The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide

by Thomas Easley, Steven Horne

Overview

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 Masé, 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623170790
Publisher:	North Atlantic Books
Publication date:	11/29/2016
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Thomas Easley is coauthor of Modern Herbal Medicine and founder of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine. He is a clinical herbalist and professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Easley integrates modern science and the deep and rich tradition of Western herbalism into a unified and systematic approach to health and healing. Easley emphasizes foods as primary medicine and uses intensive diets as well as stress reduction techniques, nutritional supplements, and exercise to help people achieve their health goals. His approach draws on his extensive clinical experience, which spans 14 years of full-time practice and over 10,000 clients.

Steven Horne is a professional member and former president of the American Herbalists Guild and a professional member of the International Iridology Practitioner's Association, having also served on the board of directors of both organizations. He has spoken at numerous conventions and conferences and has helped to start four different herbal companies, giving him extensive practical experience in formulating and manufacturing herbal extracts. Horne maintains a part-time consulting practice, working one-on-one with clients to help them resolve their health problems.

Table of Contents

Introduction: On Herbal Medicine ix

Chapter 1 Getting Started: Basic Concepts in Herbal Medicine 1

Chapter 2 Herbal Preparations: Understanding the Many Ways to Prepare and Use Herbs 17

Chapter 3 Using Fresh Plants: Harvesting, Drying, and Using Fresh Herbs 33

Chapter 4 A Dried Herbs: Bulk Herbs, Capsules, and Tablets 47

Chapter 5 Introduction to Extractions: Terms, Equipment, Solvents, and Calculations 55

Chapter 6 Making Basic Extracts: Extracting Herbs in Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, and Vinegar 69

Chapter 7 Advanced Extraction Techniques: Percolation Extracts, Fluid Extracts, and Soxhlet Extracts 85

Chapter 8 Topical Preparations: Oil-Based Extractions, Topical Applications, and Local Applications 103

Chapter 9 Other Preparations: Concentrates, Lozenges, and Traditional Chinese Methods 115

Chapter 10 Aromatherapy and Flower Essences: Two Unique Ways to Extract and Use Herbs 123

Chapter 11 Formulas and Dosages: Designing Herbal Formulas and Using Herbs Effectively 135

Chapter 12 Sample Formulas: Some of Our Favorite Formulas 147

Chapter 13 Single Herbs: Instructions for Preparing and Using Single Herbs 169

Appendix 1 Herbal Hydrotherapy: Combining Herbs and Water for Healing 331

Appendix 2 Recommended Suppliers: Sources for Herb Plants and Seeds, Bulk Herbs, Bottles, Glycerin, and Other Supplies 343

Recommended Reading 347

Index 349

About the Authors 363

Editorial Reviews

This is a phenomenal addition to the herbal bookshelf. It fills the need for a large, comprehensive herbal formulary—the likes of which we have not seen for a hundred years—yet it is so much more than that: a complete guide to the serious use of herbs from the field and forest to the single remedy or formula in clinic.”
—Matthew Wood, author of The Earthwise Herbal books

“This is now the standard medicine-making textbook for schools of herbal medicine. It contains more methods and more forms than anything else in print, all clearly explained and demonstrated, with bonus materials on herbal energetics and materia medica.”
—Paul Bergner, director, North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, editor,
Medical Herbalism journal

 “The Modern Herbal Dispensatory relies on the solid foundation that comes from direct interaction with living, breathing botanicals. To this it adds a specificity gleaned from twenty-first century science: clear guidelines rooted in chemistry and physiology provide definitive answers to questions of extraction method, solvent, timing, and formulation. If you’ve ever wondered which extraction method to use for a given plant, or felt reluctant to try advanced techniques like percolation, this clear and concise reference guide will become a trusted companion. A must-have for herbal educators, clinicians, and manufacturers alike!” 
—Guido Masé, cofounder and codirector, Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism

“Thomas Easley and Steven Horne have done it once again. In the Modern Herbal Dispensatory, historic traditions of medicine making have been captured and shared in a way that empowers the modern lay herbalist to capture the benefits of botanical medicine in the most accessible and potent form. Weaving together folk teachings and scientific perspectives, this book bridges the spectrum of herbal medicine to provide an inspiring, detailed, and practical handbook for herbalists at all levels of experience. This guide should be on the bookshelves of every herbal school, home apothecary, and herbal production facility.”
—Emily Ruff, executive director, Florida School of Holistic Living

From the Publisher