One of the members of our community asked if anyone had a list of books that would be good for new herbalists to read through. I decided to compile a list of books that are both my favorites, my go-to’s, and a few that are on my wishlist (but highly recommended by others).
I am sure this list will be a work-in-progress as I read more and find nuggets of truth sprinkled in the works of many great herbalists.
Is your favorite not on the list? Message me and let me know!
Please note: Some of the books contain questionable and/or offensive content. Please use judgement and discernment as you study any of the books on this list. Links are Amazon affiliate links.
Herbal Textbooks
- Southern Folk Medicine: Healing Traditions from the Appalachian Fields and Forests by Phyllis D. Light
- The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification by Matthew Wood
- The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants by Matthew Wood
- The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants by Matthew Wood
- Foundational Herbcraft by jim mcdonald
- Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffman
- Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine, 2e by Kerry Bone and Simon Mills
- Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use by Rosemary Gladstar
- Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry by Lisa Ganora
- Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide: Boost Immunity, Improve Memory, Fight Cancer, Stop Infection, and Expand Your Consciousness by Christopher Hobbs
- Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approach to Reducing Cancer Risk, Helping Patients Thrive during Treatment, and Minimizing Recurrence by Chanchal Cabrera
Specific Herbal Actions
- Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, 2e by David Winston
- Adaptogens in Medical Herbalism: Elite Herbs and Natural Compounds for Mastering Stress, Aging, and Chronic Disease by Donnie Yance
- The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter, and Tonic Plants by Guido Mase
- Herbal Antibiotics, 2nd Edition: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-resistant Bacteria by Stephen Buhner
- Herbal Antivirals: Natural Remedies for Emerging & Resistant Viral Infections by Stephen Buhner
Herbal Medicine for Women
- Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, 2e by Aviva Romm
Herbal Medicine for Children
- Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health by Aviva Romm
- Herbal Healing for Children by Demetria Clark
- The ABC Herbal: A Simplified Guide to Natural Health Care for Children by Steve Horne
Herbal Safety
- The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Kerry Bone and Simon Mills
- Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition by American Herbal Products Association
- Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals 2e by Robert Tisserand
Herbal Medicine Making
- The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green
- Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech
- Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family by Rosemary Gladstar
- The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley and Steve Horne
Botany
- Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification, 6e by Thomas Elpel
- Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition (Peterson Field Guides) by Stephen Foster and James Duke
- Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb
- Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris
Growing Herbs
- Self-Sufficient Herbalism: A Guide to Growing, Gathering and Processing Herbs for Medicinal Use by Lucy Jones
- The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer, Revised Edition: How to Produce High-Quality Herbs on a Market Scale by Jeff and Melanie Carpenter
- Growing Plant Medicine by Richo Cech
History of Herbal Medicine
- Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine by Barbara Griggs