Episode 208: Hawthorn: Heart Medicine for Blood Pressure, Grief, and Emotional Resilience

---

---

Episode Summary

How can one tree be said to bless, protect, seduce… and curse?

In this episode, I’m joined by herbalist and writer Ruthie Kølle for a deep dive into one of my all-time favorite plants: hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). Together, we explore hawthorn’s rich folklore, its potent heart-centered gifts, and the magic woven into its thorns, blossoms, and berries. Drawing from her Celtic heritage, Ruthie shares how hawthorn is not just a medicine, but a living bridge to old-world traditions and ancestral ways of healing.

Ruthie brought us her recipe for Anam Cara Heart Opening Cordial, a delightful blend of hawthorn and other rose-family plants. I love how this recipe can be so easily adapted to reflect the region you live in! You can download a beautifully illustrated recipe card from the section below. 

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

► Three different body systems that benefit from hawthorn’s gifts

► What makes hawthorn so nourishing and protective, both for the ecosystem and for the human body

► Why most people could benefit from working with hawthorn on a daily basis

► Five different ways to include hawthorn in food

► Why hawthorn is called the "trysting tree" in Irish lore—and what that has to do with the putrid smell of its flowers

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Ruthie Kølle lives in a cabin situated on the northern hem of her family’s 9th generation farm, which occupies unceded Lenape land. She is deeply rooted to her place there and has apprenticed herself to reconnecting to her own Celtic ancestral ways, weaving them into the stories of the land where she is currently planted. It’s her passion to reconnect with and integrate these traditional and ritual methods of healing into our modern lives.

Ruthie has been studying folk and clinical herbalism since 2012, has been practicing intuitive bodywork since 2005, and creating ceramic art for 30 years.

This conversation is so full of wonder, story, and heartfelt herbal wisdom. If you’ve ever felt drawn to hawthorn—or are curious why so many people fall in love with this tree—you won’t want to miss this episode!

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 Ruthie:

• Website | motherhylde.com
• Instagram | @motherhylde 
• Facebook | Mother Hylde

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [1:09] Introduction to Ruthie Kølle + Ruthie’s plant path
• [11:15] How Ruthie’s Celtic ancestry influences her herbal practice
• [15:13] Diving into hawthorn’s magic
• [17:17] Hawthorn for the heart
• [19:03] Hawthorn for the nervous system
• [19:51] Hawthorn for digestion
• [20:55] Hawthorn for grief and emotional healing
• [22:44] Why modern medicine should embrace hawthorn
• [25:56] Anam Cara Heart Opening Cordial recipe
• [31:40] The magic and enchantment of hawthorn
• [33:58] Ruthie’s herbal projects
• [35:03] Beltane, blooming hawthorn, and ancient rituals
• [36:49] The scent of hawthorn flowers
• [39:00] Hawthorn as portal & guardian tree
• [42:43] The hawthorn that rerouted a highway
• [44:21] What Ruthie wishes she’d known when she started out with herbs
• [48:21] Student spotlight
• [49:20] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe Download!

-- TIMESTAMPS -- 

• 00:28 - Introduction to Ruthie Kølle + Ruthie’s plant path
• 10:43 - How Ruthie’s Celtic ancestry influences her herbal practice
• 14:50 - Diving into hawthorn
• 16:55 - Hawthorn for the heart
• 18:43 - Hawthorn for the nervous system
• 19:32 - Hawthorn for digestion
• 20:36 - Hawthorn for grief and emotional healing
• 22:27 - Why modern medicine should embrace hawthorn
• 25:41 - Anam Cara Heart Opening Cordial recipe
• 31:27 - The magic and enchantment of hawthorn
• 33:47 - Ruthie’s herbal projects
• 34:52 - Beltane, blooming hawthorn, and ancient rituals
• 36:39 - The scent of hawthorn flowers
• 38:52 - Hawthorn as portal & guardian tree
• 42:35 - The hawthorn that rerouted a highway
• 44:14 - What Ruthie wishes she’d known when she started out with herbs
• 48:16 - Student spotlight
• 49:16 - Herbal tidbit

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

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

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


Are You Ready for More Herbal Inspiration?

The best way to get started is by joining my herbal community and weekly newsletter where I share my best herbal tips and insights.

When you join you’ll also get access to The Herbal Jumpstart Course which helps you figure out the best herbs for you.

Sign up below!

Yes!

Sign me up for weekly herbal tips, recipes, and insights. 

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy