The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook: Your Quick Reference Guide to Healing Herbs & Remedies

By Althea Press and Burke Lennihan

Harness the healing powers of herbal medicine with this handy reference guide for beginners.
Learn how to grow your own herbs and make plant-based remedies with the definitive guide to herbal wellness. Thisherb remedies handbook teaches you to make your own natural medicines with over 100 DIY herbal treatments, a directory of over 44 healing herbs, and photo-illustrated step-by-step techniques.
Learn to practice herbal medicine at home with this ultimate book of herbs and their uses. Inside, you'll find:



- A searchable index of herbs, their uses, properties, and other useful notes.
- Treatments for preventative care for seasonal allergies, common ailments like acid reflux, and mental health concerns like anxiety.
- Tips to work around common mistakes and debunk common misconceptions.
- Step-by-step techniques for buying, growing, and making herbal medicine.


Make your own powerful herbal medicines with The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jan 14, 2025
• ISBN: 9781623153724

Book preview

Jumping into the world of herbal medicine might seem initially overwhelming, but take heart. This book is broken into three helpful sections that will introduce you to the basics of using natural remedies, help you identify healing herbs and indicate their potent properties, and give you specific treatments for various conditions and injuries.

See here Check out the FAQ

These 10 common questions and their answers will help you get clear on the basics of herbal medicine.

See here Medicine, fragrance, or seasoning?

Understand the difference between medicinal herbs, essential oils, and non-therapeutic, everyday plants.

See here Big Pharma alternatives

Learn the fundamentals of how to use herbal medicine in its various forms and applications, including capsules, baths, infusions, liniments, and lozenges.

See here Know your herbs!

This section will introduce you to 44 herbs and detail their uses, properties, and any cautionary notes that you need to know.

See here Here’s where the healing starts

Check the third section of the book for remedies for common ailments, mental health issues, and beauty questions.

The Practical

Herbal Medicine Handbook

YOUR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

TO HEALING HERBS & REMEDIES

Copyright © 2014 by Althea Press, Berkeley, California

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Photo Credits: OlgaMiltsova/Thinkstock, p. 10; daffodilred/Shutterstock, p. 15; Agnes Kantaruk/Shutterstock, p. 16; photo division/MediaBakery, p, 18; Trinette Reed/Stocksy, p. 32; Silkspin/ Shutterstock, p. 48; Noemi Hauser/Stocksy, p. 63; Bernard Radvaner/MediaBakery, p. 64; Chamille White/ Shutterstock, p. 88; Daria Minaeva/Shutterstock, p. 90; konmesa/Shutterstock, p. 93; Scisetti Alfio/Shutterstock, p. 95; HardheadMonster/Shutterstock, p. 97; Neil Fletcher and Matthew Ward/Getty, p. 99; roundstripe/Shutterstock, p. 101; Bo Valentino/Shutterstock, p. 103; KAdams66/Thinkstock, p. 105; images72/Shutterstock, p. 107; Crepesoles/Shutterstock, p. 109; Emiko Taki/Thinkstock, p. 111; Nadalina/Shutterstock, p. 113; bphillips/iStockphoto, p. 115; Birute Vijeikiene/Shutterstock, p. 117; Pavel Vakhrushev/Shutterstock, p. 119; Paul S Drobot/PlantStockPhoto, p. 121; Zigzag Mountain Art/ Shutterstock, p. 123; CedarchisCociredeF/Shutterstock, p. 125; TongRo Images Inc/Shutterstock, p. 127, marilyna/ iStock, p. 129; ARENA Creative/Shutterstock, p. 131; Scisetti Alfio/Shutterstock, p. 133; Carmen Rieb/Shutterstock, p. 135; vaivirga/Shutterstock, p. 137; LianeM/Shutterstock, p. 139; Cissi_T/Thinkstock, p. 141; blueeyes/Shutterstock, p. 143; Dmitrij Skorobogatov/Shutterstock, p. 145; Zaxky Ex/Shutterstock, p. 147; a9photo/Shutterstock, p. 149; Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock, p. 151; InavanHateren/Shutterstock, p. 153; Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock, p. 155; Mauro Matacchione/Shutterstock, p. 157; Andreja Donko/Shutterstock, p. 159; successo images/Shutterstock, p. 161; Torsakarin/iStock, p. 163; LianeM/Shutterstock, p. 165; LazingBee/iStock, p. 167; eelnosiva/Shutterstock, p. 169; phloen/Shutterstock, p. 171; sigur/Shutterstock, p. 173; np-e07/iStock, p. 175; sezer66/Thinkstock, p. 177; Elena Elisseeva/Shutterstock, p. 179; Sunny Forest/Shutterstock, p. 180; Ina Peters/Stocksy, p. 182; Sea Wave/Shutterstock, p. 230; Masterfile, p. 258; JT888/Shutterstock, p. 284; Yu Lan/Shutterstock, p. 292

ISBN: Print 978-1-62315-371-7 | eBook 978-1-62315-372-4

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE

Herbal Medicine Essentials

Chapter One

What Is Herbal Medicine?

