Recommended Books

Recommended Reading for the Home Apothecary and Apothecarists

Books to Nourish the Forest Wisdom Within

This reading list was intentionally gathered for those who feel called to deepen their understanding of traditional healing systems, herbalism, and whole-body wellness. Each book offers a window into the wisdom that shapes the way we work at RAW Forest Foods: from the roots of ancestral practice to the evolving path of modern plant work.

You’ll find everything here, from Chinese herbalism, Western herbalism, general health and wellness, and even the deeper, more esoteric philosophies. They’re here to nourish your curiosity, to inspire reverence, and to help guide a more grounded relationship with the plants that support us.

WorldCat links will show you where to find them locally. If purchasing, we encourage exploring AbeBooks.com,  Bookshop.com, or supporting your local bookstore.

Classical and Traditional Chinese Medicine

For those called to explore Chinese herbalism, these books offer more than knowledge. They offer perspective. Inside each one is a window into the wisdom, nuance, and reverence that define this tradition. Whether you're reading your first page or your fiftieth text, they invite you into a deeper relationship with the plants, principles, and people who shaped this healing tradition.

• Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine – Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold (1992)
• Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion – Cheng Xinnong (Ed.) (1999)
• Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies – Dan Bensky and Randall Barolet (1990)
• Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica – Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble (2004)
• Chinese Natural Cures – Henry C. Lu (2004)
• Five Spirits: Alchemical Acupuncture for Psychological and Spiritual Healing – Lorie Eve Dechar (2006)
• Foundations of Internal Alchemy: The Taoist Practice of Neidan – Wang Mu, Translated by Fabrizio Pregadio (2011)
• Pocket Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine – Zong Lan Xu (1996)
• Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: The Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica – Translated by Sabine Wilms (2008)
• The Root of Chinese Qigong: Secrets of Health, Longevity, & Enlightenment – Jwing-Ming Yang (1997)
• The Way of Chinese Herbs – Michael Tierra (1998)
• The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine – Ted Kaptchuk (2000)
• The Yin and Yang of Climate Crisis: Healing Personal, Cultural, and Ecological Imbalance with Chinese Medicine – Brendan Kelly (2015)

Western Herbalism

For those drawn to the rich lineage of Western herbalism, these books offer both root and branch—the foundational teachings and present-day practices. They’re filled with stories, formulas, and insights into how plants have long supported daily wellness, and how they still can.

• The Energetics of Western Herbs (Vol. 1 and 2) – Peter Holmes (1989)
• Healing Wise – Susan S. Weed (1989)
• Herbal Healing for Men: Remedies and Recipes – Rosemary Gladstar (2017)
• The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual – James Green (2000)
• The Male Herbal: The Definitive Health Care Book for Men & Boys (2nd ed.) – James Green (1991)
• Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom in Native American Herbalism – Stephen Harrod Buhner (2006)
• The Way of Herbs – Michael Tierra (1998)

General Health and Wellness

For those tending to their well-being from the roots up, this collection weaves together time-honored teachings and contemporary research. From food and mood to rest and ritual, these books offer conscious ways to nourish the whole self.

• Body Encyclopedia: A Guide to the Psychological Functions of the Muscular System – Lisbeth Marcher and Sonja Fich (2010)
• Holistic Anatomy: An Integrative Guide to the Human Body – Pip Waller Sweet (2008)
• Job’s Body: A Handbook for Bodywork – Deane Juhan (2003)
• Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide – Christopher Hobbs (2021)
• The Master Key: Qigong Secrets for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom – Robert Peng and Rafael Nasser (2014)
• The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation – Thich Nhat Hanh (1999)
• Natural Remedies for Low Testosterone: A Safe and Effective Guide to Restoring Hormone Levels – Stephen Harrod Buhner (2014)
• The Natural Testosterone Plan: For Sexual Health and Energy – Stephen Harrod Buhner (2007)
• Nutrition Essentials for Mental Health: A Complete Guide to the Food-Mood Connection – Leslie Korn (2016)
• Recipes for Self-Healing – Daverick Leggett (1999)
• The Sexual Herbal: Prescriptions for Enhancing Love and Passion – Brigitte Mars (2008)
• The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity: A Modern Practical Guide to the Ancient Way – Daniel Reid (1989)

Outliers and Esoterica

Some teachings live between categories. These are the ones that expand the conversation by offering stories, studies, and perspectives that connect the dots between health, heritage, and the living world around us.

• Atlas of Perfumed Botany – Jean-Claude Ellena (2022)
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body In the Healing Of Trauma – Bessel A. Van der Kolk (2015)
• Colors of the Mountain – Da Chen (2000)
• Fourth Uncle in the Mountain: The Remarkable Legacy of a Buddhist Itinerant Doctor in Vietnam – Quang Van Nguyen and Marjorie Pivar (2004)
• In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction – Gabor Maté (2010)
• The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age – Richard Louv (2011)
• The Noma Guide to Fermentation: Foundations of Flavor – René Redzepi et al. (2018)
• The Plant Hunter's Atlas: A World Tour of Botanical Adventures, Chance Discoveries and Strange Specimens – Ambra Edwards (2021)
• Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England – Tom Wessels (1997)
• Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods – Sandor Ellix Katz (2003)

Let Every Step of Learning Feel Like Coming Home