About this episode

This episode explores the medicinal and nutritional value of pennywort with herbalist April Punsalan.

Everyone’s trying to get rid of it—but around the world, it’s treasured as medicine. What if pennywort could change the way you see your backyard? Pennywort ( Hydrocotyle spp.) is one of those plants that many people overlook (or actively try to remove!). Yet across the globe, it’s commonly harvested and enjoyed as both a nourishing food and a traditional remedy. In this conversation, herbalist and botanist April Punsalan shares how this unassuming, persistent plant became one of her most meaningful allies. Drawing from her background with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and years of hands-on experience with wild plants, April brings a unique perspective that blends ecology, science, and intuition. She explores pennywort’s rich chlorophyll content, its role as a fresh, nutrient-rich herb, and why she prefers working with it in simple preparations that feel more like daily nourishment than “taking medicine.” Along the way, she invites us to rethink our relationship with the plants growing all around us—and to consider what we might discover if we slow down enough to truly notice them. April shares a simple, vibrant way to bring fresh plant nourishment into your daily routine…

People in this episode

Host: Rosalee de la Forêt

Guest: April Punsalan

Topics covered

• pennywort
• herbalism
• nutrition
• traditional remedies
• ecology

Keywords

• pennywort
• Hydrocotyle
• herbal medicine
• nutrition
• traditional remedies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Products: Hydrocotyle Chlorophyll Refresher

Places: US

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