I love the world of science because it’s measurable and can be replicated. I’m also a strong believer in natural remedies because they have been documented for centuries and grow on our beautiful Mother Earth...you just have to know what you’re looking for. While I certainly appreciate pharmaceuticals and believe they are needed in some cases, I am also a believer in botanicals.  They are the original medicine (although they are often called alternative) and they support the body without side effects. As always, my goal is to educate and help bridge the gap between traditional herbalism and Western medicine. I want people to recognize that these two worlds can coexist harmoniously.

While I’ve studied and used herbs for many years, I’m always learning more. I'm a firm believer that there is always something new to learn, especially in the world of botanicals.  In fact, I can guarantee that if I lived another century, I still would not know everything there is to know when it comes to the plant world. In this blog, I want to share a few of my favorite herbalism books that helped my roots of plant knowledge grow deep and strong (see what I did there?).  

• Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman - This is one of my favorites! Because I embrace the scientific world, this book has the science to back up the tradition. It builds an excellent foundation to start understanding the phytochemical world.
• The Healing Garden by Juliet Blankespoor - The illustrations in this book are beautiful and you will learn everything you need to know to start your own herb garden.
• Botany In A Day by Thomas J. Elpel - This book is my go-to for everything plant ID and botany related.
• Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech - A few years ago, I found this book and used it weekly for months until I created my little home apothecary. You can learn to make your own tinctures, teas, and topical preparations.
• The Herbal Kitchen by Kami McBride - This book gets you into the kitchen and has you making everything from herbal vinegars to bath soaks. It serves to be therapeutic and relaxing. 
• Forage by Liz Knight - I believe that food is medicine. This is a great book to guide you through plant identification, medicinal benefits, and creating recipes from local plants.
• Herbal Recipes For Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar - If I didn’t include a book from Rosemary Gladstar, it wouldn’t be a blog about herbs. She is a legend in the herbal world. You will find herbal remedies for almost every ailment and it’s fun to create an apothecary you can use for years to come.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey into the plant medicine world. There are many more books out there, but the ones highlighted in this article are some great foundational options to get you started.

  Right now, I’m going to go grab some bottles and pipettes, and go into the kitchen to create some tinctures and plant potions.  If you liked this article and want to learn more about herbal plants and plant remedies, check out the following:

• Natural Healing Remedies - SAS Life
• Natural Wellness: 16 Ways to Feel Calmer, Serene and More Energetic - SAS Life
• Flower Power: Exploring Flower Essences (part 1) - SAS Life
• Flower Power: Transforming with Flower Essences (part 2) - SAS Life
• Little Life Hacks: Essential (Oils) Gift Giving - SAS Life