Violet: A Backyard Herb for Swollen Lymph Nodes and a Frazzled Nervous System with Lindsey Feldpausch

Can one tiny flower soften dry skin, soothe swollen tissues, calm the heart, and even inspire a little everyday magic?

Violets may be small, but they have an astonishing amount to offer. In this episode, I sit down with herbalist Lindsey Feldpausch to celebrate one of our shared favorite plants: violet (Viola spp.). Together, we explore why this humble spring flower deserves far more attention—not only for its beauty, but for its remarkable ability to soothe dry tissues, support the lymphatic system, nourish the body, and gently soften both physical and emotional tension.

Along the way, Lindsey shares stories from her own herbal journey, explains the fascinating diversity within the Viola genus, and reveals why she considers violet a true kindred spirit. We also dive into the chemistry behind violet's elusive fragrance, explore surprising new research, and, of course, spend plenty of time delighting in the simple joy of getting down on the ground with a patch of blooming violets.

During our conversation, Lindsey also shares all about her gorgeous Violet Elixir—a beautiful (and magically color-changing!) spring preparation that's every bit as enchanting as the flowers themselves. Be sure to download your beautifully illustrated recipe card here.

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

► The fascinating reason violet's fragrance seems to disappear almost as quickly as you notice it

► Why violet can be especially helpful for new mothers

►The simple trick that can make all the difference in your violet salve

► Exciting new scientific research that has herbalists paying even closer attention to this familiar plant

► The hidden botanical secret that helps violets spread so beautifully in the garden

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Lindsey Feldpausch, RH(AHG) is a clinical herbalist, educator, and Assistant Director at the Herbal Academy. With over 15 years of experience in the field of herbalism, Lindsey's work has been focused on herbal education and clinical herbal practice, teaching for online and in-person herb programs, as well as at a variety of conferences, while maintaining a private practice of her own.

As an herbalist, Lindsey's goal is to connect plants with the humans who need them. She believes in our innate ability to engage with the power of plants, and one of her life’s intentions is to kindle this belief in others. Lindsey's herbal works have coalesced into her business, Plant Matters, where she offers herbal education, consulting, and handcrafted herbal products.

After this episode, you may find yourself slowing down the next time you pass a patch of violets—and discovering just how extraordinary these tiny flowers really are.

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

Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.

You can find Lindsey at PlantMatters.org.

You can find Lindsey’s course, Holistic Approaches for Tick-Borne Diseases, here.

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 of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.