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Herbal Education
We are blessed to live in a time where herbal education is wide spread and available through countless books and online sources. These are a few of my favorites, though I know there are many others I haven't even come across yet. Not all sources are filled with absolute truth, even these recommendations, so use the spirit to guide you to truth and recognize error.
Books
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Backyard Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies by Julie and Matthew Seal - Focused on herbs that can be foraged in the wild. Detailed descriptions of 50 plants found in the wild with recipes, history, quotes, and legends if applicable.
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Mountain States Medicinal Plants by Briana Wiles - Covers 100 herbs found in the wild in the Rocky Mountain Area, with how to identify, harvest, and use them. She also has books for Midwest and Southeast wild crafting.
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Essential Herbal Wisdom by Nancy Arrowsmith - The author gathered her information from old herb books and collections in the British Library in London, which made for interesting details not found in other books I've come across. She compiled detailed information on 50 herbs including the many names, identification, where to find or how to cultivate, harvesting and use, past uses and legends or folklore connected to the plant, modern use, and what she calls literary flowers, where the plant pops up in literature and poetry, along with quotes from old herbals.
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Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis Balch - Arranged by ailment with recommendations for herbs, food, supplements, and other therapies
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Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen - Details of nutrition content and constituents
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The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody - this was another fun thrift store find that is for the visual learner. I love the herb layout pages that have simple one page visual of the herb, practical uses, and applications.
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School of Natural Healing by John R. Christopher - This book reads like an herbal course text book. It is very detailed in herb descriptions, uses, dosage, and the many ways to utilize the herb. Dr. Christopher shares his methods, formulas and experience as well.
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Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss - first written in 1939, Jethro Kloss shares his knowledge and experience of a self-reliance in health through working with the body to heal itself with the correct tools of food, herbs, nutrition and lifestyle.
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A Handbook of Native American Herbs by Alma R. Hutchens - Descriptions of 125 most useful medicinal plants commonly found in North America.
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Healing Plants of the Rocky Mountains by Darcy Williamson - 31 medicinal plants found in the Rocky Mountain area. This book covers several plants I haven't seen in other books such as Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Lomatium, that are found along my mountain trails and waysides.​​
Online Sources
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The Naturopathic Herbalist
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Dr. Axe - health, nutrition, herbs, supplements, essentials oils, fitness, etc.
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Birth Song Botanicals - focus on women's health, pregnancy, and hormones​
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Online Courses
If you'd like to take your studies further than my course offerings and resources, here are some paid online course options that I've taken or recommend. Please note I do not agree with everything taught in these course studies, but have used the spirit to show me truth and error.
Literature & Poetry
I learned the term "literary flowers" from the book Essential Herbal Wisdom, in its reference to literature and poetry that contains herbs, plants and healing. I loved the way a poet, like Shakespeare for example, can bring a deeper connection to a plant through the use of words. Cicely Mary Barker can show the fun nature of a plant through her beautiful fairy illustrations and delightful poems. Gene Stratton Porter shows me through story what a gift plants and wholesome foods are and their practical application. These are just a few examples of the power in story, poetry and art. I love to look for plants and healing as part of my life long study in the best of books and incorporate what I find into my personal herbal and encourage you to do the same. Here are a few of my favorites.
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The Importance of Myths and Legends
Just as story, poetry, and art can bring a deeper meaning about plants and healing. So too can the myths and legends that are connected to many of them. They give us greater insight into how people lived, their cultural beliefs and how society lived during a period of time. They can be rich with symbolism that adds a layer of healing in the spiritual and emotional realm. For example, one of the folklores believed that Calendula enabled one to see fairies and hung it over doorways as protection from evil and witches. Culpepper called it an Herb of the Sun under Leo and many believed it held powerful magic. I use my spiritual eyes to discern the symbolism in these beliefs that were held during the dark ages when superstition reigned. When I read about magic and fairies I translate that to the power of the Holy Ghost and ministering of angels. Calendula was an emblem of the Sun which is symbolic for Christ. Christ and His light protects us from evil and darkness. In the book Witness of The Stars by E.W. Bullinger, signs of the zodiac were originally connected to bearing witness of Christ and His story and plan. The sign of Leo portrays "Messiah's consummated triumph". All of this folklore and astrology connections about Calendula actually point me to Christ. With this example I hope you will look at myths and legends surrounding plants as a deeper level of understanding what this plant represents and they always point to Christ and His gospel. ​
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Here are some resources to help you with understanding the importance of myth and symbolic literacy (as phrased by Dr. Jack Logan of The Ancient Tradition) as well as those on Gospel truths in the Zodiac.
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The Ancient Tradition: The Religious Tradition Imparted "In the Beginning" - she has resources for learning more about symbolism on her website. Start with episode 1 and work your way to the most recent one. This alone will unlock so many keys in understanding myths and symbols.
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The Importance of Imagination (Fairytales and Myths)
Scriptures
The scriptures are the word of God. In His word I have found many answers to my questions on health, healing and the body. He is after all the great Creator of this earth, all the gifts on and within it, food, herbs, plants, medicine, water, air, earth, stones, light, and of course our bodies. We were created in His image to "bring to pass his work and his glory". He has given us a guidebook in his scriptures and the words of his prophets, seers, and revelators. Do not overlook this very important source for herbal and natural health education.
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The Old Testament (KJV)
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The New Testament (KJV)
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Pearl of Great Price (Book of Abraham and Book of Moses)
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