Athenaeum
A Place for study of the arts
In ancient Greece students of the arts gathered in the temples of Athena to exchange ideas, philosophies, and techniques.  The purpose of the Athenaeum in Ravenwynd is the same.  Here you will find things from many different traditions.  And we hope you will find something useful to you on your path.
One Witch's Herbal Bookshelf
(Some prime picks from SHE)
If you can't find these books in your local bookstore, if they are out of print, or you'd rather buy used to conserve resources, may I suggest www.powells.com.  This the best place I've found for finding hard to find books, fast! ~AP

The Complete Medicinal Herbal
by: Penelope Ody
Published: Dorling Kindersley
ISBN: 156458187X

Notes:  Oversized hardcover, found in the remainder piles of a large chain bookstore.  Easy to use, not terribly in depth, but has wonderful photographs that include clear images of the Plant structure including seeds, flowers and other aerial parts, along with the specimen shown in a dried state. Includes some Chinese medicinals.



The World Encyclopedia of Spices
by: Sallie Morris & Lesley Mackley
Published:  Hermes House
ISBN: 1840384328

Notes:  Although primarily a cookbook, has some reference to medicinal applications.   It covers a wide variety of common and exotic spices, a subject overlooked in many "herb" books.   Wonderful comprehensive photographs.  Another oversized remainder table find, paperback. 



A Modern Herbal
by: Mrs. M. Grieve
Published: Barnes & Noble
ISBN: 0880299215

Notes:  Extremely thorough, but somewhat dated herbal information, originally published in 1931. However, this book continues to be an endless source of herbal lore as well as a look at herbal medicine as practiced over the past century, and most of the information still finds itself contemporary.  Can be rather difficult to use, as it is organized solely alphabetically by plant name,
with no index relating to symptom or affliction.



Back to Eden
by: Jethro Kloss
Published: Woodbridge (mine is an older copy)
ISBN: 0912800127

Note:  Another oldie but goodie (orig. pub. 1939).  Where else would you find an herbal cure for biliousness, I ask you?!



The Herb Book
by: John Lust
Published: Bantam
ISBN: 0553267701

Notes:  I like to say that the Lust book is a must, if for nothing other than the wonderful concise glossary and simple botany lesson in the beginning.   The text is clearly descriptive, but the simple line drawings are not always helpful.  Has easy to use cross references to symptoms/ailments as well
as the proper English names as well as the vernacular.   Latin names are featured as well in the text. Has a fairly good section on legend & lore, along with information about dying, scents and cosmetics.



The Way of Herbs
by: Michael Tierra
Published: Pocket
ISBN: 0671724037

Notes: Has an excellent applications section, as well as some discussion about diet, health and balance.  Text features some good biochemical component information.



Herbal Rituals
by: Judith Berger
Published: St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN: 0312243014

Notes:  I adore this book!  Takes you through one woman's year of wellness.  Can't say enough, other than get this book!



10 Essential Herbs
by: Lalitha Thomas
Published: Hohm Press
ISBN: 0934252483

Notes:  This book covers just 10 commonly used herbs in very good detail, features the author's personal experiences in real life scenarios.  A good household remedy quick reference.



Asian Health Secrets
by: Letha Hadady
Published: Three Rivers Press
ISBN:  0609801058

Notes: A very comprehensive guide to Asian Herbal Medicine.  Features a forward by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.  Written in a format that makes sense to my rather Occidental mindset.  The only drawback is there is no pronunciation guide to the medicinals featured, though the names are spelled
phonetically in English, even so, I must admit my Chinese is horrid!



Earl Mindell's New Herb Bible
by: Earl Mindell
Published: Fireside, a division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN:  0684856395

Notes:  A more modern approach to herbs as both remedy and supplement, with an eye to their traditional uses.  Brief, concise descriptions with the added feature of fairly thorough contraindication/cautionary notations.  Advice given is approached holistically.



Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
by: Michael Murray & Joseph Pizzorno
Published: Prima
ISBN:  0761511571

Notes:  An excellent resource organized primarily according to symptom / ailment.  This volume's beginning information is a comprehensive overview of health and its maintenance, proactively holistic rather than reactionary.



Traditional Home Remedies;  The Old Farmer's Almanac
by:  Martha White
Published:  Time-Life
ISBN:  0783548680

Notes:  A wonderful little compendium of folk remedies garnered from years worth of Old Farmers Almanacs, a staple publication of earth stewards for well over 200 years.  I'm particularly fond of the recipe for Cucumber Facial.



