Although I have already covered my favorite recipe and educational books in two previous posts about Recipe Books and Herbal Education Books, there is always more to learn! A few of the books on my shelves address herbalism from different perspectives, so I have a few more unique readings to recommend (some of which are also available on Kindle as well as hard copy):
Willow and Sage Magazine – This wonderful magazine subscription features more than 70 unique recipes, hand-illustrated tips, educational information such as eye-catching infographics, and the benefits of specific ingredients.
Make It Last: Sustainably and Affordably Preserving What We Love (DIY) by Raleigh Brigges (Paperback) – This delightful read tackles the problem of ‘disposable culture’ and seeks to promote a more sustainable kind of living. From repairing clothing, preserving home-grown food, and even repairing your kitchen sink, this book will guide you through the process of preserving the things you love without breaking the bank.
As I’ve mentioned before, herbal studies can seem daunting at first, but the right supplemental ready, when combined with the Herbal Academy’s exceptional courses, can prove to be extremely useful. Since we’ve already covered some of my favorite recipe books in “An Herbalist’s Library: Recipe Books,” it’s time to dive a little deeper into herbal practices. I’ve got one more post to go in this series (“An Herbalist’s Library: Miscellaneous”), but for now, here are some of my favorite herbal education books, including reference books and how-to guides (many of which are also available on Kindle as well as hard copy):
Herbal First Aid (DIY) by Raleigh Briggs (Pamphlet) – This short guide to medicinal plants includes information on healing cuts and scrapes, burns, rashes, sunburns, building a first aid kit, gut problems, aches and pains, bugs, bruises, bleeding, parasites, and more. Plus, it features cute illustrations by Giovanni Caputo that bring a fun vibe to the educational materials!
Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale (Paperback) – Meant for the more advanced herbalist, this book takes your desire for the best product possible and uses it as the basis for implementing good manufacturing practices that follow USA and International guidelines. It relieves some of the anxiety of manufacturing your own products and maps out your path to better manufacturing practices.
The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them by JJ Pursell (Paperback) – This holistic guide not only provides advice for the home gardener on growing and foraging your own medicinal plants, but also profiles 100 of the most important medicinal plants with striking photographs and step-by-step instructions for making herbal teas, tinctures, compresses, and salves to treat everything from muscle strain to the common cold or anxiety.
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne (Paperback) – This particular book is one of my absolute favorites! This full-color guide to medicine-making 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. It is incredibly informative, and I would definitely recommend it for the avid reader!
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 3rd Edition by Andrew Chevallier (Hardcover) – This encyclopedia is so informative that it rapidly became one of my favorites! With 550 key herbs and their uses as natural remedies for nearly 200 common ailments, this book is the definitive home reference to healing with the world’d oldest form of medicine. From ginger to lavender and thyme to dandelion, readers will learn about the chemistry of plants and how and why they work as medicines within the body.
Herbal Antibiotics, 2nd Edition: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria by Stephen Harrod Buhner (Paperback) – Though this guide delves into some rare herbs that you may never come across, it remains quite informative. The book explains the roots of antibiotic resistance, explores the value of herbal treatments, and provides in-depth profiles of 30 valuable plants, noting the proper dosages, potential side effects, and contraindications of each.
Herbal Antivirals: Natural Remedies for Emerging & Resistant Viral Infections by Stephen Harrod Buhner (Paperback) – This guide offers in-depth instructions on how to prepare and use herbal formulations to prevent and treat infections such as SARS, influenza, and encephalitis. Though some of these herbs may be more rare, these natural remedies will fight off disease and strengthen your immune system, keeping your family healthy and happy.
American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition edited by Zoë Gardner and Michael McGuffin (Hardcover) – This guid is an absolute must-have for anyone making and selling their own herbal products! It reviews both traditional knowledge and contemporary research on herbs to provide an authoritative resource on botanical safety. The book covers more than 500 species of herbs and provides a holistic understanding of safety through data compiled from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts.
