How to get started with herbalism

[ATD_Mom]

I want to be one of those moms who grows and picks herbs and dries them, for later use in health (cough syrup!), home (all-purpose cleaner!), and personal-care (deodorant!) concoctions. But I have no idea where to start.

I do not have any of the generally called-for ingredients in many of the potions I see (even basic stuff such as tea tree oil or any essential oils), and I don't even know what a tincture is.

I want to read a book that not only inspires me, but also spells out exactly how to collect, store, concoct, and apply these potions. One or two good books to recommend?

Any advice so, so greatly appreciated.

[tinuviel_k]

My first advice is to check out herbmentor.com, and if you like it become a member. It does have a monthly fee, but it has been the most amazing herbal learning resource for me. There are videos and call-seminars by well known and respected herbalists, tons of lessons, plant identification help, a super helpful forum, and a wonderful in depth plant study every two months. This site is chock full of resources, and I really can't recommend it enough.

If you want to wild craft then you need several good field guides. I have four field guides: one general field guide for my region, one for edible wild plants, and two herbal field guides (one of the regional to my area). I carry at least two when I am foraging and reference them often.
I particularly like Michael Moore's medicinal plant guides. He has guides for the Pacific Northwest, the Mountain West, and the Desert and Canyon West. If you live in one of these regions I can't recommend his books enough.
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Moore/...8021960&sr=8-2

I also like From Earth to Herbalist. Great book for responsible wild crafting!
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Herbalis...8022151&sr=1-1

Here are four of my favorite herbal books. I don't think I could choose among them.

1. Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Cech
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Plant-M...8022279&sr=1-1

2. The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook, by James Green
http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Medicin...8022279&sr=1-2

3. Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family, by Rosemary Gladstar
http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Glads...8022378&sr=1-1

4. The Way of herbs, by Michael Tierra
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Herbs-Mich...8022638&sr=1-1

[ursusarctos]

Susun Weed's herbals are great!

[SandyMom]

Here's a great list of herbalism courses offered all over the country, including many that offer correspondence courses:
Herbal Education Courses .

[Meksmama]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

My first advice is to check out herbmentor.com, and if you like it become a member. It does have a monthly fee, but it has been the most amazing herbal learning resource for me. There are videos and call-seminars by well known and respected herbalists, tons of lessons, plant identification help, a super helpful forum, and a wonderful in depth plant study every two months. This site is chock full of resources, and I really can't recommend it enough.

If you want to wild craft then you need several good field guides. I have four field guides: one general field guide for my region, one for edible wild plants, and two herbal field guides (one of the regional to my area). I carry at least two when I am foraging and reference them often.
I particularly like Michael Moore's medicinal plant guides. He has guides for the Pacific Northwest, the Mountain West, and the Desert and Canyon West. If you live in one of these regions I can't recommend his books enough.
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Moore/...8021960&sr=8-2

I also like From Earth to Herbalist. Great book for responsible wild crafting!
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Herbalis...8022151&sr=1-1

Here are four of my favorite herbal books. I don't think I could choose among them.

1. Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Cech
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Plant-M...8022279&sr=1-1

2. The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook, by James Green
http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Medicin...8022279&sr=1-2

3. Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family, by Rosemary Gladstar
http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Glads...8022378&sr=1-1

4. The Way of herbs, by Michael Tierra
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Herbs-Mich...8022638&sr=1-1

These are great books. I would also look around your area for a wild herb walk. We have someone locally that you can hire to walk your property to show you all the wildcrafting you can do right on your own land.

The Science and Art of Herbalism through Sage Mountain (Rosemary Gladstar) is a great correspondence course. www.sagemountain.com

[tinuviel_k]

Originally Posted by Meksmama

These are great books. I would also look around your area for a wild herb walk. We have someone locally that you can hire to walk your property to show you all the wildcrafting you can do right on your own land.

The Science and Art of Herbalism through Sage Mountain (Rosemary Gladstar) is a great correspondence course. www.sagemountain.com

Absolutely! Nothing can really compare to hands-on mentoring. Find someone who really knows their plants and have them take you to wild areas around you region.
If you have an herb store in your area you might start asking there. Our local shop hosts herb walks maybe 6 times a year.

And I am also taking the Sage Mountain Science and Art of Herbalism Course. It is absolutely fabulous. Very in-depth, interesting, with lots of hands on work as well as research into many herbs. You work your butt off in the program (at your own pace) and I love that.

And if you want to start growing your own medicinal plants, this books is a super resource: The Medicinal Herb Grower, Volume 1
http://www.amazon.com/Medicinal-Herb...8502493&sr=1-2

[Meksmama]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

And I am also taking the Sage Mountain Science and Art of Herbalism Course. It is absolutely fabulous. Very in-depth, interesting, with lots of hands on work as well as research into many herbs. You work your butt off in the program (at your own pace) and I love that.

Me too!I love it so far!

[ATD_Mom]

Wow. Somehow my subscription notification didn't work on this thread - I just now realized all of the replies.

Thank you, thank you, so much for all of this advice, all of these links.

Before I read the replies, I checked out Growing 101 herbs that heal : gardening techniques, recipes, and remedies / Tammi Hartung. I like it because it's basic, for a beginner such as myself, explaining exactly what each type of potion is (I know what a tincture is now!), how to make them in general, how to store them, etc. But I am certainly left wanting to know more. A lot more.

So, I'll be at the library this week, checking out all of your recommendations. And will be looking for a real, live, local person to help me, too.

Thank you so much again.

[burdock]

A book I really like:

"Backyard Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies"
Julie Bruton Seal and Matthew Seal

Also check out Susun Weed online and in print.

Books written by practicing herbalists are the way to go, There are many 'herb' books out there that are written by people who copied recipes from another book.

Good luck & have fun!