Introduction
Whether you are a budding herbalist, an expert in plant medicine, or a tea sommelier, you can always benefit from an educational, fun, and informative book. The following reads have informed our views on herbs and teas at Mindful Moon, and we enjoy giving recommendations to expand the consciousness around these amazing plants. Many of the herbs mentioned in these books can be found in our herbal blend collection at Mindful Moon, so be sure to check those out if you are interested.
The Tea Book by Linda Gaylard
Linda Gaylard is a Canadian tea sommelier and proprietor of the popular website, The Tea Stylist. She is certified by the Tea Association of Canada and has traveled the world exploring the different locales where tea is grown and consumed. The Tea Book conveys an incredible amount of information, including the anatomy of tea, how it is cultivated and harvested, and its many medicinal properties. There are also practical how-to guides showing how to brew and infuse tea to get the most benefit, complete with charts and detailed pictures. Tea recipes are included as well, so be sure to buy some loose leaf herbs and tea to experiment on your own! Linda takes special care to describe customs and traditions surrounding tea, which can enhance the whole experience. This is an excellent book for tea newcomers.
A Little Tea Book by Sebastian Beckwith and Caroline Paul
A fun pocket guide with amazing watercolor illustrations, A Little Tea Book would be an excellent gift for someone in your life who enjoys tea and wants to learn more. Sebastian is a tea aficionado who has supplied upscale tea to fine restaurants and lectured about tea at such institutions as Columbia University. A Little Tea Book shines when documenting the history of tea in a conversational tone while also outlining the different types of tea and their health benefits. You will learn how teas from different regions differ and what unique properties they bring. This is a fairly quick read that doesn’t go too in-depth on any one topic, but provides a glimpse into multiple different areas relating to tea. Sebastian was certainly not trying to make an encyclopedia with A Little Tea Book, so make sure you are not expecting a specialized, expert-level education on tea. This is more of a casual read with beautiful illustrations that still more than holds its own in terms of knowledge provided.
Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar is a distinguished herbalist who gives the reader a plethora of herbal remedies and therapies in her book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. She owns Sage Mountain in Vermont, which hosts teaching workshops and sells herbal preparations. This book is 400 pages in its paperback form, so it is definitely not a light read and excels due to its level of detail. Nearly every aspect of herbal medicine is covered in this book, from the cultivation and harvesting of herbs to the proper dosage and concoction to achieve your health-related objectives. The key strength of this book is the number of ailments that are touched on, and Rosemary takes the time to explain how different herbal treatments work to help your body deal with these issues and thrive. Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health is perfect as a reference for anyone who wants to plan an herbal garden or learn how to utilize herbs to combat common afflictions.
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier
The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine contains 550 herbs and remedies for common maladies, with excellent photography and illustration to accompany in-depth analysis of how herbs interact with the human body. Andrew Chevallier is a renowned herbalist who was the past president of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, and he even helped found the Herbal Medicine course at Middlesex University. Andrew brings this academic tone to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, where he details every aspect of herbal medicine, including their habitat and cultivation, how they work within the body, how they were used in the past, which parts to use for optimal effect, and how to prepare them. In addition, there is a useful index which helps readers easily navigate all the herbs in the book by name or the ailments which they can treat. This is an academic book that packs a serious amount of knowledge and scientific explanation.
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is a guidebook of herbal medicines grounded in chemistry and physiology, and it masterfully mixes traditional herbalism with modern scientific discoveries. This book is a must-have for the serious herbalist and delves into advanced techniques such as percolation, as well as more historical concepts like herbal energetics and materia medica (the accumulated knowledge of healing substances). Thomas Easeley is a clinical herbalist and member of the American Herbalists Guild, and he has helped over 10,000 clients over 15 years in his professional career. Steven Horne is also a member of the American Herbalists Guild and has helped found four herbal companies. Both authors emphasize the importance of food as medicine, which is always a refreshing perspective. This book explains every detail of preparing the plants, which equipment to use, how to mix herbs with different solvents, as well as the different properties of herbs such as flavor profiles. While we can’t cover everything this book has to offer, one interesting note is that it touches on the importance of matching the herbal medicines to the person and condition, which is a level of customization rarely provided.
Body into Balance: An herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care by Maria Noel Groves
Body into Balance has become a foundational textbook for many herb schools across the United States, and for good reason. Maria Noel Groves is a herbal medicine teacher who owns Wintergreen Botanicals Herbal Clinic and Education Center. She has over two decades of experience teaching, advising clients, and writing about herbs. This book focuses on how herbs can alleviate mental and physical issues many people face, and the amazing photos really complement the treasure trove of knowledge. Body into Balance lives up to its title by highlighting the main systems in the human body and how you can utilize specific herbs by themselves or in combination to strengthen these systems. The reader is taught how the human body is most optimal when we are in balance, and herbs are one of the best and most natural ways to achieve this. Maria’s writing is clear and concise, making it a thorough but not unnecessarily complicated book. It is an excellent resource for both expert practitioners and novices alike. Finally, this book is not without some fun as well, explaining to readers how to use herbs to create culinary treats like teas, vinegars, and even sodas.This book can be utilized as a reference to specific treatments, or as a sit-down casual read.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our short guide of herbal medicine and tea books. Each book has something special to offer anyone seeking to learn more about holistic health and wellness, so you can't go wrong with any of these. We hope you enjoyed this article and continue a wonderful educational journey.