Homegrown Herbs: A Complete Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying More than 100 Herbs by Tammi Hartung (Paperback) – This comprehensive guide provides in-depth profiles of 1010 popular herbs, including information on seed selection, planting, maintenance, harvesting, and drying. Hartung also shows you how to use your herbs in a variety of foods, home remedies, body care products, and crafts. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or planting your first garden, this book will inspire you to get the most out of your herbs.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use by Rosemary Gladstar (Paperback) – This introductory guide shows you how easy it can be to make your own herbal remedies for life’s common ailments. The book profiles 33 common healing plants and includes advice on growing, harvesting, preparing, and using herbs in healing tinctures, oils, and creams.
Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care by Maria NoelGroves (Paperback) – This holistic guide shows you how to read your body’s signals and support your own wellness with herbal remedies and other natural treatments. You’ll learn how each of your major body systems – respiratory, digestive, immune, nervous, memory, reproductive, circulatory, and more – optimally functions, and you’ll discover how to use natural remedies to nourish and repair problem areas, restore lost vitality, support your body as a whole, and prevent future problems.
The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs by Amy K. Fewell (Paperback) – This beautiful guide takes readers through the basics of herbalism, including the different types of herbs and the uses for them around the homestead. It also breaks down how herbs are used in tinctures, salves, essential oils, and infused oils. From learning how to incorporate herbs and essential oils around your home, to learning how to enhance your family’s health and well-being, this book is the go-to guide for those wishing to live a more natural homesteading lifestyle.
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An Herbal Academy Mini-Course
The Herbal Academy is offering an exciting new mini-course which will be of value to anyone who has an interest in herbalism, from the novice to the expert. The course is now open! You can also upgrade to include the gorgeous Herbal Journey Planner to accompany you on this course.
Becoming An Herbalist explains what exactly an herbalist does on a day-to-day basis. As you may have noticed, explaining the multifaceted role of an herbalist can be tricky. Herbalists may work in the field of wellness, but we aren’t doctors; we may work in a clinical setting, or we may work from home. We might grow herbs, write about herbs, or even sell herbal products. All the while, herbalists must navigate the legal, ethical, and logistical considerations of using herbs with minimal guidance from outside sources, which introduces a whole host of other complications. Here is where the Herbal Academy comes in.
This brief but informative course is intended to provide guidance to your path as an herbalist, exploring the daily responsibilities and complications in the life of an herbalist. Here’s a brief breakdown of the course:
Lesson 1 looks closely at certification and regulation for herbalists and explores some of the educational options that are available to those interested in herbal careers.
Lesson 2 will take a look at the language that herbalists use: words you can and cannot use legally, regardless of education, due to the state of herbalism as an unlicensed practice.
Lesson 3 dives deep into the ethical considerations of becoming an herbalist. The Herbal Academy will five you the lowdown on scope of practice, confidentiality, informed consent, and full disclosure. For those interested in clinical practice, you’ll go over basic red flags, safety concerns, and referrals.
Lesson 4 will outline key aspects of starting your own herbal business and the many details that go along with each.
Lesson 5 discusses the importance of keeping your finger on the pulse of herbalism. The way that herbalists use herbs is constantly evolving, with new clinical research being published all of the time and practicing herbalists discovering novel ways of brining balance to human physiology with herbs.
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Diving headfirst into herbalist studies can seem daunting at first, but with the right preparation, you’ll be able to master herbalism in no time! Personally, I find that some supplemental readying, when combined with the Herbal Academy’s exceptional courses, can prove to be extremely useful. My library overflows with countless herbal texts which I have read and loved throughout the course of my herbal education. Because I couldn’t possibly list my entire library in one post, this will be the first of three (Recipe Books, Herbal Education Books, and Miscellaneous) in order to cover as many books as possible. Below are some of my favorite recipe books, offering hundreds of recipes for blending and using essential oils and herbs in the best possible ways (many are available on Kindle as well as hard copy):
The Heart of Aromatherapy: An Easy -to-Use Guide for Essential Oils by Andrea Butje (Paperback) – This guide to safe and effective aromatherapy provides over 100 recipes to support skin care, rest and relaxation, respiratory health, digestion, pain relief, meditation and contemplation, and even natural cleaning. Plus, each of the 40 essential oils covered in this book are profiled in-depth, including its unique aroma, uses, and safety tips.
