Best herbal medicine books for preppers
Herbal books won't replace antibiotics, but they help you make teas, salves, and tinctures from plants you can grow or find. Pick one that shows safety cautions and toxic look-alikes.
12 books, beginner-friendly first.
The Complete Medicinal Herbal
Penelope Ody · 1993
A photo-rich introduction to common medicinal herbs and how they're prepared. A friendly first herbal reference.
beginnerEncyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Andrew Chevallier · 2016
A large illustrated reference covering hundreds of herbs, their uses, and home remedies. Good for identification and preparation.
beginnerLarge reference
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs
Rosemary Gladstar · 2012
Profiles 33 common, safe herbs with simple recipes. A gentle, practical starting point.
beginnerThe Wild Wisdom of Weeds
Katrina Blair · 2014
Thirteen common weeds you can eat or use as medicine. Weeds grow everywhere, so the skills travel.
beginnerNorth America
Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Thomas Bartram · 2002
An A-to-Z reference of herbs and the conditions they've traditionally been used for. Dense, best as a lookup book.
intermediateLarge reference
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
Andy MacKinnon, Linda J. Kershaw, Patrick Owen · 2016
A photo guide to wild food and medicine plants across Canada, with notes on toxic look-alikes.
intermediateCanada
Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains
Linda Kershaw · 2000
Wild food and medicine plants of the Rockies, with poisonous species flagged.
intermediateMountain West / Rockies
Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West
Gregory L. Tilford · 1997
Covers edible and medicinal plants from the Rockies to the Pacific with color photos.
intermediateWestern North America
The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook
James Green · 2000
Focuses on the process of making herbal preparations: extraction, ratios, and storage. A how-to rather than a plant encyclopedia.
intermediateThe Modern Herbal Dispensatory
Thomas Easley · 2016
A recipe-driven guide to making tinctures, teas, and salves, with formulas organized by condition. Useful when the pharmacy shelf is empty.
intermediatePeterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America
Steven Foster, James A. Duke · 2015
Identifies medicinal plants of the East and Midwest with photos and cautions about toxic look-alikes. Pairs ID with traditional uses.
intermediateEastern & Central North AmericaField guide
Peterson Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Steven Foster, Christopher Hobbs · 2002
The western counterpart to the Peterson medicinal guide, covering plants from the Rockies to the Pacific. Includes safety notes on toxic species.
intermediateWestern North AmericaField guide