If your experience taking herbs has inspired you to learn more about herbalism, this article is for you.
Here, we’ll share helpful information on different types of herbalism practices and the best herbalism resources for beginners, including:
- Books
- Free online information and tools
- Herbalism organizations
- Courses
- Seed sources
- And how to get started identifying herbs in your backyard or local forest
Herbalism is a vast and empowering topic that can lead a person in many directions.
This article will provide you with accessible and affordable starting points to create a solid foundation in beginner’s herbalism.
What is Herbalism? A Brief Overview
Herbalism is the study and practice of using herbs and plants to nourish the whole person and support overall well-being.
Various forms of traditional herbalism have been practiced for millennia throughout the world.
Some traditional herbalism practices that remain popular in Eastern and Western countries today include:
- Ayurveda: The traditional wellness practice of India that combines herbalism with bodywork, nutrition, yoga, meditation, breathwork, and other wellness practices.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Includes various herbs, mushrooms, acupuncture, bodywork, meditation, and Qigong.
- Western herbalism: This is a melting pot of herbal wisdom drawn from the indigenous use of herbs grown in North America and wisdom from European settlers.
There are many other examples from around the globe, including various African, Asian, Australian, South American, Middle Eastern, and Central American herbalism practices.
Wherever people have lived, survived, and thrived, you’ll find evidence of geographically specific herbalism.
What Herbalism Looks Like Today
The practice of herbalism was traditionally passed down from generation to generation, village herbalist to village herbalist, Shaman to Shaman, midwife to midwife, and so on through mentorship, apprenticeship, and hands-on experience.
Today, there are many ways to get an herbal education—from eclectic online or in-person courses to apprenticeships or even university-level training.
There are also several ways to practice various forms and levels of herbalism. Here are a few examples.
Home Herbalist
Someone who practices herbalism at home to support their health and their family's health. A home herbalist may be self-taught, have learned from a relative, or have undergone formal training. Home herbalism is typically the best place to start if you want to learn more about herbs.
Community Herbalist
Also known as a certified herbalist, master herbalist, or traditional herbalist.
This typically requires online, on-site, and/or apprentice-based education, but some people are self-taught. Coursework may or may not be completed through an accredited institution.
It is considered a more traditional or “informal” education in most cases. However, that doesn’t mean these herbalists are lacking in knowledge or skill about folklore, traditional use, and evidence-based herbalism.
Depending on the coursework and training, they are often some of the most knowledgeable about traditional Western herbalism.
These types of herbalists work with the public and may grow and produce their own herbs and herbal products.
Clinical Herbalist
These herbalists go through in-depth formal training in evidence-based, folk, traditional, and other forms of herbalism plus clinical training to work with clients.
Herbal Educator
This type of herbalist focuses solely on providing herbal education versus seeing clients for specific health needs. This designation allows herbalists to freely share their knowledge without concerns about regulations regarding herbal products and health claims.
Herbal Formulator
Herbal formulators focus on formulating herbal products for market. They typically have a background in some type of herbalism training and practice. They may also make or manufacture herbal products.
Herb Farmer or Grower
Farmers or growers who grow herbs to be used in products, personal care and other products. They typically have a background in herbalism and may grow for their own product line, herbal practice, or for market.
Herbalism is also practiced by various doctors and healthcare practitioners, including:
- Acupuncturists or Doctors of Oriental Medicine
- Ayurvedic doctors or practitioners
- Medical doctors or Osteopaths
- Naturopathic Doctors
- Certified Traditional Naturopaths
- Integrative functional medicine doctors or practitioners
- Nutritionists
- Holistic Health Practitioners
- Health Coaches
- Nurse Practitioners
- Midwives, Doulas, and other birth workers
- Chiropractors
- And more
Herbalism is a vast and exciting field of study that can take you almost anywhere in the health, wellness, and natural products spaces.
Plus, learning about herbalism will empower you to take better care of yourself, your family, and the environment.
How To Get Started Learning About Herbalism
As previously mentioned, herbalism is a vast field with many formal or informal education options.
So, where should a beginner start?
People typically begin by studying herbs for personal use as a home herbalist. From there, they may choose to expand into community or clinical herbalism.
