10 Great Advanced Herbalism Books
When you study something long enough you eventually reach a point when you need more in depth information. The tips and tricks on the internet won’t get you where you want to go. They won’t help you grow.
In the last couple of years I have certainly taken that deep dive into really understanding the connection between plants and humans. It’s still magical and almost unbelievable that plants, which evolved separately from humans can be such incredible allies in getting us back to a healthy balance. Most of the constituents we herbalist have to come to reviver in plants are there because the plant simply doesn’t want to be eaten. They are bitter, sour, or spicy, prickly all examples of how they try to protect themselves from the elements and stress.
Over the millenia clever and observant humans (and sometimes not so clever) have discovered the incredible benefits that these plant carry with in them. The world over in every single culture you find herbalist. People who understand plants and their environment and how to work with them to help humans be healthy and thrive.
Below is my every growing list of herbalism books which you’ll want to read once you are ready to take that next step. These are in no particular order because they are all amazing in their own ways.
10 Advanced Herbalism Books to Read
Medicinal Plants of the Mountian West by Michael Moore
Herbal Medic by Sam Coffman
Evolutionary Herbalism by Sajah Popham
The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism by Matthew Wood
The Earthwise Herbal Volume I and II by Matthew Wood
The Earthwise Herbal Repertory by Matthew Wood
The Herbal Medicine- Maker’s Handbook by James Green
The Practicing Herbalist by Margi Flint
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman
Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals Volumes 1-4 by Dr. Jill Stansbury
Ok, so technically that’s 14 books on this list… however I do consider Herbal Formularies and Earthwise Herbal as one bank of knowledge. You can’t have just one of them.
Why you should get these herbalism books:
These books have made my knowledge of plant medicine grow by leaps and bounds. I refer back to them all the time. I like having them as reference library because you know that the information is coming from people with 20, 30 even 40 years of experience. Experience that is actual working knowledge with clients. It’s very inspiring and reassuring when you are still a budding herbalist. After 10 years of study I still feel like a newbie so having these books is very much like having a mentor right in my house.
Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West This book covers the entire western half of the United States. Since I live in Northern Utah this book is a go to for me. He covers a plethora of the most common and easily identifiable plants across the mountain west. For anyone on this side of the country who wants to wild craft some of their medicinal plants or if you often spend time in the back country, this a go to book for plant allies. For each plant listing he describes where to find the plant, how to identify it, its constituents, how to harvest it and it’s medicinal uses and formulas. It’s one of the best plant monograph collections there is for the intermountain west.
Herbal Medic . I’ve done a review of this book already. You can read that here. For anyone who practice herbalism in real life situations this is the book you need. This is the practical application of herbs as medicine in the home, during a serious injury, or back country first aid. It’s got it all. With illustrations and very straight forward explanations.
Evolutionary Herbalism I have to give a shout out to my teacher Sajah for this one. This book will give you a whole knew way of looking at the interconnectedness of plants and the human body and energetics. It’s a deep dive with huge amount of knowledge in it. Take it slow and make sure you have a pencil and some washy tape to take notes with. You’ll definitely want it.
The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism is a short and very fun read. It’s a concise and thorough break down of basic principals of western herbalism. I like this one when I need a refresher about energetics or herbal actions, tissue states and more.
Earthwise Herbal Volumes I and II are so good. I refer back to them all the time when I am introduced to a new plant or have questions about the use for certain plants. For most herbalist, these two volumes cover just about every plant you can get your hands on which makes it a fantastic monograph library to have on hand. they should definitely be used in conjunction with Earthwise Herbal Repertory.
Earthwise Herbal Repertory is an interesting book for the “next step herbalist”. At first it seems daunting and confusing. But once you start to become acquainted with the scientific names of plants and the organ systems you quickly come to use it as your first line reference. It covers so many common bodily illnesses and issues. It dives deep into listing plants that are used under very specific circumstances as well. My copy is marked up and taped and generally extremely well loved.
The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook is highy reccomend for learning to make herbal remedies. He cover’s everything from salves to tinctures. Even how to make hydrosols without a copper still. Definitely recommend for anyone wanting to make their own plant remedies.
The Practicing Herbalist is another deep dive book. If you are ready to start seeing clients beyond your own friends and family you’ll want this book. Margi goes into great detail about how to do client in takes, how to set up a comfortable welcoming space for them, how to set up an office and how to look at a client’s outward signs of illness. This part is huge. Most herbal classes and books talk about symptoms happening with in the body, but not the outward signs of what to look for. This book is expensive, but worth every penny!
Medical Herbalism is another deep dive when you’re ready to see clients outside of your inner circle. This book is from a scientific perspective. For some that be daunting, but it’s actually so detailed and straightforward. It’s like mini crash course in biochemistry and anatomy. Especially nice for the herbalist who wants to know chemically how the plants work and how various disease and illness arise and how they show up in the body. It also includes want wonderful herbal formula recommendations.
Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals is similar to Medical Herbalism but it is broken down into four books based on body systems. These volumes have solidified my understanding of the various body systems. I turn to them constantly as new issues come up that I am unfamilar with. Her explanations of making herbal formulas is top of the line for anyone wanting to make their own herbal formulas for family or clients.
If you have any books to add please list them in the comments below. I’d love to hear what your favorite books are.
