Okay so this isn't complete, and apparently my account is too young (or doesn't have enough karma?) to make a post to the subreddit :(

But here is the original post I constructed to submit:

Hello r/herbalism.

This book list was compiled by a good friend of mine who has been a practicing herbalist for a while now. I thought you might all enjoy this list; it's divided into different sections based on the particular area of study. My friend would also like me to inform you "If anyone should have difficulty locating these books, I've found a website, called bookfinder.com, to be most useful in acquiring these books for a fraction of the price from regular booksellers."

Beginner Herbalism, General

• Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use
  
  
• Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech
  
  
• Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine Making Guide
  
  
• Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
  
  
• Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug Resistant Bacteria by Stephen Buhner
  
  
• The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green
  
  
• Earthwise Herbal Vol I. and Earthwise Herbal Vol. II by Matthew Wood.
  
  
• The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification by Matthew Wood
  
  
  
• Rodale's 21st Century Herbal by Michael Balick
  
  
• The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants in a Quick-Study, One-Stop Guide by Brigitte Mars
  
  
  
• The Herbalist's Way: The Art and Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines by Nancy Phillips, Michael Phillips, and Rosemary Gladstar
  
  
  

  Advanced Herbalism
  

  
  

• Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffman
  
  
• Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by David Winston
  
  
• Edward E Shook's Elementary Treatise in Herbology and Advanced Treatise in Herbology - (In regards to the second, my friend has found a free PDF of the advanced treatise.)
  
  
• The School of Natural Healing: The Reference Volume on Natural Herbs for the Teacher, Student or Herbal Practitioner by John R. Christopher
  
  
• The Complete Herbal Tutor: A Structured Course to Achieve Professional Expertise by Anne McIntyre
  
  

  Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry (Part of the Advanced Herbalism List)
  

  
  
  

• The Constituents of Medicinal Plants: An Introduction to the Chemistry and Therapeutics of Herbal Medicine by A. Pengally
  
  
• Phytochemistry and Pharmacy for Practitioners of Botanical Medicine by Eric Yarnell
  
  
• Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry by Lisa Ganora
  
  
  

  Medicinal Mycology
  

  
  

• The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichens of North America by Robert Rogers
  
  
• Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms by Paul Stamets
  
  
  
  

I recommend reading some Susun Weed, this is her wheelhouse for sure:

• Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health (Vol 5)
  
• Healing Wise: The Wise Woman Herbal
  
• New Menopausal Years: Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90
  
  You can safely take vitex / chasteberry, which is a great herbal adaptogen for balancing the hormonal system (vitex extract supports the pituitary gland which helps regulate estrogen and progesterone). Vitex is slow acting but effective and very safe, so you may need to take it for 2 or even 3 months to see effects, but then you can continue taking it very safely every day. You can also safely drink strong infusions of raspberry leaf, oatstraw, and nettle, which will support you -- raspberry leaf for female reproductive organs, oatstraw for libido, nettle for fatigue and iron.
  
  
  More detail about vitex.
  
  More detail about brewing strong infusions.

Hops is one of the most relaxing smoking herbs I know of and a relative of Marijuana.
I make a several smoke mixes.. DM me for more info
Also my friend wrote a nice book on smoking plants.
Smoke Plants of North America https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Plants-North-America-Illustrated/dp/0970372132&ved=2ahUKEwi_6cbk0rLhAhVD7qwKHfDKChUQFjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2r6uzoGYF0YjITmTGYdK6n

I recommend books by David Hoffmann, perhaps the foremost known British herbalist today (the link is to a page about him on Jim McDonald's website), especially his earlier books, for example, this one, not necessarily what has been published in the last decade or so, such as the formidable volume 'Medical Herbalism' (which I found to be lacking in depth).

For Ayurveda, perhaps the reference of choice for an independent/aspiring herbalist, should be 'The Yoga of Herbs' by David Frawley & Vasant Lad. Also, read up on Ayurveda, if you haven't yet, e.g. the highly accessible Robert Svoboda's 'Prakriti' or other books by the already mentioned Vasant Lad.

For medicine making another must-have reference is 'Making Plant Medicine' by Richo Cech.

Also, explore the resources on Henriette Kress's website, especially the classical texts from the Eclectic period.

There really are many other sources, from which you can draw both knowledge and inspiration, depending on the need of the moment.

I would also highely recommend the work of Paul Bergner, including but not limited to the links found here.

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Essential-Oils-Technology-Applications/dp/1466590467

Its $140 but this book is what some pharma companies are basing their futures on. It has so much valuable information I don't where to start.

>chat about poultice recipes I would be so grateful.

Check out the discord, link is in the sidebar. :)

I need to check some literature before I can recommend specific poultice recipes to you; will update in a little bit. For joint pain and arthritis, I usually suggest that the individual should consume rich, freshly made/homemade bone broth. (Chicken feet or Cow Bones; the main goal is to increase collagen consumption) but gout is an entirely different beast; no alcohol, no processed meats, limit red meat, decrease sugar intake, drink more water, light exercise, etc. etc.

It's unfortunately difficult to find recipes for herbal formulas just floating around the internet;
the most you'll usually find is rough guides or old herbal texts, but they can be helpful if you're studying herbalism. SWSBM I know has several old herbals on their homepage, but the problem with many of the old herbals and formularies and pharmacopeias is their lack of organization; often times organized alphabetically instead of by treatment, which can make it difficult to locate a specific remedy (and sometimes they have some pretty wild ingredients that are most definitely not safe to add)


>books of “plants that are Poisonous, edible etc”

Answering this question depends on what kinda info you're looking for. Do you want guidebooks to the poisonous and edible plants of your area? Herbals or entheogen texts on how to prepare poisonous plants to use for medicines or other drugs? What's the etc?

If you're in North America, I can suggest this general guidebook to Poisonous Plants, as well as this guide to common edible wild plants of North America.

However, I must say it'd be better to get area-specific guides if you're looking to identify plants around you!


I hope you find this post helpful, and good luck with your poultice recipes! :)