The Herb Bible
by:  Peter McHoy & Pamela Westland
Published: Barnes & Noble
ISBN:  1566195691

Notes:  The botanical drawings are wonderful!  While not a comprehensive herbal listing by any stretch of the imagination, it covers the basics that are easily cultivated in one's garden.  Contains very useful planting and propagation information, as well as harvesting and preserving tips.  Features some limited usage and application data..



Folk Remedies for Common Ailments
by:  Anne McIntyre
Published:  Gaia Books
ISBN: 1550136119

Notes:  This small book lists a limited number of herbs and their uses (Approx. 50 or so), but is a great reference for history and lore.



Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices
by: John Heinerman
Published: Reward / Parker / Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0133102106

Notes: A very good reference guide that includes a wide variety of subject matter, with notations on practical application and usage. Lots of personal anecdotes by the author. This author has several titles, however, some of the information contained is redundant. 



Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
by: John Heinerman
Published: Reward / Parker / Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0133858405

Notes: See above 



Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Juices, Teas & Tonics
By John Heinerman Published: Reward / Parker / Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0132341964

Notes: A wonderful resource for the benefits of tonics and teas. Well organized index. 



The Healing Foods
By: Patricia Hausman & Judith Benn Hurley
Published: Rodale
ISBN: 0878578129

Notes: Really good information about the curative powers of the foods we eat and the importance of balanced nutrition. Offers practical, easy to follow menus and instructions. 



New Choices in Natural Healing
By: Edited by Bill Gottlieb / Editor-in-Chief, Prevention Magazine
Published: Rodale
ISBN: 0875962572

Notes: This volume is organized alphabetically by symptom/ailment and focuses on a variety of treatment approaches for each, includes: aromatherapy, homeopathy, imagery, nutrition, reflexology & massage, Ayervedic and Chinese methods, etc., along with a description of each different therapy style. 



Prescription for Nutritional Healing
By: James F. Balch & Phyllis A. Balch
Published: Avery
ISBN: 0895297272

Notes: Like the cover of this book says, it's a practical reference to remedies using vitamins, minerals, herbs and food supplements. The main focus of this book is vitamins and food supplements, but also contains some very useful herbal information.



Sleeping with a Sunflower
By: Louise Riotte
Published: Portland House
ISBN: 0517202093

Notes: a delightful little book containing old fashioned gardening lore. Has wonderful information about planting, harvesting, recipes and remedies. 



The Book of Herbal Teas
By: Sara Perry
Published: Chronicle
ISBN: 0811813371

Notes: A lovely book with some very basic information about brewing and drinking teas, along with some discussion of the symbolic and ritualistic aspects of teas. 



Aromatic Teas and Herbal Infusions
By: Laura Fronty
Published: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 0517708760

Notes: I have to admit I bought this book for its pretty pictures, though the limited information offered is good as well. 



The Pocket Guide to Herbs
By: Ann Kruger
Published: Parkgate
ISBN: 1855853612

Notes: A field guide in a good, thin, sturdy format. Even though the illustrations are drawings and not photographs, it is easy to use, if you already know what herb you're looking at. Not the best identification guide. 



Essential Aromatherapy; A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
By: Susan Worwood
Published: New World Library
ISBN: 188003266X

Notes: A great size, with easily cross referenced information that makes this my personal favorite quick reference guide when shopping for essential oils. 



Ancient Healing
By: Various Contributors
Published:  Publications Int’l
ISBN:  0785324313

Notes:  An overview of a few of the various healing practices from ancient times, written by a collection of scholars.  Some of the writing is a little subjective.



Natural Therapies: What they are, What they do
By:  Mark Evans
Published: Sebastian Kelly
ISBN:  1840810769

Notes:  A well illustrated introductory guide that de-mystifies body work for those that might be unsure what the experience would entail and approaches its subject's image as positive and healthy.  A limited number of practices are featured.



The Guide to Natural Living
By Mark Evans
Published: Lorenz Books
ISBN: 0754803449

Notes:  Another well illustrated introductory guide to Herbalism, Massage, Reflexology, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Moxibustion, Aromatherapy, Yoga, Meditation, and other techniques.  Contains some excellent practical and simple suggestions toward natural ways to health and its maintenance.



The Good Herb
By: Judith Benn Hurley (also co-authored:  The Healing Foods)
Published:  Morrow
ISBN:  0688113249

Notes:  While this is primarily a cookbook, it is full of interesting information regarding herbs, their uses and preparation in foods.  The recipes are great!



