If you’re a mother/parent of a teenage girl, a woman, or even a teenage girl wanting to get into Apothecary or Home Herbalism, these are the 2 books you’ll love to get started.
There’s an overwhelming number of herbalism books out there, but these 2 just get it right! Rosemary Gladstar (the author of these books) has been coined “The God Mother of American Herbalism,” and there is reason for that.
What makes these book so great to start with is that Rosemary Gladstar makes Herbalism very simple by using the “simpler’s method”of measuring.
So instead of using the metric system, she instead measures by parts. For example, here is a tea recipe in parts: 3 parts chamomile, 2 parts oats, 1 part lemon balm.
The photo below displays Gladstar’s explanation of the simpler’s method, which is published in her book “Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide.” I love how the simpler’s method of measuring in parts is a folk tradition that dates back to when Herbalist didn’t have specific measuring tools. Rosemary also explains how the Simpler’s method is not “always perfectly exact” but will still make “excellent herbal products.”
What are the 2 best books to start Home Herbalism for Her?
1.Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use
This book beautifully teaches you how to make all the herbal remedies and supplements using the “simpler’s method”!! The pages are filled with colorful photos, recipes, and examples of home herbalism.
Rosemary teaches you how to make the following:
- herbal teas
- syrups
- Oils
- Salves
- Tinctures
- Herbal Pills
- Baths, Poultices, and Compresses
Rosemary also gives you valuable knowledge on the medicinal and therapeutic properties of the most effective herbs and spices (33 to be exact), a brief insight on the history of each, AND how to grow each each herb. She also provides specific recipes and uses for each herb listed.
Here is the list of the 33 Herbs and Spices that Rosemary explains in the book:
- Basil
- Cayenne
- Cinnamon
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Aloe Vera
- Burdock
- Calendula
- Chamomile
- Chickweek
- Dandelion
- Elder
- Goldenseal
- Hawthorn
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Licorice
- Marsh Mallow
- Mullein
- Nettle
- Oats
- Peppermint
- Plantain
- Red Clover
- St. John’s Wort
- Spearmint
- Valerian
- Yarrow
Moreover, I strongly recommend purchasing Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide for any home herbalist. As a beginner or expert, this book will come in handy as your go-to kitchen resource for herbal remedies and aids. You can purchase here.
2. Herbal Healing for Women: Simple Home Remedies for Women of All Ages by Rosemary Gladstar
Herbal Healing for Women provides herbal remedies, aids, and supplements for women of all stages from menstruation to menopause.
As a mother of a teenage daughter, Herbal Healing for Women really hits home for me.
My daughter commonly experiences menstrual cramps, and although it’s not severe, it’s still painful enough for her to want painkillers.
I really disliked giving her Tylenol and other pain killers, and so when I found this book, I felt so much optimism to giving her a natural remedy for her menstrual cramps.
Gladstar explains specific herbs that are wonderful for menstruel cramps such as yarrow, turmeric and many others. After creating a menstrual tea for cramps and giving it to my daughter, she said it helped her to relieve the pain. This was a God send! Thank you, Rosemary Gladstar.
What I like about Herbal Healing for Women is that Rosemary Gladstar again uses the “simpler’s way” of creating herbal remedies. I also love how Rosemary weaves in personal stories of her life as an herbalist.
One inspiring story she tells was about a time that she went to a older women’s wellness retreat. In a sharing circle, the women told their stories about their Rite of Passage or more so, lack of a Rite of Passage.
Rosemary realized that most women did NOT go through a Rite of Passage into womanhood that she did not as well. And this sparked her desire to spread awareness of having Rites of Passage for daughters when they get their menstruation.
In the book, Gladstar provides a list of ways to have a Rite of Passage for your daughter such as creating a family ceremony and sacred ritual.
This has also sparked my desire to give my daughters a Rite of Passage when they get their menstruation. Even though my eldest has already gone through her first menstruation years ago, I am still planning to have a small Rite of Passage for her because she deserves one. And she is open to it!
Moreover, I highly recommend Gladstar’s Herbal Healing for Women for all women and especially for parents with daughters.
You can purchase the book here.
Before you go, let me know in the comments if you’ve read these books and your thoughts about them. I’d love to hear from you.
Also, how is your herbalism journey? What are you favorite healing remedies for women?
All the best,
