Herbology encompasses two main terms of identification: an herbalist and an herbologist. An herbologist studies herbs and plants, and an herbalist uses them for magical and medicinal benefits. An herbologist can be an herbalist, and an herbalist can be (and likely is) an herbologist. Using these two distinguishing factors, we have two sections of recommendations—one for medicinal and the other general.
We will not be using the term magical or magic here; for some, it is all magic.
Regional / Local books should not be overlooked as useful references to help understand your immediate environment of herbs.
Herbologist
The Gardener’s Handbook of Garden Herbs – Hutchison, Frances – tinyurl.com/1hunic0l
Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal: A Practical Guide for Healthy Living Using Nature’s Most Powerful Plants – Balick, Michael; Mattern, Vicki; M.D., Andrew Weil – tinyurl.com/hy1btru0
The Complete Book of Herbs – Bremmess, Lesley – tinyurl.com/13lekrqf
The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs – Digest, Editors of Reader’s – tinyurl.com/ka36qe6z
Herbs: Detailed Plant Guide – Ginis, Elizabeth- tinyurl.com/2jx5l5ve
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs – Press, Rodale – tinyurl.com/1g5wzjnz
Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners – Stearn, William Thomas – tinyurl.com/u5ahqext
Herbalist
The Practical Encyclopedia of Natural Healing – Mark Bricklin – tinyurl.com/nottqgz4
Growing & Using the Healing Herbs – Gaea Weiss, Shandor Weiss – tinyurl.com/yovquown
Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants – Steve Brill, Evelyn Dean – tinyurl.com/bpq5m5rs
Prescription for Herbal Healing – Phyllis A. Balch, Robert Rister – tinyurl.com/1l11zsqz
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies – Nicole Apelian, Claude Davis – tinyurl.com/lai4k0u2
The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual – James Green, Ajana Green – tinyurl.com/1kzn5qj6
Encyclopedia of Natural Magic – John Michael Greer – tinyurl.com/17qeatua
Magic and Medicine of Plants – Reader’s Digest Association – tinyurl.com/tw1rt1g1
The Druid Alliance Of North America 