Hey folks! I’m hoping that someone can recommend a book or two on herbalism - preferably ones where the author discussed the terpenes and secondary plant metabolites more than the magickal properties of the plants in question.

Currently I’m looking up plants through things like the NIH portal but would prefer to have some books I could reference as well; those studies are usually focused on one or two metabolites or compounds and it would be nicer to have that sort of information for each indicated use. For example: plantain (Plantago major) and comfrey (Comfrey officinale) are both used for skin conditions due to their production of allantoin; mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp) are used in various ways for their production of carvacrol, menthone, isomenthone, β-elemene, limonene, piperitone, and germacrene D.

Thanks!

  •  Paragone   ( @Paragone@beehaw.org ) 
    2•13 days ago

    I’m interested in seeing an answer to this, too.

    For terpenes, please try Ajwain seeds. or pine-needles.

    I prefer pine-needles: the ajwain seeds are just too strong.

    _ /\ _

    Oh, maybe search PubMed for the specific plants you’re considering?

    That might provide some medical research papers…

    •  LallyLuckFarm   ( @LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.org ) OP
      1•13 days ago

      Already a big fan of pine needles but I hadn’t heard of the Ajwain seeds. We live in a white pine / mixed hardwood forest so there’s ready access.

      I have no explanation for why I hadn’t thought of pubmed too, thank you for suggesting to look there as well!