Episode 210: Pedicularis for Deep Muscle Release with Alex Williams

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Would you prefer watching or reading this episode? If so, click here for the Pedicularis video and transcript.

Episode Summary

Pedicularis doesn’t shout for attention—but once you meet it, you may wonder how you ever lived without its profound ability to help the body let go.

It was such a delight to sit down with Chicago herbalist Alex Williams to discuss the gorgeous pedicularis (Pedicularis spp.). Those who are familiar with this lovely plant treasure it for its ability to help release deep skeletal muscle tension—and yet it remains relatively unknown in the herbal world.

In this rich and reflective conversation, Alex weaves together the clinical uses of pedicularis for pain, injury, and nervous tension with its surprising ecological role as a parasitic plant. He practically gushes about this beloved herbal ally, sharing its physical benefits along with the more metaphorical ways pedicularis has taught him to be a better human.

Alex shares how his experience as a bartender helped shape his path to herbalism, and the recipe he included is a fun reflection of this! His Potion of Delight can be prepared as either a tea or a low alcohol fermented beverage; you can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card from the section below.

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

► Why pedicularis shines in cases of chronic pain, headaches, and injury recovery

► What ethical wildcrafting really looks like with sensitive native plants

► How parasitic plants like pedicularis can actually increase biodiversity and ecological resilience

► Why “less is more” isn’t just a dosage guideline—but part of pedicularis’ deeper teaching

► How this plant can help loosen rigidity in the body and in the way we move through the world

► and so much more….

For those of you who don’t know him, Alex Williams is a clinical herbalist and founder of Greenspell School of Ecological Herbcraft in Chicago, where he offers herbal consultations, herbalism classes, and plant walks throughout the Chicago region, supporting those he works with in cultivating rest, genuine self-care practices, ecological awareness, and a deep sense of embodied aliveness.

Alex also runs First Curve Apothecary which offers sliding-scale herbal supplements, along with herbal compounding services to holistic practitioners. Outside of the apothecary, Alex teaches medical sociology, psychology, and environmental justice at a local university. Every once in a while, he writes an occasional haiku.

I can’t wait to share this episode with you today!

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [1:09] Introduction to Alex Williams
• [2:41] Alex’s plant path
• [10:38] What Alex loves about pedicularis
• [12:59] The Midwest USA ecological context for Pedicularis canadensis and Pedicularis lanceolata
• [16:12] How parasitic plants can actually benefit their habitat
• [17:39] Pedicularis to loosen tension and relax skeletal muscle
• [19:40] Safety and ethical concerns for pedicularis
• [26:42] Pedicularis for injury recovery and chronic pain
• [28:39] Pedicularis as a nervine
• [32:24] Life lessons learned from pedicularis
• [39:15] Potion of Delight recipe
• [46:00] Special considerations for using pedicularis
• [47:54] Alex’s current herbal projects
• [53:55] How herbs instill hope in Alex
• [59:30] Student spotlight
• [1:00:42] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe!

Connect with Alex:

• Website | Greenspell.org and FirstCurveApothecary.com
• Instagram | @greenspellorg
• Facebook | First Curve Apothecary

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

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

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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