History of Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine Today

FAQ

Chapter Two

Nature’s Medicine

What Are Medicinal Herbs?

Herbs, Plants, and Essential Oils: What’s the Difference?

Herbal Medicine vs. Allopathic Medicine

Why Use Herbal Medicine?

Do You Need an Herbal Doctor?

Top Ten Reasons for Using Herbal Medicine

Chapter Three

Buy, Make, and Grow

Buying Herbal Medicine

Making Herbal Medicine

Growing Herbal Medicine

Chapter Four

Basic Tools and Methods

Essential Tools

Internal vs. External Medicines

Herbal Remedies Basics

PART TWO

Nature’s Apothecary

Chapter Five

Healing Herbs

Aloe Vera

Arnica

Basil

Block Cohosh

Boswellia

Calendula

Cayenne

Chamomile

Cinnamon

Dandelion

Echinacea

Eucalyptus

Feverfew

Garlic

Geranium

Ginger

Ginkgo

Ginseng

Goldenseal

Hibiscus

Hops

Horse Chestnut

Hyssop

Juniper

Kava

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Licorice

Milk Thistle

Mullein

Passionflower

Peppermint

Raspberry Leaf

Rosemary

Sage

Slippery Elm

St. John’s Wort

Tea Tree

Thyme

Turmeric

Uva Ursi

Valerian

Willow

Witch Hazel

PART THREE

Natural Herbal Remedies

Chapter Six

Herbal Remedies for Common Ailments

Acid Reflux, Nausea, and Heartburn

Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Rheumatism

Athlete’s Foot

Bronchitis

Bruises

Burns

Canker Sores

Cold

Cough

Cuts and Scrapes

Diaper Rash

Earache

Fever

Flu

Gingivitis

Headache

Heartburn and Gastric Reflux

Hemorrhoids

Hives

Insect Bites and Bee Stings

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Jock Itch

Laryngitis

Leg Cramps

Muscle Aches

Nasal Congestion

Nausea

Pinkeye

Poison Ivy

Ringworm

Seasonal Allergies

Sinus Infection

Sore Throat

Swimmer’s Ear

Teething

Thrush

Toothache

Ulcers

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Yeast Infection

Chapter Seven

Herbal Remedies for Mental Health and Wellness

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Addiction Recovery Support

Agitation

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Anger

Anxiety

Depression

Exhaustion and Fatigue

Grief

Insomnia

Memory

Menopause

Mental Clarity

Mood Enhancement

Nervousness

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Restlessness

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Social Impairment

Stress

Chapter Eight

Herbal Remedies for Skin and Beauty

Acne

Acne Scars

Body Odor

Cellulite

Chapped Lips

Dandruff

Dry Skin

Eczema

Healthy Hair Growth

Nail Fungus

Psoriasis

Skin Toning

Stretch Marks

Varicose Veins

Warts

Wrinkles

Appendix A:

Healing Herbs Quick Reference Guide

Appendix B:

Herbal Product Sources and Resources

Glossary

References

Resources

Foreword

You hold in your hands the passport to an adventure in healing—a welcome to the world of herbs. Herbs have been used as medicines since time immemorial. Archaeologists discovered a woman who was buried in a cave 50,000 years ago, surrounded by medicinal herbs still in use today. Yet herbs are also at the forefront of modern medicine, with scientists isolating therapeutic ingredients from ancient healing herbs.

In many years of sharing the secrets of holistic healing with beginners—at venues such as Harvard University’s Center for Wellness and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy—I have found that students are easily overwhelmed at first with the bewildering variety of natural alternatives. The same thing happens when I work with clients at the Lydian Center for Innovative Healthcare in Cambridge, Massachusetts. If I hand a client a complete list of all possible supplements and herbs for her health condition, she doesn’t know where to begin.

I’ve found it’s best to start simply, with a short list of herbs and supplements, in order to empower people to take the first step. The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook provides the perfect introduction. It thoroughly explains the basics of herb preparation while winnowing the list of suggestions to just one easily accessible recipe for each of more than 75 common complaints.

