Whether you are interested in creating your own herbal medicine for personal use or having a professional apothecary, having an herbal library is essential for learning and referencing from experienced herbalists.
I *might* have a small obsession with collecting herbal books and building my herbal library.
Okay, I definitely do!
I love researching different systems of herbalism and learning from more experienced herbalists. These books have guided and assisted me on my journey of foraging plants, making tinctures, and growing in my knowledge so I can share with others.
If you’re wanting to learn more about how to build an herbal library,
The Best Herbal Books To Build Your Herbal Library
Herbal Textbooks:
Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffmann
This book is probably my favorite for any practitioner to have on hand. It’s extremely in depth and goes into the pharmacology and alkaloids behind the plants. In the second section, it breaks down each body system in extreme detail. It is written to be very scientific, and it’s great for any clinical herbalist, doctor, or chiropractor to have on their shelf to reference.
Prescription for Natural Cures by James Balch
While I don’t agree with all of the diet/nutritional advice in this book, I do love how comprehensive and informative it is. For each ailment, there are many remedies and modes of healing recommended to address it, including herbalism, homeopathy, acupressure, Bach flower remedies and hydrotherapy!
Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions by Francis Brinker
This book is essential for anyone who recommends herbs to family and friends. It’s a very in-depth guide about all of the contraindications for herbs and the drug interactions. I reference it all the time to be sure what I’m recommending is safe. Highly recommend this one be in every herbal library!
Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health by Dr. Aviva Romm
Dr Romm is a midwife, herbalist, and Yale trained Physician. She’s dedicated her life to women’s health and has written this fabulous textbook about every stage of a woman’s life (from puberty through menopause). She lists studies and research as well as traditional remedies and herbs traditionally used to aid in women’s health. I think any woman interested in holistic health should have this book on her shelf.
Herbal Reference Books:
Herbal Medicine From The Heart Of The Earth by Sharon Marie Tilgner
This book is probably my most often referenced book. It’s brilliantly laid out in a very easy way. The first half is a materia medica and the second half goes in depth into the different body systems with herbal formulations that can aide in ailments of each body system.
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine Making Guide by Thomas Easley
I reference this book a lot when I’m learning about different herbs. In the first half, he goes over different methods to make medicines with the herbs, how to make infusions, tinctures, glycerites, etc. The last half of the book is a materia medica where he talks about the energetics, properties, indications, and sources for different herbs!
An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants by Mary Bove
This book is great to have on hand to reference when preparing herbal remedies for children. It goes through common childhood illnesses as well as a section on herbs that are safe for children. It’s written by a naturopathic doctor.
Herbal Healing for Children by Demetria Clark
This book has a lot of unique remedies and formulations for various childhood complaints!
Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by David Winston
This book is amazing if you’re interested in learning about how to help your body adapt to stress better and the herbs that can help do that. The first section talks about what the process behind our body’s stress responses and how adaptogens work, and then second section goes in depth about several apoptogenic herbs
Herbal Medicine, Healing & Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment by Donald Yance
This is an incredible book about prevention and natural treatment of cancer. Donald Yance owns his own natural cancer treatment center out on the west coast and he is super educated about natural therapies for cancer. His book is packed with great information including nutrition, herbs, lifestyle, spiritual care and emotional health. It’s a great book!
Dental Herbalism: Natural Therapies for the Mouth by Leslie Alexander
This book connected so many dots for me regarding oral health and it’s overall implication for the health of the entire body. I learned so much about my teeth and oral microbiome and dental health. It also includes studies about the different herbs that have been shown beneficial for oral health.
Herbal Antivirals: Natural Remedies for Emerging & Resistant Viral Infections by Stephen Harrod Buhner
Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-resistant Bacteria by Stephen Harrod Buhner
Both of these books are must haves in any herbal library. They go into detail about powerful herbs that are both antiviral and antibacterial and the reasons that they work so well in the body.
Herbal Foraging Books
Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine by Rosalee De la Floret
This book is so beautiful and packed with incredibly detailed drawings of the plants with details on how to identify and forage them. It’s broken down by season and common herbs you may find in each season. It includes information, foraging identification, recipes, and remedy preparation.
Peterson Field Guide To Medicinal Plants & Herbs Of Eastern & Central N. America by James A Duke and Steven Foster
This book is a must have for identifying wild plants and herbs. It includes colored pictures, an informational section about each plant and how to identify it and a brief section on it’s medicinal qualities. It’s a small book, so it’s easy to slip into a purse or backpack and take on the go while you’re foraging!
Herbal Recipe Books:
This book is absolutely beautiful and filled with pictures and recipe for a tea for over 100 ailments and seasons. It’s broken down by seasons and any ailments that may occur with each respective season (allergies, colds, etc). It calls for ingredients that are both common as well as not so common.
Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family by Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar is an herbal legend and matriarch of modern herbalism. This book is broken down by family member: (Women, Children, Men, the Elderly) and contains recipes and remedies for each category of people. It’s easy to read and backed with information and remedies. I love having it to reference whenever someone has an ailment and I need an easy recipe to follow.
Homeopathy Books:
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro
Family Guide to Homeopathy by Andrew Lockie
Both of these books are great reference books for working with homeopathy and finding the correct remedy to use based on your symptoms. Great for the whole family!
Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants by Dana Ullman
Homeopathic Remedies for Children by Phyllis Speight
Both of these are excellent resources for using homeopathy specifically with children and infants! I reference them often because they teach you how to identify symptoms and remedies for common childhood ailments. Perfect for moms who need a guide for using homeopathy on their children.
That concludes the most note-worthy books that I have in my own personal herbal library! I’m proud of this collection of books I’ve built, and I reference them all the time. Good luck to you as you get started learning how to build your own herbal library!
Other Articles You May Like:
- Best Herbal Books for Beginners
- How to make a Nourishing Pregnancy Tea
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Hey, I'm Victoria!
I'm so glad you're here, sweet mother!
My goal is to inspire you to remember your primal roots & live a WILD life in alignment with nature. On my blog I empower you to use herbs and natural remedies to keep your family healthy, teach you how to eat a nourishing, traditional foods diet, and inspire you to raise your babies consciously and respectfully.
