Herbal tome treasures
The books on our own shelf, the ones we reach for most.
A note on the linksWe own every book on this list. Most of the links go to Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate the shop earns a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Getting Started
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies
Another favorite and frequently referenced book in our library. This book is easy to read, with nice big print and colorful detailed photos. There are also lots of recipes, and you can search by ailment. An all-around wonderful book for quick reference of many medicinal plants.
Backyard MedicineUpdated and expanded second edition: harvest and make your own herbal remedies
Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal take common plants you can find along a path or at the edge of a garden, such as dandelion, nettle and elder, and show how to gather them and make them into teas, tinctures, syrups and salves. Clear photographs of each plant and simple recipes make it a friendly first book.
The Encyclopedia of Natural MedicineThird edition
This monster of a book is loaded with tons of information about things we all go through. I like to use this book first just to get an overview of the mechanics of a particular discomfort.
Plant Identification
Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and HerbsOf eastern and central North America, third edition
The classic identification guide by Steven Foster and James A. Duke. Plants are grouped by flower color and shape, with photographs, drawings and range maps, plus notes on traditional use and safety. A dependable book for making sure you have the right plant.
Northeast Medicinal PlantsIdentify, harvest, and use 111 wild herbs for health and wellness
I really like this book for a few reasons. Namely, it's focused on New England and parts of Canada, so I know what I read about in this book I will probably be able to find right where I am in MA. This book also has information about plant morphology and responsible wildcrafting. My favorite section, aside from the information on the plants themselves, is about making your own medicine. There is information about so many different preparations, including compresses, baths, tinctures, flower essences, and lotions. A great book for beginners and experienced herbalists, as well as people interested in their local wild plant life.
Foraging New EnglandEdible wild food and medicinal plants from Maine to the Adirondacks to Long Island Sound
Tom Seymour's regional guide to wild plants from Maine to Long Island Sound, with descriptions of where each one grows, when to harvest it and how to prepare it. Written for this corner of the country, so most of what is in it grows close to home.
Knowledge to ForageWild edible and medicinal plants and trees
A field guide to wild edible and medicinal plants and trees, laid out for identifying what you find on a walk, with notes on how each one has traditionally been used.
Making Herbal Preparations
The Modern Herbal DispensatoryA medicine-making guide
This book has been a staple in our herbal wellness journey. It's one of our most worn and used books despite having it less than a year. This is another good one to just read as it explains a variety of ways to extract the constituents from our plant allies along with descriptions of a plethora of herbs. From how to make an infusion to setting up for a percolation (which we have done with great success; it looks intimidating, but once you go through the process once it's easy moving forward). A really great guide for beginners and experienced herbalists alike. There are also YouTube videos of some of the methods described in this book.
The Garden ApothecaryTransform flowers, weeds and plants into healing remedies
A guide to turning flowers, weeds and garden plants into teas, tinctures, balms and other home preparations, starting with plants that may already be growing in your yard.
Going Deeper
Evolutionary HerbalismScience, spirituality, and medicine from the heart of nature, by Sajah Popham
Sajah Popham is the herbalist I personally look to for an understanding of herbalism that brings the spiritual, mental and physical together and treats them as a whole. I had the immense pleasure of attending his most recent in-person retreat in Boone, North Carolina. His approach to herbalism speaks to my soul, and his depth of knowledge is both humbling and inspiring. Evolutionary Herbalism is a book you literally can't put down once you start.
A Modern Herbal, Volume 1 (A to H)The medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and economic properties, cultivation and folklore of herbs, grasses, fungi, shrubs and trees
There are actually two mesmerizing volumes uncovering nature's wisdom. Enchanting descriptions, rich history, and folklore weave a tapestry of plant allies. Published in the early 1900s, it's a dense, poetic resource perfect for research or leisure reading. Quotes and poetry echo voices of the past, making this a true botanical gem. Here's Volume 2.
The Secret Life of Plants
A 1973 book by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird that collects stories and experiments about how plants respond to the world around them. A fascinating record of how people have tried to understand plants.
The Intelligence of Flowers
A short essay by the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck, first published in 1907, on the ingenious ways flowers manage pollination and spread their seeds. Poetic rather than practical, and one to read slowly.