The ancient history of herbal medicine is lost in the mists of time. The only knowledge we have of how herbs were used in the Renaissance, Middle Ages, Greek times, and by the Egyptians is the written word. Think of the actual words of Hippocrates, the great practitioner of natural medicine, coming down to us from nearly 2,500 years ago, perhaps just as he spoke them. Or of Dioscorides, the Greek physician who traveled with Nero's army for 20 years, healing the battle wounds of soldiers on the battlefield, curing dysentery and plague, as well as the common cold, with just the simple herbs he could gather on his travels. Dioscorides' herbal was hand copied in monasteries for over 14 centuries before the printing press was invented, and the first Gutenburg Bible was printed in the late 1400s. To an herbalist--or any lover of herbal medicine--it is a thrill to see the great herbals of the 1500s and 1600s, including those of Gerard, Parkinson, Culpeper, Turner, Dodoens, and the beautiful and lifelike plant drawings from the herbals of the German herbalists, Brunfels and Fuchs.

The stories of these herbalists-their healing wisdom and inspiring experiences with the green world--all come to us through their writings. Although most of the herbals of the past were written by men, remember that much of the herbalism was practiced in the home by women healers and herbalists. Men and women (women mostly) were practicing herbal medicine throughout the ages. The women were too busy taking care of business to write it all down. Fortunately, between them, women and men got it done and we have access to the knowledge and power of 100 generations of people working together to ease suffering and discover the magic of the plant-animal relationship. Today, many women herbalists have written books, and more are being written. Today, both men and women herbalists practice the art of herbal medicine, and both are taking time to write it down. Now you can read the words and gain from the knowledge of many generations of herbalists telling the stories and sharing the wisdom from the green world!

When you read my articles and books as they appear on this site, or in print, you hear the voices of my brothers and sisters, as well as my ancestors, from whom I have learned so much over the years. We have lived the stories together. You also hear the voices of the plants, as much as I've been privileged to interpret their messages, however imperfectly, from my nearly 50 years in relationship with them.

You have entered a virtual library of herbal writing. Here you can read my writings, as well as the works of other herbalists and herbal doctors of the past, such as the Eclectic physicians of the early 20th century. I hope to add more works to this site for you to enjoy and download, and hopefully you will be inspired to practice this knowledge, create your own stories, and pass them on.

Be with the green spirit,