The Modern Herbal Dispensatory - by Thomas Easley & Steven Horne

Book Synopsis

The beloved best-selling classic for the modern herbalist--a definitive guide to 250 safe and effective herbal medicines, preparations, and single-herb remedies to make at home.

This comprehensive, full-color guide offers detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for making and using approximately 250 all-natural DIY herbal medicines. With practical tips, in-depth preparation techniques, and an inside look at some of the authors' own favorite formulas, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory walks beginners and advanced herbalists alike through:

- The 12 major categories of herbs, from aromatic to sweet
- Herbal preparations the many ways to prepare and use herbs, from capsules and tinctures to standardized extracts and essential oils
- Choosing the best dosage form for each category of herb
- How to harvest, dry, and use fresh herbs
- Extractions terms, equipment, solvents, and calculations, plus how to extract herbs in water, alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar
- Advanced techniques: like percolation extracts, fluid extracts, and soxhlet extracts
- Preparations like oil-based extractions, topical applications, concentrates, lozenges, traditional Chinese methods, and more
- Formulas and dosages: how to design herbal formulas and use herbs safely and effectively
- Herbal insights and need-to-know wisdom, like why different preparations of the same herb affect the body differently; which herbs are medicinal when dry, but could be toxic when fresh; and why beginners typically see more potent results with formulations versus single-herb preparations

The text includes multiple appendices, recommendations for further reading, in-depth full-color photo guides, and a helpful index. With advice on herbal preparations for 100+ illnesses and conditions and a comprehensive materia medica, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is an enduring classic and beloved plant-medicine reference manual for herbalists, natural medicine practitioners, and anyone seeking safe, holistic, at-home care and inexpensive all-natural remedies.

Review Quotes

"This is a phenomenal addition to the herbal bookshelf. It fills the need for a large, comprehensive herbal formulary--the likes of which we have not seen for a hundred years--yet it is so much more than that: a complete guide to the serious use of herbs from the field and forest to the single remedy or formula in clinic."
--Matthew Wood, author of The Earthwise Herbal books

"This is now the standard medicine-making textbook for schools of herbal medicine. It contains more methods and more forms than anything else in print, all clearly explained and demonstrated, with bonus materials on herbal energetics and materia medica."
--Paul Bergner, director, North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, editor,
Medical Herbalism journal

"The Modern Herbal Dispensatory relies on the solid foundation that comes from direct interaction with living, breathing botanicals. To this it adds a specificity gleaned from twenty-first century science: clear guidelines rooted in chemistry and physiology provide definitive answers to questions of extraction method, solvent, timing, and formulation. If you've ever wondered which extraction method to use for a given plant, or felt reluctant to try advanced techniques like percolation, this clear and concise reference guide will become a trusted companion. A must-have for herbal educators, clinicians, and manufacturers alike!"
--Guido Masé, cofounder and codirector, Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism

"Thomas Easley and Steven Horne have done it once again. In the Modern Herbal Dispensatory, historic traditions of medicine making have been captured and shared in a way that empowers the modern lay herbalist to capture the benefits of botanical medicine in the most accessible and potent form. Weaving together folk teachings and scientific perspectives, this book bridges the spectrum of herbal medicine to provide an inspiring, detailed, and practical handbook for herbalists at all levels of experience. This guide should be on the bookshelves of every herbal school, home apothecary, and herbal production facility."
--Emily Ruff, executive director, Florida School of Holistic Living

About the Author

Thomas Easley is coauthor of Modern Herbal Medicine and founder of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine. He is a clinical herbalist and professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Easley integrates modern science and the deep and rich tradition of Western herbalism into a unified and systematic approach to health and healing. Easley emphasizes foods as primary medicine and uses intensive diets as well as stress reduction techniques, nutritional supplements, and exercise to help people achieve their health goals. His approach draws on his extensive clinical experience, which spans 14 years of full-time practice and over 10,000 clients.

Steven Horne is a professional member and former president of the American Herbalists Guild and a professional member of the International Iridology Practitioner's Association, having also served on the board of directors of both organizations. He has spoken at numerous conventions and conferences and has helped to start four different herbal companies, giving him extensive practical experience in formulating and manufacturing herbal extracts. Horne maintains a part-time consulting practice, working one-on-one with clients to help them resolve their health problems.