Mother Nature's Herbal
By:  Judy Griffin
Published:  Llewellyn
ISBN:  1567183409

Notes:  This book has a little of everything, recipes and remedies, tonics and teas, lore and stories, household hints and tips on gardening.



Flower Essence Repertory
By:  Patricia Kaminski & Richard Katz
Published Flower Essence Society
ISBN:  0963130617
 

Notes:  An excellent guide to both North American and English flower essences.  Organized for easy cross reference.



Herbal Treasures
By:  Phyllis V. Shaudys
Published:  Garden Way
ISBN:  0882666185

Notes:  A very good book for creative hand crafts and kitchen projects involving the use of herbs, essential oils and potpourri.


Herbal Vinegar
By:  Maggie Oster
Published:  Storey
ISBN:  0882668439

Notes:  Great recipes for flavored vinegars, mustards and chutneys as well as some great pickles! But it also has wonderful household hints, cosmetics and healthful tips. 


The Country Diary of Garden Lore
By:  Julia Jones & Barbara Deer
Published:  Summit
ISBN:  0671728822

Notes:  A charming little book that features quotations and lore about gardens, flowers and herbs.



A Literary Herbal
By:  Avril Rodway
Published:  Leprechaun Library/ Putnam
ISBN:  399125450

Notes:  A very small illustrated gift book featuring famous quotations.



A Gardener's Bouquet of Quotations
By:  Maria Polushkin Robbins
Published:  Ecco Press
ISBN:  0880015896

Notes:  a fabulous book of gardening quotations, organized seasonally.



Wicca Garden
By: Gerina Dunwich
Published:  Citadel Press
ISBN: 0806517778

Notes:  While some lambaste Ms. Dunwich as a producer of populist fluff, I found this book to be very well researched and fairly thorough, giving magical historical references to herbs and plants not found in many more mainstream herb books. 



The Magical Household
By Scott Cunningham & David Harrington
Published:  Llewellyn
ISBN: 0875421245

Notes:  While we are all fairly familiar with the various works of Scott Cunningham, this particular book has come in very handy for household lore.  Has quite a lot of herbal applications included.


Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
By:  Scott Cunningham
Published:  Llewellyn
ISBN:  0875421229

Notes:  Another wonderful book by Scott Cunningham focusing on the
magical and ritual uses of herbs and their correspondences with
various energies.  Very little medicinal information as its main function is regarding magical purposes, but does contain some cautionary advice. 



A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook
By: Patricia Telesco
Published:  Llewellyn
ISBN:  1567187072

Notes:  Another book that is primarily a cookbook, but has quite a bit of food and herb folklore within its pages.



The New Guide to Spices
By:  Sallie Morris   (also co-authored:  The World Encycl. of  Spices)
Published:  Hermes House
ISBN:  184038073X

Notes:  A good guide to spices that might not be considered “common”, I like it because of this factor, along with its sections on spice mixtures, curries, sambals and masalas.   Beautifully illustrated throughout with good photographs of the spices in their many forms, plus the text contains some
historical background info.



Great Garden Formulas, the Ultimate Book of Mix-it-Yourself Concoctions for your Garden
By Joan Benjamin & Deborah L. Martin, Editors
Published: Rodale
ISBN:  0875968481

Notes:  Full of great information from weed and insect control, bird
feeders, herbs and home remedies, composting, crafts and cooking, tons of great stuff!  A wonderful reference guide for folks that have a large yard
or even a small container garden - plus the home remedies section has
a little something for everyone!



The Complete Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicine
By Tom Williams
Published:  Barnes & Noble
ISBN:  0760702403

Notes:  Well illustrated guide geared to those unfamiliar with the methods used in Chinese medicine, based on influences, elements and hemispheric zones.  Good basic reference material.



The Complete Family Guide to Homeopathy
By: Christopher Hammond
Published:  Penguin Studio
ISBN:  067086157X

Notes:  A good beginning guide to homeopathic remedies, including a fairly thorough overview of the most commonly found remedies.  Easy to use quick reference charts, lots of illustrations.



The Complete Illustrated Guide to Reflexology
By:  Inge Dougans
Published:  Barnes & Noble
ISBN:  0760702381

Notes:  Like the title says, this book is very well illustrated with big easy to understand photographs showing reflexology touch, along with plenty of anatomical drawings of the foot nerve zones and corresponding bodily relationships.  Good basic information.



The Complete Illustrated Guide to Massage
By:  Stewart Mitchell
Published:  Barnes & Noble
ISBN:  076070749

Notes:  This book is very similar to the one listed above and are part of the same series produced by B&N, excellently illustrated with good thorough basic information.


back
home
next