Entering the world of herbal medicine is a rewarding endeavor, but it can be difficult to know where to start. If you want to start learning and practicing, but aren’t sure where to start, we recommend reading an herbal book written specifically for beginners.
But even the process of choosing a book that’s suitable for beginners can be quite a challenge, so below we’ve listed three of our top picks for aspiring herbalists, or those who are simply curious about developing a deeper relationship with plants.
Botany in one day by Thomas J. Elpel
This book is a self-proclaimed ‘passport for identifying plants and their uses’. Botany in one day introduces readers to the 8 major types of plant families, helping plant enthusiasts identify different species and their medicinal purposes. With colorful illustrations and useful descriptions, this book provides an excellent foundation for further understanding plants.
Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffmann
This comprehensive textbook may not be a ‘beach book’, but it is essential for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the medicinal properties of plants. Detailing the chemical structure and physiological effects of various plants, this book is a complete handbook for any beginner or advanced practitioner wishing to delve further into their practice.
The healing power of garlic by Paul Bergner
We love The healing power of garlic because it is divided into four easily digestible and engaging sections: ‘Garlic in the Past’, ‘Garlic Today: Traditional and Natural Medicine’, ‘Garlic Today: Scientific Studies’ and ‘Garlic and Disease’. This detailed guide to all things garlic explains much not only about the plant itself, but also about historical herbal medicine, scientific studies, and various disease treatments.
Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Medicinal Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use by Rosemary Gladstar
If you’re looking for a step-by-step explanation of how to practice herbal medicine, look no further! Long-respected herbalist Rosemary Gladstar has compiled a wealth of knowledge into this guide, which very clearly explains the process of growing herbs and making various remedies at home. Do you suffer from poison ivy? Gladstar explains how to make an aloe lotion. Do you experience sluggishness and slow digestion? This book provides a tutorial on how to make a dandelion and burdock tincture. Experiencing stress? It explains step by step how to make a delicious lavender-lemon tea.
The modern herbal pharmacy: a guide to medicine making by Steven Horne and Thomas Easley
This is another great beginner-friendly guide that we recommend. With detailed color illustrations, this book explains how to make 250 herbal remedies at home. This book also explains the principles of herbal formulation and provides directions for preparing individual herbs. This is a procedure not usually discussed in other herbal references, so this is a great additional resource for the novice herbal practitioner.
If you’re interested in more books we love, be sure to check out WishGarden’s Herb Nerd Book Club, where we’re always adding more must-reads! Enjoy reading!
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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