French Aromatherapy: Essential Oil Recipes & Usage Guide by Jen O’Sullivan (Paperback and Kindle) – This comprehensive recipe and usage guide utilizes the French Aromatherapy method: the art of using essential oils that encompasses all methods of use (aromatic, topical, and internal). Containing over 300 recipes to enhance your understanding and usage of essential oils, this guide also teaches proper safety precautions and how to implement essential oils into your entire lifestyle. *disclaimer: always consult your healthcare provider before ingesting essential oils, as most do not recommend it*
Essential Oils, Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing by Althea Press (Paperback) – Another favorite of mine, this reference guide provides a comprehensive reference to herbal healing without the hassle, expense, and frustration that comes with consulting doctors and taking prescription medicine, practitioners of all levels will learn a lifetime of herbal remedies from how to treat the urge to itch chicken pox with lavender-tea tree salve to soothing away arthritis symptoms with peppermint oil.
Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies that Heal by Rosalee de la Forêt (Paperback, Kindle and Spiral-bound) – This book was very information and went way beyond the usual recipe book. This guide will show you how to transform common ingredients into foods and remedies that heal. What were once everyday flavorings will become your personal kitchen apothecary. In addition to offering dozens of inspiring recipes, it examines the history and modern-day use of 29 popular herbs, supporting their healing properties with both scientific studies and in-depth research into herbal energetics.
Essential Living, 2nd Edition by Andrea Butje (Paperback) – This guide provides easy-to-follow recipes which teach beginners and experts alike how to create natural, safe products to replace synthetic chemicals and toxic ingredients found in many store brands. With a modest collection of essential oils and tools from around the kitchen, readers will learn how to create cleaning scrubs, natural air fresheners and healthy body products. Neatly organized by room and purpose, these recipes give readers the power to replace unwanted chemicals with handmade, effective, aromatic products.
This is simply a condensed list of my favorite herbal recipe books. For more recommendations, feel free to message me!
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Begin Wildcrafting with Confidence!
In spring, as days get longer and longer and the temperatures rise, the sleepy heads of new plant life begin to emerge and we experience the green world’s revival. There is no better time to get into the woods and poke around for the many wild edibles and herbs flourishing in your area.
While foraging and wildcrafting are certainly hot topics nowadays, the idea of trekking into the woods to forage for your own food and herbs may have you feeling intimidated. Or you may even be a little scared, which is to be expected if you don’t know what you are doing, especially when trying your hand at it for the first time.
If you fall into this category, I have some exciting news to share with you!
The Herbal Academy has released their Botany & Wildcrafting Course, a fascinating voyage that will guide you through the art of wildcrafting, teach you the science of plant identification, and answer your many getting-started questions, all while building your confidence along the way! Curated by an expert team of herbalists and botanists, this program explores plants as living beings, their fascinating ecological relationships, and the ways that our own ecosystem can shape your relationship with plants.
By the end of this class, you will have the information to safely wild harvest and use at least 25 common wild plants, and have the tools and know-how to independently wildcraft the plants in your region!
That’s not all!
Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:
Name all the parts of a plant, including the parts that makeup flowers, leaves, fruits, and stems.
Identifynew plants anywhere in the world using a dichotomous key.
Understand how to decipher plant part differences such as leaves, flowers, and fruits of separate plant species.
Decode patterns in nature and gain insight into plant relationships and herbal and edible use by understanding these patterns.
Sense of the vast number of relationships that exist between plants and other organisms that are required for pollination, seed dispersal, and survival.
Understand how and when to use a plant’s binomial name and discover why a plant might have more than one name.
Dry plants in a way that maintains their vitality, aroma, color, and flavor.
Create your very own herbarium of pressed plant specimens.
Get to know plants on a deeper level through keying, drawing, coloring, and organoleptic identification.
One thing is for sure, you can expect to look nature through an entirely new lens as you journey through the Botany & Wildcrafting Course!
