The Truth About Herb Books & Which Materia Medicas You Need
Building a trustworthy herbal library is essential for serious herbal study, yet many modern herb books lack clinical depth or are even AI-generated. In this post, you’ll learn how to discern high-quality materia medica and explore five of the most reliable, clinically useful references — from historical Eclectic texts to modern, pattern-based systems that continue […]
My #1 Method for Learning Herbs: The Clinical Monograph
Most herbalists begin with books, teachers, and tradition, but genuine clinical mastery comes from organizing what you know into something you can actually use. In this post, we will look at why the clinical herbal monograph is the most powerful tool for studying medicinal plants and how to build one that supports real-world practice rather […]
The Ultimate Guide to the “Anti” Herbs
Look at just about any materia medica, and you will see the word “anti” in front of many an herbal action. These are subtypes of the antimicrobial action, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, antiparasitic, antiamoebic, and antimalarial. When you see these words, it is easy to assume that the herbs they describe are like […]
A Look Back at 2025 & What’s Coming Next
In this post, I’m sharing a little bit about where we find ourselves right now at the School of Evolutionary Herbalism — some of our big accomplishments of 2025, and what’s coming up in 2026 and beyond. But first, for those of you newer to The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, I want to share what […]
Medicine of the Evergreens
Evergreen trees are revered throughout the world for their medicinal properties, rich folklore, and uplifting symbolism. Although you might be familiar with these trees from your walks through the forest or the holiday seasons, this year you can take your knowledge to the next level by learning how to use them medicinally at home and […]
Getting Started in Herbal Pharmacy: A Review of James Green’s Classic Guide
Making herbal medicine — the alchemy of transforming living medicinal plants into healing remedies — is one of the most empowering parts of the plant path. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook by James Green, a classic and comprehensive guide to the art and craft of herbal pharmacy. Whether […]
Hyssop: A Biblical Remedy
Hyssop is an ancient herb that is an important part of the Western Materia Medica. This combination of information from ancient sources and the modern scientific model lends a unique perspective on this plant and how you can use it in your herbalism practice. In today’s blog post, you’ll learn: The medicinal properties of Hyssop’s […]
What Does “Tonic” Mean Anyway?
I want to talk about a mysterious, often nebulous word that pervades the halls of herbal medicine … “tonic.” What does “tonic” mean anyway? This is a question that has come up for me over and over throughout my years of studying herbal medicine. I took some time to think it through and make sense […]
A Practitioner’s Guide to Topical Herbal Remedies
What do you think of when you hear “topical herbs”? Chances are, you think about putting herbs on your skin, perhaps in the form of creams, salves, or poultices. But this is only one type of topical application. In herbal medicine, topical use is much broader than applying medicine to the skin (though this is […]