Regardless, here are some tips and resources to help you begin your herbalism journey.
As we get started, please remember: if you’re ever concerned about how herbs may affect you or your family’s health or medications, please speak to your doctor or medical professional.
Start By Getting To Know Some Herbs You’ve Used Or Are Curious About
The best way to get started learning about herbs is to choose a few to research and play around with.
These could be:
- Herbs you’ve used before, like something in a Gaia Herbs formula
- Herbs that grow in your yard or local area
- Or even an herb you’ve heard of and want to learn more about
There’s no wrong way to do this.
Just pick five to ten herbs you’re curious about, harvest or order them, start researching their benefits, and use them to make teas, tinctures, salves, poultices, vinegars, culinary dishes, and other elixirs.
Not sure where to start?
Here are 20 “gateway herbs” to begin your herbalism journey:
These herbs are easy to find online, in your local grocery or health food store, or even growing in your garden or wild, provide a range of potential benefits, and are easy to transform into different herbal preparations.
- Calendula
- Cinnamon
- Chamomile
- Chickweed
- Dandelion greens
- Elderberries or Elderflowers
- Echinacea/Cone Flower
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Jewel Weed
- Lemon balm
- Lavender
- Nettles (just watch out for that sting if harvesting wild)
- Oregano
- Peppermint
- Broadleaf plantain leaves
- Sage
- Shiitakes and other wild edible mushrooms
- Thyme
- Turmeric
Since all herbs have nuances and different uses, it is essential to do your research before ingesting any unfamiliar herbs.
For example, Jewelweed works best when applied topically for poison ivy rash.
Turmeric can be taken internally or externally but will stain anything it comes into contact with.
Therefore, it is best to start by listing the herbs you wish to work with, then read up on their properties and applications.
What are the best resources to learn about different herbs?
Let’s start by looking at helpful books to build your herbalism library.
Herbalism Books And Free Resources To Build Your Beginner’s Library
There is plenty of free information about herbalism on YouTube, and various other channels.
However, a good herbal reference guide remains invaluable because the authors can give greater detail on the history, traditional uses, research, uses, growing tips, foraging advice, and applications of specific herbs.
Here are a few tried and true books and free online resources to start building your herbalism library.
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use
Rosemary Gladstar is known as the “Godmother of American Herbalism,” and this is her beginner’s guide.
This is an excellent book to start with because it teaches you how to know, grow, harvest, and use 33 beginner’s herbs, such as chamomile, aloe vera, and garlic to make tinctures, oils, and creams.
Herbal Materia Medica by Michael Moore
This free download from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine provides detailed information on 500 major botanicals, with the preferred forms and methods of preparation, strengths, solutions, the most common adult dosages, environmental status, and potential dangers.
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide
This is an excellent, full-color guide on turning fresh and dried herbs into various tinctures, capsules, salves, vinegars, ear drops, poultices, tooth powders, essential oils, flower essences, and more.
The authors are both herbalists with years of experience and have included 250 herbal recipes you can make at home.
Medicine Making By Herbalista
This free site offers a wealth of information, tutorials, recipes, and more from a practicing herbalist on how to turn herbs into tinctures, capsules, salves, poultices, and more.
Topics available include:
- Medicine-making supplies/gear list
- Measurement conversions
- Distillation basics
- Tincture instruction
- Hot glyceride extracts
- And various worksheets on maceration, oil infusions, topical preparations, and much more.
If you’re looking for a free online resource to help you get started making your own herbal products, this is an excellent place to start.
Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants & Herbs of Eastern & Central N. America: Third Edition
This best-selling field guide is a must-have for those interested in identifying herbs and plants.
The authors offer detailed information, including over seven-hundred images, on the key traits, habitats, uses, and warnings for more than 530 of the most significant native and alien species of medicinal plants in eastern and central North America.
Growing Plant Medicine (and other books by Richo Cech)
If you're interested in growing herbs, this is a fantastic book.
Topics covered include:
- Theory and practice of natural and organic garden techniques
- Bioregional medicinal plant recommendations
- Garden plans and materia medica
- How to arrange herbs by plant families for optimal growth
- And other herb growing advice, tips, and techniques
The author, Richo Cech, is an archaeologist, ethnobotanist, seed saver, and expert on the cultivation, processing, and usage of medicinal plants.
