Best Herbal Medicine Books: Plant medicine for beginners.
How does herbal medicine work?
Although herbal medicine has been around for centuries and cultures around the world have relied on traditional herbal medicine to meet their healthcare needs, it seems to have gone through a recent renaissance with a growing number of people being interested in learning more about alternative medicine.
Herbal medicines, also known as botanical medicine, phytotherapy or phytomedicine, are plant-based medicines made from different combinations of plant parts e.g. leaves, flowers or roots. Each herb has different medicinal uses and both fresh and dried plants can be used, depending on the kind of herb.
Uses of herbal medicine
So, what are the treatment areas for herbs? Herbal medicine offers treatments for virtually every ailment affecting any system in our bodies. Some of the common conditions which can be treated with herbal medicines include; skin problems such as psoriasis, acne and eczema; digestive problems such as peptic ulcer, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion and heartburn; hormone imbalances, heart and circulatory conditions such as angina, high blood pressure, varicose veins and ulcers.
The good news is that herbal medicine is suitable for people of any age
The good news is that herbal medicine is suitable for people of any age. However, taking herbal medicine may not be suitable for: people taking other medicines, people with serious health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, people who are going to have surgery and pregnant or breastfeeding women*.
Best Herbal Medicine Books
So, for our readers looking to further explore herbal medicines, here are five of our favourite books to explore the world of botanical remedies.
Plants for the People: A Modern Guide to Plant Medicine
by Erin Lovell Verinder
Plants for the People (publishing 18 June) is a beginner’s guide to plant medicine and a valuable source of self-care, vitality and wellness, offering an antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life.
Master herbalist and nutritionist Erin Lovell Verinder explores 40 medicinal plants and imparts knowledge to readers on how to use them, weaving ancient wisdom with a modern approach to plant medicine. With a profile of each plant – from yarrow, turmeric and wormwood to Californian poppy, passionflower and dandelion – and advice on harvesting, this beginner’s guide to using plants to restore high vitality and a general sense of wellbeing features easy-to-follow recipes for teas, tinctures, syrups, balms and baths. Throughout, golden tips address common ailments such as bloating, bad skin, lack of energy, winter coughs and colds, jangling nerves and many other present-day complaints.
An inviting, fresh take on herbal medicine books, this visual plant safari will encourage readers to reconnect with nature’s bounty and to be their own alchemist in a well-guided manner.
Price: £13.97 / $30.95
Healing Mushrooms A Practical and Culinary Guide to Using Mushrooms for Whole Body Health
by Tero Isokauppila
In Healing Mushrooms, readers will learn about the ten most powerful mushrooms they can add to their daily diet to maximize their health gains. Packed with practical information, fun illustrations, and mushroom-boosted recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and even dessert!), Healing Mushrooms will unlock the vast potential of this often overlooked superfood category and be the go-to resource for adding mushrooms to one’s health and wellness regimen.
Price: £10.24 / $18.71
The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More
by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
In The Green Witch, you will learn the way of the green witch, from how to use herbs, plants, and flowers to make potions and oils for everyday healing as well as how crystals, gems, stones, and even twigs can help you find balance within. You’ll discover how to find harmony in Earth’s great elements and connect your soul to every living creature. This guide also contains directions for herbal blends and potions, ritual suggestions, recipes for sacred foods, and information on how to listen to and commune with nature. Embrace the world of the green witch and discover what the power of nature has in store for you.
Price: £11.16 / $20.40
Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide
by Thomas Easley
This comprehensive, full-colour guide provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for making and using approximately 250 herbal medicines at home, including practical tips and numerous effective formulas developed and tested by the authors, both expert herbalists with years of experience. Readers who appreciate the health-giving properties of herbal medicines but are discouraged by the high price of commercial products can now make their own preparations for a fraction of the cost. The authors tell you everything you need to know about harvesting, preparing, and administering herbs in many different forms, including fresh, bulk dried herbs, capsules, extracts in water, alcohol, glycerin, vinegar and oil, and even preparations like essential oils and flower essences.
Price: £14.99 / 27.39
Herbal Medicine Natural Remedies: 150 Herbal Remedies to Heal Common Ailments
by Anne Kennedy
With hundreds of different herbs and remedies out there, making herbal medicine can be overwhelming. Thankfully, Herbal Medicine Natural Remedies acts as the perfect salve, making things simple with 150 easy-to-follow recipes for highly effective herbal medicines.
Discover natural ways to treat headaches, coughs, colds, hangovers, and more that don’t carry the same risk of side effects that many pharmaceuticals do. Never made your own herbal medicine? Start things off right with helpful lists of must-have tools, plus important safety tips.
Price: £11.62 / 21.24
*Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice before trying a herbal medicine if you fall into one of these groups.