Introduction to herbal research
Unsettling and Decolonizing our herbal studies
If the idea of doing herbal research doesn't blow your hair back, it's probably because you don't feel excited about your herbal resources.
If you'd like to dive into your own herbal research, check our free course about doing herbal research. It contains loads of information, resources, and clickable links that will help you build a solid foundation for your own herbal research and your own herbal library.
Check it out, and please let me know what you think.
It's very important to draw from a diverse set of resources when you do any kind of research, and that's very true with herbs, as well.
There are a lot of different learning styles. Maybe you prefer audio more than text. Maybe you prefer text more than video. Maybe you need to actually try something out for yourself before you really understand it. Whatever your learning style is, there's herbal info out there that I think you'll enjoy.
Whether you're an experiential learner, or you prefer to read about it. Whether you like to work alone or in groups. Whether you prefer a silent library or the chaos of public events. I encourage you to find your own learning style and lean into it.
There are herbal worlds out there to be explored :)
Dive in!
Holistic herbalism sees the inherent interconnection between being an herbalist and being a steward of the Earth. It is simply not possible to be a holistic herbalist without being an earth keeper. We are a part of this earth, and so are the plants. The way we treat the earth effects our herbalism. Our herbalism effects the way we treat the earth. It's important to keep this in mind, as we check out all the resources here.
This is the information age. We have boundless sources of herbal information to choose from. Often the trick is weeding through it all and finding what's really useful.
Over time, you'll find your own favorite resources.
Keep an open mind, and take everything with a grain of salt.
There's a lot of great stuff out there.
Let's get started!
So much of the historical herbal information that we have available to us in Western culture was achieved through the violence and greed of colonization.
It's so important that we decipher this puzzle and recognize the inherent racism and genocide that is interwoven with so much of this historical ethnobotanical information. The collection of this cultural information has, so often, led to the habitat destruction and cultural annihilation that are the calling cards of colonization.
We must pay close attention any time we're dealing with English-language herbals that talk about working with the plants of other herbal traditions.
It's so important that we look to the Indigenous practitioners of any herbal culture or tradition when we are studying and working with the herbs of that tradition. We must respect cultural traditions and avoid closed practices.
Every culture in the world has a relationship with the plants. Our love of nature and our relationship with the plants connects us with people and ecosystems around the world. As western herbalists, we have a responsibility to recognize our role in the balance of things. Western herbalism is inherently colonized, and the western herbal community is just beginning to look at that. It's bound to be a long journey, and I'm excited for the exploration as we all work together to seek out and create tools to help us navigate this important time.
Here are some resources to help us:
AHG Diversity Equity and Inclusion resource lists
This resource list includes lessons, webinars, articles, and other resources. Examples include: The Plants of Black Freedom with Leah Penniman, Trauma-Informed Herbalism in Our Communities with Leslie Chaison, Anna Gilbert-Muhammad, Quai Nystrom, Tiran Sahar, and My Mother’s Roots: The Tale of an Immigrant’s Herbal Journey by Jocelyn Perez-Blanco and so much more.
The AHG Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee has also gathered a sampling of some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resources to help us unravel the racism and colonization in our own mind and habits.
You can find these resources here.
The Sustainable Herb Project series on ethics and equity when sourcing herbs
The Sustainable Herb Project hosts a series called SHP Toolkit. There are a lot of interesting webinars, lessons, and conversations included in this toolkit.
Hear from the people who harvest our herbs
Our herbal choices effect people and communities around the world. Check out this conversation with some of the global producers of our herbs. They talk about the value certifications bring to their companies and communities, and also the challenges they encounter in meeting these requirements. They also talk about innovative solutions and potential areas of collaboration.
You can find this conversation here.
Hear from the people who manage the standards and certifications
The Sustainable Herb Project hosted a panel discussion with herb certification organizations about issues of economic equity and community empowerment for the people who bring us these herbs. This conversation is titled Certifications as a Tool for Sustainable Sourcing in the Botanical Industry.
My own herbal education has been very colonized, and because of that, this resource list is a work in progress. I recognize that there's a lot that's missing, and I'm committed to filling in the gaps in my learning as we go along.
I recognize that decolonizing/unsettling my mind and my habits is a lifelong journey, and I look forward to adding to this library of resources as I learn more.
I'm excited to see what we come up with when we put our resources together.
Do you have a favorite herbal book or resource recommendation? If you have any resources to add, please let me know. You can email me at jenna@wilddandelion.co
Inside this lesson series, you'll find...
The Index of Herbal Resources is a collection of some of my favorite herbal resources that are available online. Finding your own favorite resources requires you to do your own research, use your common sense, and proceed with caution. There is a lot of information here for you to consider. Some of the research represented here contradicts other information that's represented here. That's the world of herbal research ;) Remember, this is not Wild Dandelion's research. .We just compiled these resources for you ;) You get to make your own herbal choices.
Always consult your healthcare team before beginning any herbal protocol. Stay safe.
Made available online by Paul Bergner and MedHerb
HerbMedPro
an interactive, electronic herbal database provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers, and general public. It is made available by the American Botanical Council.
HerbClip
HerbClip™ provides summaries and critical reviews of seminal articles covering research, regulation, marketing and responsible use of medicinal plants. This database is easily searchable and available to the public for free. It is made available by the American Botanical Council.