Other books by Cech include Making Plant Medicine, Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs, and The Medicinal Herb Grower.
Herbalism Organizations
These organizations are crucial in providing education, communication, research, watchdog services, and setting standards for herbalists and herbal products within the industry.
They’re also helpful for finding herbal courses, mentorship, apprenticeships, workshops, community, and other education opportunities.
#1: The American Herbalist Guild
This organization was founded in 1989 by a group of dedicated international herbalists and is an excellent resource for herbal education.
They offer various herbalism training programs and educational resources. Plus, using their site, you can find:
- A directory of herbal schools
- A clinical practitioner
- Become a clinical herbalist through their membership programs
- Find apprenticeship programs
- View upcoming herbalism conferences
- Attend online herbal webinars
- Learn about legal and regulatory issues pertaining to herbalists
- And much more
#2: The American Botanical Council
The American Botanical Council, also known as ABC, was founded in 1988 to serve the public, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, industry, and media.
This organization focuses more on research, monographs (official and detailed papers on herbs that are used as reference material by academia, healthcare, manufacturing, and regulation), publishing books, newsletters, and their peer-reviewed quarterly Journal: HerbClip; offering updates and commentary on events, media, and industry-related issues, botanical adulteration prevention, and sustainability versus herbalism training.
ABC information is available free and through various membership programs. This is an excellent resource to consider as part of your herbal education, especially if you plan on becoming a professional herbalist.
Herbalism Schools And Courses
There are many herbal education options available. The following are three examples of herbal schools that cater to all levels of aspiring herbalists.
Science And Art Of Herbalism
These are Rosemary Gladstar’s herbal home study courses. Some are available online, and others, such as her original Science And Art Of Herbalism course, are in printed format.
The Chestnut School of Herbalism
The Chestnut School of Herbalism was founded by Juliet Blankespoor, a plant-lover with a degree in botany and over 30 years of experience teaching and writing about herbalism, medicine making, and organic herb cultivation.
Chestnut is a great choice for beginners interested in foraging, growing herbs, and making herbal elixirs.
The School of Natural Healing
Originally established in 1953, The School of Natural Healing has been educating home and community herbalists for decades.
Today, they offer various levels of home study herbalism courses from the Family herbalist program, intermediate classes, and a Master herbalist program.
This is a very small sampling of the herbal education courses available for budding herbalists. The organizations listed above also contain helpful directories.
Seed Resources for Growing Your Own Herbs
Many herbalists develop an interest in growing the herbs they use at home or professionally.
However, not all herb seeds are easy to find at your local nursery or big box store.
Here are some reputable suppliers of high-quality herb and botanical seeds.
- Strictly Medicinals
- Johnny’s Seeds
- Fedco Seeds
- Richters Seeds
Where To Get Herbalism Supplies And Gear
Unless you use a big e-commerce site, you’ll likely have to shop around for the best herbal gear.
The books and courses listed above can advise you on what you’ll need. However some common gear for beginners may include:
- An herbal press
- Candy thermometer for making lozenges
- Jars and containers
- Droppers
- Mortar and pestle
- A pressure cooker
- Alcohol or glycerine
- Funnels
- Raw materials
The seed retailers listed above may carry certain supplies, and stores that cater to homesteaders and DIYers, such as Frontier Co-op and Azure Standard, are good resources.
Finally, Use Gaia Herbs As A Resource!
Our Seeds of Knowledge blog and Herb Reference Guide are chock-full of information on the traditional and evidence-based use of hundreds of Eastern and Western herbs.
Curious about where the herbs in Gaia Herbs’ formulas come from? Check out the Meet Your Herbs—the world’s first herb traceability platform.
Just scan the “Herb ID” code on your Gaia Herbs product, and you’ll instantly see where each herb was sourced.
In closing, the more we understand the world around us, the more we’ll want to take care of it…and each other.
That’s what herbalism is all about, supporting the health and empowerment of the people and the planet to create a better future for all.
We wish you the best of luck on your journey to herbalism!
