I will be doing a three-part series on natural alternatives to prescription drugs. I am starting off with some basic reading materials that would augment the understanding of what I will be imparting over the next three weeks, if anyone wants to dive in. These should all be available on Amazon.
Here we go:
1) “Natural Alternatives to Over the Counter and Prescription Drugs” by Michael T. Murray
2) “Prescription for Drug Alternatives: All Natural Options for Better Health Without the Side Effects” by James Balch, Mark Stengler and Robin Young Balch
3) “The Herbal Apothecary” by J.J. Purcell
4) “500 Time Tested Herbal Remedies” by Linda White
5) “The Modern Herbal Dispensatory” by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne
6) “Plant Magic” by Christine Buckley
7) “Iwigara” by Enrique Salmon
8) “A Handbook of Native American Herbs” by Alma Hutchens
The first two books listed seem to be the top two sellers on the market. I do know that the second book (written by the Balchs) has been preceded by tons of their other publications; these authors are “time tested” and very much “on target!”
J. J. Pursell’s publication, “The Herbal Apothecary,” is the result of her working with medicinal herbs for better than two decades. She is, by profession, an acupuncturist as well as a naturopathic physician. She has trained herbalists all over the world and this book (backed by research) is comprehensive, visually appealing and would be a great foundation for anyone endeavoring to educate themselves on natural remedies and cures.
Dr. Linda White, “500 Time Tested Home Remedies,” is an all-natural remedy and holistic medicine expert. Her book is timeless and straightforward as a guide to making your own natural medicines, and the book denotes how so many of the recommended ingredients are affordable and accessible even at our local grocery stores.
Easley and Horne have put together “The Modern Herbal Dispensatory”—this colorful, comprehensive and scientific guide to herbal medicine. It focuses on showing readers how to make 250 different medications from growing herbs to harvesting and preparing them for medicinal use.
Christine Buckley, “Plant Magic,” writes: “There is nothing I desire to understand more than the plants that make it possible for me to breathe!” Christine details in her book how to respectfully interact with plants in nature, how to dry and store them, and how to make medicines at home. She utilizes them as tea or can make healing balms out of them and she instructs on how these can strengthen your immune system, calm a stomach or even restore sexual health.
Enrique Salmon, “Iwigara,” is an ethnobotanist belonging to the Raranuri Indian Tribe and maintains that all life forms are interconnected. He reveals and educates in 80 plants from North America and how they can be used as food and/or medicines. Using botanical illustrations and photos (and listed in easy-to-read alphabetical order), Salmon breaks down each plant’s family, season, region, uses, health benefits and more. He also acknowledges that American Indian knowledge often is transmitted through legends and stories, so he includes narratives about each plant so readers can become better acquainted via recalling the attached stories with each.
Alma Hutchens wrote the oldest and most timeless book on our list: “A Handbook of Native American Herbs.” It is a pocket guide to 125 medicinal plants and their uses. While not as contemporary as some of the other books on the list, as it was written in 1992, Hutchens is truly an expert in her field and her authoritative guide is a classic when it comes to natural remedy literature, to be certain. This is a “must read” in order to learn more about the herbs native to our country.