HERB BOOKS
General
Plant Identification
Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, Green and Keville
This is a good comprehensive guide to the art of aromatherapy. There are so many books on the subject and it has all become a little overwhelming. I like the layout of this book and how simple it is to follow and use. There is a quick-reference guide for 30 basic essential oils and how to use them. You will learn how to work with essential oils in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and in just about every aspect of your life.
The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, Vasant Lad
This book gives traditional Anyurvedic remedies including teas, essential oils, mediations, yoga postures and breathing techniques to treat over 100 common ailments that are listed alphabetically. Sometimes you find just the right tip that makes the difference in your healing process
Earthly Bodies, Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body, Dina Falconi
Love your body with the luscious body care products that you can easily make in this book. Delicious recipes for hair, scalp, nails, lips, teeth, feet, hands, eyes and skin. Recipes for men, women, elders and teens to help you feel your best. Using herbs on your body is fun and it is also a wonderful form of preventive personal care.
The Encyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy, Mechthild Scheffer
One of my favorite books on Bach Flower Essences. Scheffer covers the history and philosophy of Bach Flower Remedies and discusses each of the remedies in depth. Beautiful pictures of each flower remedy and hands-on descriptions of how they can be used in your daily life. The extensive clinical practice of the author makes this book very useful for anyone interested in doing healing work with Bach flower Remedies
Green Pharmacy: A History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine, Barbara Griggs
Not the easiest book to read in the world, but it is required reading for my students. It is a definitive study of the history of western herbal medicine. Find out how George Washington really died. Understand the history of using mercury in medicine and why we still use it. Look at the competitive roots between complimentary medicine and the campaigns to eliminate holistic medicine in mainstream practice. This book provides a foundation for understanding why we are where we are today
The Herbal Body Book, Stephanie Tourles
For years I have enjoyed creating my own personal body care products. You save tons of money and keep the chemicals out of your hair and off of your skin. The cosmetic and personal product industry is unregulated allowing for thousands of known carcinogens in our body care products. Use this book to nourish your body with wonderful products that you can easily make yourself. You will find recipes for facial steams, masks, baths, powders, lotions, oil and more
Herbal Medicine: From the Heart of the Earth, Sharol Tilgner
Written by a Naturopathic Doctor and practicing herbalist this is very good herb book. Materia medica outline of about 150 plants including indications, contraindications, dosage and formula applications. Contains a section on herbal formulae for various conditions and has good information on medicine making. This has become one of my favorite herb books
Herbs for Natural Beauty Care, Rosemary Gladstar
A small book packed full of recipes based on her years of personal experience in formulating skin care products. I have made the lotion recipe in this book for almost 20 years and have saved myself thousands and thousands of dollars in not having to buy any cream or lotion for my face or body.
Herbs For Pets, Mary and Gregory Tilford
This is a great book introducing you to how to use herbal medicines in the daily care of your animals. They discuss the connection between herbs and diet and give guidelines for feeding dogs and cats. The bulk of the book is a 191-page guide to herbs for animals.
A Kid's Herb Book, Lesley Tierra
This book is beautifully illustrated and full of songs, stories and magical potions. Herbal party gifts and crafts, candied flowers, ginger cookies and tasty drinks are just a few of the ways to have fun while using herbs. Find an activity for small children or use this as curriculum for grade and middle school kids.
Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions, Donan Maria
One of my favorite aspects of working with herbs is the pleasure of making and using my own skin products. This book is full of wonderful recipes for creams, scrubs, lip balm, moisturizes and more. The author discusses each ingredient individually and then unleashes more than 100 wonderful recipes for your radiant health!
Making Plant Medicines, Richo Cech
If you are interested in making your own herbal medicine there are lots of great suggestions in this book. The uses, dosage and contraindications of about 100 herbs are described. This book is written from his personal experience which is the best kind of herb book
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, Michael Moore
All of Michael Moores' books are great including this one. What sets his work apart from others is the fact that he has personally spent time with all of these plants in their wild habitat. His stories are funny and there is herbal lore here that you won't find anywhere else.
Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Michael Moore
This was the first herb book I ever purchased. I found it in a used book store and continue to refer to it on a regular basis. I studied with Michael Moore and am very grateful for the wealth of his knowledge and his influence in my life
A Modern Herbal, Volume I & II, Maude Grieve
Originally published in 1932, this is an old style herb book that offers information not readily found in newer herb books. Herbs are described in detail including their medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and economic uses. What I love about this book are the stories, poems and folklore that are included. Old European uses described give you a broader view of how herbs can be used. I refer to these books often
The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook, Alan Tillotson
I like this very comprehensive herb book because it combines information about Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal approaches to healing. Organized by body systems there are complimentary treatments described for over 100 ailments. The material medica section is also useful. What I really enjoy is reading about a treatment protocol that incorporates all three of these herbal traditions.
Opening our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, Gail Faith Edwards
This is a lovely herb book with descriptions of how to use over 100 herbs along with a special section on medicinal trees. Medicine making, plant lore, stories, good herbal recipes, healing ceremonies and most important her extensive personal experience in being with the plants will enlighten your herbal study. This is a good herb book definitely written from the heart
Pocket Guide to Ayurvedic Healing, Candis Cantin Packard
This tiny book is what I recommend to my clients when I am helping them to understand how to work with their particular Ayurvedic constitution. This is the easiest guide to understanding Ayurvedic principles. It helps you figure out your constitution and then gives remedies, foods and lifestyle guidelines to support nourishing your particular constitution. This book is written for anybody to understand how to incorporate Ayurvedic healing into their life
Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine, Mills & Bone
An in depth guideline for the use of western herbal medicine in a modern clinical practice. The clinical uses of 45 medicinal herbs are researched and described in detail. If you like science, clinical trials and annotated research, this is the book for you. I refer to this book in my herbal practice and think that it is very well laid out and easy to use for the practitioner and lay person alike
Women, Hormones, and the Menstrual Cycle: Herbal and Medical Solutions From Adolescence to Menopause, Ruth Trickey
Written by a midwife and naturopath, this book gives you in-depth information backed by personal experience on nutrition, herbs and conventional treatment for a wide range of gynecological possibilities. She gives clear guidelines for how to go about treating menstrual disorders within a holistic context and also helps you understand when drug and surgical treatment may be necessary. This is one of the most in dept books written on natural healing for the menstrual cycle and maintaining hormonal balance
The Yoga of Herbs, Ayurvedic Guide, Frawley & Ladd
Another one of my torn and tattered first herb books. One of the few books that gives energetic and constitutional considerations for western herbs. This is useful book for the western herbalist wanting to apply Ayurvedic principles to their work. It contains an extensive material medica, lots of ayurvedic medicine making and healing techniques and Dr. Ladd always adds such a magical spiritual component that I love
Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, and the Northwest, Janice Schofield
Most nice plant picture books do not also have a great materia medica! What makes this book special is the in-depth experience as an herbalist of the author. Not only are the pictures beautiful, the descriptions accurate, but I love the recipes and the wide range of plant uses that are described. Her love for where she lives makes you want to travel north to meet the plants!
Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide, Elias & Dykeman
What plants can you eat? What part of the plant can you eat, when is the best time to harvest which part and are there other poisonous plants that look like this one? What are some good recipes for this wild plant? All this is answered and more. Great color photographs, regional growing maps and lots of delicious recipes