Bee Balm is fiery, fragrant, and wildly alive! It is one of those plants that feels like it’s mid-dance the moment you meet it. With blossoms that unfurl like tiny galaxies or bursts of flame, Monarda carries the unmistakable energy of movement and transformation. In this episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we explore Bee Balm’s personality, its psycho-spiritual gifts, and the way its spiral-like structure invites us into our own expansion.
We’ll also explore Bee Balm’s more body-centered offerings—its warming aromatics, its comforting presence for the breath, and its long-standing use by Indigenous peoples across these lands. From teas and steams to simple daily rituals, Bee Balm shows us how to embrace the multifaceted aspects of our being. Join me as we sit with this exuberant plant, listen for what she stirs in our bodies and hearts, and connect her spiraling shape with the ways we navigate our own cycles of expression, release, and renewal.
✨ Support the Podcast
Your support is a gift that keeps this podcast running! If you’d like to support the ongoing creation of this podcast and get access to exclusive content like articles, herbal recipes, plant monographs, and behind-the-scenes musings, join the community over on Patreon: 🌱 www.patreon.com/joyfulroots
You can also support the podcast by trying my favorite matcha: Posana Matcha. 🌿 Certified Organic 🌿 Third-party tested for heavy metals 🌿 Single origin from Shizuoka, Japan 🌿 Smooth, pure, and powerful—perfect for daily rituals. 🛒 Use code JOYFULROOTS for 15% off at posanamatcha.com Using this code helps keep the podcast thriving through a small affiliate commission—thank you for your support!
📩 Want to share a poem?
I’d love to include voices from the community! If you have a nature-inspired or herbal poem you’d like to share in a future episode, send it my way at: kim@joyfulroots.com. For more information and a list of plants, click here.
🌀 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or licensed health professional, and nothing shared here is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider about any potential herb-drug interactions or health concerns. If you experience an allergic reaction to any herb, discontinue use and consult a professional. You are the steward of your own body—listen with curiosity, and honor your intuition.
💚 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram at @joyfulroots or sign up for my email Botanical Bulletin.
Sources/References:
- Medicinal Plants of the Southwest – Michael Moore
- ACORN School of Herbal Medicine – Bee Balm (Monarda) Monograph https://www.acornherbschool.com/plants/bee-balm-monarda
- Washington College – Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
https://www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/lifelong-learning/plants/lamiaceae/monarda-didyma.php - Monarda – General Overview (Botany, Uses, Constituents) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda
- Grow Native! – Bee Balm Plant Page https://grownative.org/native_plants/bee-balm/
- Missouri Integrated Pest Management – “Monarda: The Tea Plant” https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2021/4/monarda-DT/index.cfm
- Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center — the official site for the Spiro Mounds site in eastern Oklahoma. https://www.okhistory.org/sites/spiromounds
- Petroglyph National Monument (New Mexico, NPS) — one of the largest protected petroglyph sites in North America; includes many spiral/abstract motifs carved into volcanic rock. National Park Service
- Saguaro National Park (Arizona, NPS) — Rock Art / Petroglyphs Page — describes how spirals and other abstract glyphs appear in rock art sites in the Southwest, giving insight into ancient visual/spiritual languages. National Park Service
- National Geographic- Spiro Mounds https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/spiro-and-the-art-of-the-mississippian-world-in-oklahoma
- Bee Balm for the Home Landscape https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2022-07-16-bee-balm-home-landscape
I loved your post today on Bee Balm! The poem and poetic prose you present these amazing reflections with truly inspire! I’m off to find my Bee Balm blossoms to make some tea on this blustery day! Thank you 😊
Thanks so much, Sarah! I truly appreciate your love and feedback. It fills me up with inspiration to keep creating these! Hope your tea turns out great. 🙂