The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide

Thomas Easley · Steven Horne

Jun 2024 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Lyle Blaker

About this audiobook

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.

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.