Health & Well-Being

Herbal Pharmacy: The Science and Magic of Preparing and Administering Plant Medicine

This exhaustive guide will be the medicine-making bible for clinical herbalists, alternative medical practitioners, and herb enthusiasts, providing detailed step-by-step instructions, how-to information and “why-to” explanations so that herbalists can confidently move from following the recipes of others to designing and preparing their own herbal remedies.

More and more people are turning to herbal remedies for healing, whether they are purchasing the remedies or making them on their own.  Herbalists want their clients to have good experiences with these remedies, both to help them heal and to foster a positive regard for herbs and the healing power of nature by extension. This in-depth guide teaches readers all aspects of making herbal medicines with respect, care, and understanding that are as safe, efficacious, and accurate as possible, and will provide detailed step-by-step instructions to guide even the most inexperienced or anxious medicine maker. The how-to information will be backed up with thorough “why-to” explanations so that herbalists can confidently move from following the recipes of others to designing and preparing their own recipes. 

Individual chapters will address making herbal extractions in water, oils and fats, alcohol, vinegar, honey, glycerin, and other media. Herbal Pharmacy will also cover all the practical aspects of administering herbal remedies: figuring dosage, duration of care, and the specifics of deciding how to apply a remedy to produce the best outcome. This book is sure to be hailed as the standard modern reference for herbal medicine making.  

About The Author

Betzy Bancroft has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades at herbalism schools and events. Betzy is one of the founders of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, where she teaches classes including medicine making and formulation, and is a mentor for clinical interns. She also teaches and often leads herb walks at Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary and is a regular presenter at the Vermont NOFA winter conference. She is on the advisory board of United Plant Savers.

  • Publish Date: April 07, 2026
  • Format: eBook
  • Category: Health & Fitness - Herbal Medications
  • Publisher: Chelsea Green
  • Pages: 368
  • US Price: $31.99
  • CDN Price: $59.00
  • ISBN: 978-1-64502-278-7

Author Bookshelf: Betzy Bancroft, Rosemary Gladstar