (01:52) **Wood Betony for Mental Centering** - An herbalist explains why wood betony is her current favorite, especially for calming mental chatter.
  • 3 (03:38) **Mimosa (Albizia) for Seasonal Affective Disorder** - An herbalist shares her winter use of mimosa flower tincture for uplift and mood support.
  • 4 (06:07) **Cardamom for Digestive Relief** - An herbalist recounts discovering cardamom tincture as a powerful digestive aid.
  • 5 (07:38) **Blue Vervain for Nervous System Rigidity** - An herbalist describes a meditation-led discovery of blue vervain for a specific kind of stress-related rigidity.
  • 6 (12:17) **Marshmallow Root for Dryness** - An herbalist shares her use of marshmallow root to address perimenopausal dryness, particularly in her throat.
  • 7 (13:18) **Marshmallow and Tulsi (Holy Basil) as Winter Staples** - An herbalist picks two favorites: marshmallow for dryness and tulsi for comfort.

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Show Notes

🌿 What's Your Favorite Herb Right Now? 🌿

On today's episode of Herbal Radio, we are excited to share our first-ever mini episode! Each month, we will be asking our guests thought-provoking, herbally inspired questions to gather unique perspectives on a wide array of topics. Tune in with us to hear a collection of their answers and reflections—different voices, diverse experiences, and plenty of herbal wisdom along the way.

In this mini episode, you'll hear from: Lucretia VanDyke, Lindsey Feldpausch, Donette Lowe, Asia Suler, Selima Harelston Lust, Jessicka Nebesni, Pamela Spence, and Maria Noel Groves.

Want to share with us what YOUR favorite herb is right now? Have a question in mind you're itching to have answered on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to let us know what we should uncover next in the vast world of herbalism.

Check out our other episodes featuring these guests below!