Herbal Materia Medica Resources
Updated: Sep 19
While there is seemingly infinite information on the internet about any subject you can imagine, including herbalism, it can be difficult to find reliable and well-researched resources about different herbs.
That's one reason I have been writing a slew of materia medica blog posts about various herbs. My goal with these posts is that we can all have access to more reliable and easy to navigate online information about our favorite herbs. This is also part of the work I do managing the blog for my herb school, Artemisia Academy.
If you're wondering what a materia medica is, it's an herbalist's compilation of research and knowledge about the herbs they use in their apothecary. This can include information read in books, learned in classes and gleaned from personal interaction with the plants themselves.
As part of my herbal education with Artemisia Academy, I've compiled over 80 materia medica documents about common herbs and turned some of that research into blog posts to share online. If you're an herbalist yourself, I highly recommend cultivating your own personal materia medica about the herbs you work with. I have a Google Drive folder where I keep all my files, but use whatever organizational system works best for you.
Herbal Materia Medica
For ease of access, here is a hyperlinked list of all of the herbal materia medica blog posts I've written, all of which can be found on Artemisia Academy's website. My approach to herbalism includes an astrological and magical perspective that goes beyond what's taught at Artemisia. Because of this, I'm planning to create expansions of some of my materia medica blog posts to be shared via this blog. They'll include lots of witchy and astrological tidbits about my favorite herbs, so stay tuned for more as time moves forward!
Calendula:
Calendula: An Herbal Ally and Long Season Bloomer
Cayenne:
Spicy and Supportive: The Herbal Virtues of Cayenne
Cleavers:
Cleavers: The Herb That Clings to You
Nettles:
Stinging Nettle - A Nutritive Powerhouse for Spring Allergies
Oats:
Oats: The Soothing Cereal of Herbs
Plantain:
Plantain: A Naturalized Gift from Earth
Rosemary:
Kitchen Herbs for Cold Care: Rosemary
Rosemary: A Classic Kitchen Herb with Numerous Benefits
Skullcap:
Skullcap: A Witchy Herb to Calm Your Nerves
St. John's Wort:
Medicine Making and Magic with St. John's Wort
A Sunny Savior: Herbal Components of St. John's Wort
Yarrow:
The Blessings of Boundaries: Yarrow's Medicinal Properties
Herbal Books for More Research
Besides forming direct relationships with the herbs in your apothecary, developing a well-stocked library is a great way to build your knowledge and understanding of the herbs with whom you work. Here is a list of some of my favorite resources for researching the qualities, personalities and functions of herbs:
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier
A Working Herbal Dispensary by Lucy Jones
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman
The Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman
Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra
A Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper
Herbal Vade Mecum by Gazmend Skenderi
Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech
The Earthwise Herbal series by Matthew Wood
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore (he has written many regional books, so if you live somewhere other than the Pacific West I recommend getting the book most relevant for your geographic region)
A Peterson Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (again - get the Peterson book most relevant for your region as there are many)
Disclaimer: Information presented on this webpage is for educational purposes only, and does not include the diagnosis and treatment of disease nor replace the advice of a licensed physician. Please refer to a licensed health professional for any illness or persistent symptoms before using herbal remedies.
Herbs can sometimes cause discomfort or side effects, and may interact adversely with pharmaceutical medications. Do not use herbs internally without the approval of a doctor or medical professional if you are currently on medications or have a history of medical conditions.