Episode 198: Lady’s Mantle with Alyssa Dennis

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Episode Summary

What hidden stories of women are tucked inside this humble herb—linking old folklore, a touch of alchemy, and even today’s healing practices?

My guest today, Alyssa Dennis, invites us into the world of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla spp.), a plant whose cloak-shaped leaves hold both practical healing gifts and threads of ancient story. From her experiences in urban herbal sanctuaries to a life-changing encounter on the sacred isle of Iona, Alyssa shares how this humble herb invites us to see plants not just as remedies, but as storytellers and companions on the path of reconnection.

Alyssa’s favorite way to work with lady’s mantle is as a tincture, using just the right amount of glycerin to sweeten it up and draw out the toning, astringent nature of the plant. You’ll find a beautifully-illustrated recipe card for Alyssa’s Lady’s Mantle Tincture in the section below.

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

► Why lady’s mantle is such a trusted ally for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum healing

► How the downy leaves of lady’s mantle collect dew—and why alchemists once revered this process

► What makes lady’s mantle both an ancient wound healer and a modern digestive ally

► How myth, folklore, and modern ecology can come together to shape our understanding of plants

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Alyssa Dennis is a dedicated earth activist, educator, interdisciplinary artist, and clinical herbalist devoted to the movements of peace, justice, and ecological kinship. Her work has been to reawaken to her ancestral traditions of plant medicine in order to guide her community back into relationship with the living world.

Alyssa has two fine art degrees, advanced training in clinical herbalism, and spent years within the natural building profession. She is the founder of Eclipta Herbal and steward of a vibrant herbal sanctuary in Baltimore City—a living classroom home to over 100 species of medicinal plants (and counting). This space is a heart-centered venture of ecological conservation—of both the human body and the land body—which serves as gathering ground for plant medicine education, community building, earth skills workshops, and collaboration. 

I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today!

Would you prefer reading this episode? If so, click here to download a transcript.

Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, scroll down below.

Connect with Alyssa:

• Websites | EcliptaHerbal.com and AlyssaDennis.com
• Instagram | @ecliptaherbal
• Facebook | Eclipta Herbal

You can read more about Alyssa’s experiences in Scotland with lady’s mantle here.

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [1:10] Student spotlight
• [3:07] Introduction to Alyssa Dennis
• [4:59] Alyssa’s plant path
• [13:47] On being an herbalist in the heart of the city
• [22:15] Alyssa’s experiences with lady’s mantle in Scotland
• [27:44] Medicinal benefits of lady’s mantle
• [39:09] Lady’s Mantle Tincture recipe
• [40:34] Botany of lady’s mantle
• [46:03] Alyssa’s herbal offerings
• [49:20] How herbs instill hope in Alyssa 
• [54:48] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Download!

-- TIMESTAMPS -- 

• 01:12 - Student spotlight
• 03:10 - Introduction to Alyssa Dennis
• 05:03 - Alyssa’s plant path
• 14:25 - On being an herbalist in the heart of the city
• 23:28 - Alyssa’s experiences with lady’s mantle in Scotland
• 29:23 - Medicinal benefits of lady’s mantle
• 41:47 - Lady’s Mantle Tincture recipe
• 43:19 - Botany of lady’s mantle
• 49:22 - Alyssa’s herbal offerings
• 53:00 - How herbs instill hope in Alyssa
• 58:30 - Herbal tidbit

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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