The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook is full of wise advice for the beginner, including cautions about the safety concerns for each herb, reminders to integrate their use with the best of conventional medicine, recommendations for dealing with skeptics by referring to the research, and by providing a living example of how well herbs can work. When you have immersed yourself in the recipes included here—for fragrant teas, salves, and herbal baths—you will discover the potency of the most essential herbal medicines.

We are on the verge of a tidal wave of transformation in medicine, as mainstream medicine becomes too high-tech, highly invasive, and high-cost, and as side effects of pharmaceuticals make them increasingly unacceptable. All over the country, consumers and parents like you are taking healing into their own hands with traditional medicines that have stood the test of time.

We don’t need to wait for years while scientists research them, and we don’t want to wait while pharmaceutical companies isolate their active ingredients and raise their prices a hundredfold. Powerful herbal medicines are easily available here and now, in gardens, health food stores, drugstores, and online. This book will empower you, one step at a time, to heal yourself and your family with these fragrant plants.

—Burke Lennihan, RN, CCH

author of Your Natural Medicine Cabinet: A Practical Guide to Drug-Free Remedies for Common Complaints

Introduction

Long before the development of antibiotics, disinfectants, or antidepressants, nature offered its own medicine in the form of plants. From steeping them in teas to mixing them into poultices, plants have been used for healing by our ancestors, parents, healers, midwives—and eventually doctors—for centuries. The natural remedies our ancestors found in their own surroundings have treated everything from pain to infection. Science continues our ancestors’ exploration of the effectiveness of plants to treat illness and disease, bringing us miracle drugs like aspirin (derived from willow bark), digoxin and digitalis (found in foxglove), codeine (from poppies), and the anti-tumor drug Taxol (from the Pacific yew), just to name a few.

Not only are herbal medicines effective, they are also inexpensive, readily available, and easy to prepare and use. The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook introduces you to the basic principles you need to manage your own, and your family’s, everyday ailments.

Herbal medicine is used and relied on by over half the world, in areas where modern medicine is unavailable, too expensive, or unknown. In developed nations, herbal medicine tends to be categorized as alternative medicine. This book highlights what alternative truly means—a viable and cost-effective alternative to the pills dispensed by your pharmacy. Some of these herbal medicines may already be growing in your garden, sitting in bottles in your kitchen cabinet, or available fresh from farmers’ fields in the produce department of your favorite grocery store.

As your guide to understanding the basics of herbal medicine, this book provides detailed information about medicinal plants and a brief history of how herbal remedies have helped humanity survive not only the cuts, bumps, and bruises of daily living, but also devastating diseases. With practical information to get you started, references for the most commonly used herbs, and helpful recipes, this book is a resource you will find yourself referring to often.

Specific information about the benefits and limitations of various treatments will help you take a balanced approach to deciding when to use herbal remedies and which treatments are suitable. You’ll find easy-to-use guides to common herbs and their capabilities, herbs cross-referenced with the ailments they are known to relieve, and simple instructions for their use. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to make educated decisions about purchasing, compounding, and using herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of common illnesses naturally.

If you are looking to reduce the number of trips you make annually to your family doctor, lower your pharmaceutical bills, and take your health into your own hands, this book can help. The Practical Herbal Medicine Handbook will guide you in choosing a more natural path—one used by our ancestors for many millennia—to feeling better and improving your overall sense of wellness.

PART ONE

Herbal Medicine Essentials

Although herbal medicine is derived from plants, it is effective and can be quite strong; in fact, many modern pharmaceuticals include ingredients made with compounds from plants historically used in compounding herbal remedies. In the chapters that follow, you’ll gain insight into the benefits of herbal medicine. You’ll also learn about the different methods of making herbal medicine and which tools are best for compounding herbal medicines; you may be surprised to discover some of them are already sitting in your kitchen cabinets.

CHAPTER ONE

What Is Herbal Medicine?

Sometimes referred to as botanical medicine, phytomedicine, or herbalism, herbal medicine is the oldest-known form of healing. It is the use of specific herbs for their medicinal or therapeutic value.

Much of what is known about herbal medicine has been passed down from one generation to the next. Because modern scientific standards of research, hypotheses, experimentation, and analysis have not been part of its development, Western medical experts often relegate the use of medicinal herbs to the realm of alternative medicine. Yet modern medicine makes excellent use of many compounds that have been derived from herbs and other plants. These plant-based substances often serve as the basis for pharmaceutical drugs, which are developed using the scientific method. Herbal medicine has a long tradition of use outside the confines of conventional medicine, and it is becoming