The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide

By Thomas Easley and Steven Horne

The trusted guide that transforms herbal knowledge into real medicine--250 safe and effective remedies you can make at home.

The essential guide to making herbal medicine that works--because method matters.

You've tried the teas. Tinkered with tinctures. Flipped through gorgeous herb books that left you wondering: Why don't my remedies work?

Here's the truth: How you make plant medicine is just as important as what you use.

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory reveals what clinical herbalists know--the techniques and preparations that unlock each herb's full healing power. With 250 proven remedies and clear step-by-step instructions, it turns your kitchen into a real herbal pharmacy.

Inside You'll Learn:

- 250 Proven Remedies for Real Results: Fire Cider that clears sinuses fast, Elderberry Syrup for immune support, Garlic-Mullein Oil for earaches, and more
- Why Preparation Matters: Get the right effect from the right form--bitters activate digestion when tasted, and yarrow tea may support sweating and gut relief better than capsules
- The Six Tissue States Go beyond symptoms--match herbs to underlying imbalances like heat, cold, dampness, or tension
- The Math Made Easy Master ratios, percentages, and dosages with clear, practical charts
- Extraction Methods, Demystified From teas and tinctures to advanced percolation, fluid extracts, and Soxhlet setups--with full-color visual guides
- The 12 Categories of Herbs: Why pungent herbs extract best in alcohol, mucilants need water, and some must be dried before use
- Every Form, Every Function Covers the full spectrum--from teas and tinctures to oils, lozenges, extracts, and advanced preparations
- Designed for Real Use: Includes full-color photo guides, sourcing tips, multiple appendices, and a complete index for quick reference

What Makes This Book Different:

Most herb books tell you what plants do. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory shows you how to extract their full power--with the precision needed for results.

"If you've ever wondered which extraction method to use, or hesitated to try percolation, this clear and concise guide will become a trusted companion."
--Guido Mas , co-founder & co-director, Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism

Perfect For:

- Beginners ready to move beyond DIY tea blends
- Herbalists who want consistent, potent formulas
- Health practitioners expanding into plant-based care
- Anyone building a natural medicine cabinet that works

The Herbal Standard for Over a Decade:

Used in schools, clinics, and apothecaries nationwide, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is the go-to reference for serious herbalists.

Your herbs are only as powerful as your methods. Now's the time to make real medicine.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1623170796
• ISBN13: 9781623170790
• Release Date: November 2016
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Length: 376 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

If i could only get 1 book on herbal medicine, this would be it

I have a lot of books on herbal medicine that have great information but this book stands out as the best one by far. It not only details more plants than my other books, but it contains all the info you will need - from which plants treat which symptoms, which parts of the plant to use, what method to use (tincture, infusion etc) and detailed instructions on those methods, dosage, and safety precautions. Before this book I had to bounce around through different books, youtube videos, and annoying websites to get all the info i needed. The only areas this book lacks info on is plant foraging, where it is native, naturalized, or invasive, and a history of its use. But these could easily be a book on their own and this book does tell you where you can purchase herbs instead of foraging or growing them. It also lacks info on medicinal lichens and mushrooms, but i’ve never found a book that does include these. They aren’t technically plants but i believe they belong under the herbal medicine umbrella. The first part of the book could be overwhelming because it goes very in depth with many different methods, so if you’re new, I recommend starting at Chapter 13, and once you get acquainted with all the awesome things plants can do, you can refer back as needed.

Huge Book

This is an amazing reference tool and has soooo much to offer.