European Medicines Agency
searchable database of herbal scientific papers, among other things.
This link will take you to an entry about dandelion. Enter the Latin name of the herb you are researching in the search bar.
The mission of ABC is to provide herbal education using science-based and traditional information to promote responsible use of herbal medicine — serving the public, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, industry and media. You can join ABC for a yearly membership fee. Membership includes many perks and access to lots of additional herbal resources.
HerbalGram is an online herbal publication that features articles, research reviews, conference reports, and book reviews on medicinal plants, the history of their use, ethnobotanical and modern clinical research, and legal and regulatory developments regarding the marketing and sale of medicinal plant products. Back issues of HerbalGram are made available online to the public for free.
HerbalEGram is a monthly electronic publication of the American Botanical Council and is a benefit of membership. All archived issues are available online to the general public for free.
a movement supporting high quality herbal products, sustainable and ethical sourcing, and greater overall transparency in how herbs reach end users.
Public webinars made available by SHP
AHG is a non-profit, educational organization to represent the goals and voices of herbalists specializing in the medicinal use of plants. Their primary goal is to promote a high level of professionalism and education in the study and practice of therapeutic herbalism.
Upcoming LIVE Public AHG Webinars
The AHG free public webinar archives
The AHG list of registered clinical herbalists
United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants, fungi, and their habitats while ensuring renewable populations for use by generations to come.
The United Plant Savers website
The United Plant Saver's list of At Risk Plants
Online access to the Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation
Incredible free downloads available on their Publications page
Herbal conservation articles, available for download
Cultivation resources available for download
Her credentials * She is an herbalist, ethnobotanist, and food sovereignty expert. She has generously created tons of public herbal content that can be accessed easily online. Youtube vids, podcasts, interviews, articles, etc. Many of her herbal lessons are available online. I strongly suggest you do some research and see what you find.
A favorite article about dandelion
Foraging as an act of resistance
Her credentials * She is the godmother of the US herbal revival that began in the 70s and continues into today. She was a founder of the California School of Herbal Studies, the United Plant Savers, Traditional Medicinals Teas, and so much more. She also brought her fire cider recipe to the herbal community, and it has literally chan
Her credentials * She is the godmother of the US herbal revival that began in the 70s and continues into today. She was a founder of the California School of Herbal Studies, the United Plant Savers, Traditional Medicinals Teas, and so much more. She also brought her fire cider recipe to the herbal community, and it has literally changed history.
The "save fire cider" movement and its role in protecting the rights of everyone in the US
His credentials * Chef Zu is a certified herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, Urban Agriculturalist & Plant Based Chef... and one of my favorite tiktok creators! He offers a variety of products and services through his website. I suggest you check it all out.
Her credentials * She has been the Executive Director of the American Herbalists Guild, taught undergraduate Ethnobotany at Frostburg State University, and has served as a past President of the North Carolina Herb Association. She is a Registered Herbalist with the Amercian Herbalists Guild and holds a Master of Science degree in H
Her credentials * She has been the Executive Director of the American Herbalists Guild, taught undergraduate Ethnobotany at Frostburg State University, and has served as a past President of the North Carolina Herb Association. She is a Registered Herbalist with the Amercian Herbalists Guild and holds a Master of Science degree in Herbal Medicine. She currently stewards the PonderLand native plant sanctuary in the mountains of North Carolina.
You can find many videos, interviews, and articles by and about her online.
For example, check out this amazing video lesson she did about Lemon balm, made available for free online by the American Herbalist Guild.
His credentials * He has been a prolific herbal teacher for decades. He started the Ithaca Free Clinic and the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. His website is overflowing with free and valuable herbal resources.
A list of astounding and incredibly valuable herbal articles and resources
note: please don't l
His credentials * He has been a prolific herbal teacher for decades. He started the Ithaca Free Clinic and the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. His website is overflowing with free and valuable herbal resources.
A list of astounding and incredibly valuable herbal articles and resources
note: please don't let the brevity of this description fool you ;) once you click into his website, you will be amazed at how much is available in there!
His credentials * He was an herbal author, a well-respected herbal educator, and a lifelong student of medicinal plants. He created a plethora of herbal resources and his generosity with his expertise continues to inform us over a decade after his passing. His website is archaic (it has not been updated since his passing almost 15
His credentials * He was an herbal author, a well-respected herbal educator, and a lifelong student of medicinal plants. He created a plethora of herbal resources and his generosity with his expertise continues to inform us over a decade after his passing. His website is archaic (it has not been updated since his passing almost 15 years ago,),and at the same time, it is an incredibly powerful and important herbal resource. I suggest you dive in and see what you find.
Various invaluable herb manuals written and/or compiled by Michael Moore
A catalog of herbal photographs
Michael Moore's guide to Herbal/Medical Contraindications, written in 1995
Michael Moore's Herbal Materia Medica, which gives tincture recipes and suggested dosages
A plethora of other valuable resources you may want to sift through
This resource is a work in progress.
Please send any feedback, revisions, or additional resources to me. I would love to check them out, and I'll do my best to incorporate them.
You can reach me at: jenna@wilddandelion.co
Important note: The information contained here is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or imbalance. This lesson has not been evaluated by the FDA. Nothing here attempts to replace the advice of a trained medical professional. Your healthcare choices are your own.