Like most Herbal Academy courses, you will also have the option to upgrade with a gorgeous Botanical Illustrations Workbook, including 25 botanically accurate illustrations from the class ready for your coloring skills, summary monographs from class to complete your learning experience, and blank pages for additional sketches and note-taking!
If wildcrafting piques your interest, but foraging for you own wild edibles and herbs has you feeling nervous, this course is the perfect opportunity for you to gain the confidence and tools you need to get started! Even intermediate level foragers will benefit from this expertly crafted course!
So what are you waiting for? Check out the Botany & Wildcrafting Course right here.
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I am back in school! And let me say, it is so much fun. Signing up for the Introductory Course at the Herbal Academy was the best decision I made, education wise. I recently completed the first lesson and not only was it fun, but quite factual. Here are some of my thoughts:
I am not nodding off in this lecture! You know you’ve been there (I certainly have) and I can say this course is in no way boring, repetitive, or monotone. The creators of this course not only know what they are doing, but they teach the content quite well. Everything is explained in a cross between scientific knowledge and layman’s terms – making everything completely understandable and relatable. I do not feel like I am in over my head here!
Once I signed up for the course, I had immediate access to free downloads, such as pre-designed labels and infographics. This content is a complete bonus and provides me with the extras I may need for my herbal career. My first lesson was a Welcome from the Founder and Director of the Herbal Academy, Marlene Adelmann. She explained the course, how the curriculum is set up, ways to contact instructors, and how to use the online forum. We started to dive into the properties of herbs and how herbs work. The plant naturally makes the chemicals in each herb, with each herb converting them to a specific use when consumed by humans. Raw coffee beans, and caffeine, are an excellent example of this!
My favorite takeaway was this quote regarding herbs: “Our very humanness depends on them, and in return, they depend on us. To deny this is to deny our part in the great web of life. Their out-breath is our in-breath, our exhale, their inhale.” – Stephen Harrod Buhner. One great feature is that this entire class is available online (now available in a print format) meaning I can learn and study on my terms and on my time. I love that I can check in on a lecture first thing in the morning or late at night, whatever works best for my schedule. And the best part is my classmates have no idea I am sitting around in my comfy sweats and sipping on an herbal tea, or cranberry juice, all while I am in class!
If you’re interested in taking this course, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Learning about the magnificent wonders of Mother Nature and the bounty of herbs and flowers to be found around us makes me downright giddy. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me! The course is $297. To learn more about this course, click here.
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Through my company, I talk a lot about being an herbalist. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly that means, you’ve clicked on the right post! Keep reading to find out …
Let’s start at the root (sorry, couldn’t resist!) of herbalism. The use of medicinal plants dates back 60,000 years to the Paleolithic age. Some 5,000 years ago, the Sumerians started compiling lists of plants. Ancient cultures – such as Egyptians, Grecians and the Bronze Age Chinese – left artifacts, wrote works, or drew images referencing the use of herbs. Native Americans are thought to have used 2,500 different plant species that are native to North America. Fast-forward to today and herbal medicine is found in many regions and cultures. It is estimated that almost 80 percent of some Asian and African countries use herbs in some form. Herbal remedies are also very common throughout Europe and South America*.
The truth is pharmaceuticals are expensive and most herbs can be grown from seed for little to no cost. However, herbs can be potent, potentially contaminated, and interact with traditional medicines. That’s where I come in. A certified herbalist has a broad ranges of education – plus hundreds of hours of study, research and experience – and can safely recommend these dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
An herbalist has the following educational background and experience:
Skilled in the growing and harvesting of herbs correctly
Understands the process of drying herbs properly
Knowledgeable in the application of herbs for dietary supplements and herbal remedies
Understands the therapeutic and historical uses of herbs
Adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices, which includes positive identification, assurance of purity, tracking of source materials, training of personnel, and proper hygiene
Understands safety protocols and when, and when not, to use certain herbs and other ingredients, such as essential oils
Understands each herb’s constituents and known precautions
And much more!
Follow along with me as I continue my herbalist education, with the Herbal Academy, and grow my apothecary and survival business, Southern Belle Products. I’ve planted the seed and I can’t wait to see the business blossom. Pun intended 😉
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