Free Resources
Welcome to my library of free herbal resources, gathered from around the web and right here on this site. Whether you are just starting to learn about medicinal herbs or you are deep into your own research, everything on this page is free to read, listen to, or download. No paywalls, no gimmicks, just hours of quality learning from the comfort of your home.
I update this page as I find new resources worth sharing. If a link ever goes dead, I apologize in advance: online files can change or disappear at any time, which is exactly why I always recommend physical books when you can get them.
Free Holistic Health Courses & Websites
Self-paced learning for anyone who wants to take their health education into their own hands.
Coursera Holistic Medicine Courses
University-level courses on holistic and integrative medicine, natural therapies, and the mind-body connection. Auditing is free, and you only pay if you want a certificate or college credit.
Browse Coursera Courses →The American Dragon
A comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine resource created by the late Dr. Joel Penner, O.M.D., drawing on his 30 years of private practice and 20 years as a professor. Herb monographs, formulas, and diagnostics, all free.
Visit AmericanDragon.com →Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
One of the better-known herbal schools also publishes a generous amount of free content: foraging guides, medicine-making tutorials, and plant monographs on their blog, plus free e-books when you join their list.
Chestnut School Blog →Mountain Rose Herbs Blog
My go-to supplier for organic bulk herbs also runs an excellent free blog full of recipes, herb profiles, and DIY tutorials for salves, tinctures, teas, and more. A great place to learn practical medicine making.
Mountain Rose Herbs Blog →The Free Herbalism Project
Mountain Rose Herbs started this project in 2013 as a series of free educational events featuring visiting herbalists. It has since grown into a digital library of recorded talks and herbal resources, and registration costs nothing.
Free Herbalism Project →Free Herbal Reference Libraries & Plant Databases
Before there were wellness influencers, there were herbalists who wrote everything down. Much of that knowledge lives online for free if you know where to look.
Henriette's Herbal Homepage
One of the oldest and largest herbal sites on the internet. Henriette Kress hosts full classic texts like King's American Dispensatory and Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, plus thousands of plant photos and decades of practitioner Q&A archives.
Henriette's Herbal →Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
The free archive of the late Michael Moore, one of the most influential Western herbalists of the last century. His teaching manuals, materia medica, and hundreds of scanned historical herbal texts are all available at no cost.
Explore the SWSBM Archive →The Naturopathic Herbalist
A clean, free materia medica organized by plant, herbal action, and body system. Excellent as a quick reference when you want energetics and clinical uses without digging through a 900-page book.
The Naturopathic Herbalist →Plants for a Future
A searchable database of over 7,000 edible and medicinal plants, including hardiness zones, growing conditions, and traditional uses. If you garden and grow your own medicine like I do, this one is a treasure.
Search PFAF.org →Ray Peat's Article Archive
The late Dr. Ray Peat published his entire archive of articles on metabolism, thyroid, hormones, and nutrition for free on his website. If you have read my pro-metabolic articles, this is the primary source, and it is all still online.
Read Ray Peat's Articles →Weston A. Price Foundation
Hundreds of free articles on traditional diets, raw dairy, nutrient-dense foods, and ancestral health, based on the research of Dr. Weston Price. Pairs beautifully with the Wise Traditions podcast below.
Browse WAPF Articles →Podcasts & Substacks
These are the voices I frequently listen to and read. They offer independent analysis, holistic perspectives, and alternative viewpoints that often explore topics beyond conventional media coverage.
DarkHorse Podcast
Hosted by evolutionary biologists Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying, both PhDs. They explore a wide range of biological, societal, and health topics through an evolutionary lens. We found their analytical approach to complex issues to be a valuable resource during the pandemic, and in our house, we fondly call them our other mom and dad.
DarkHorse Podcast →The Highwire with Del Bigtree
An independent show focused on health freedom advocacy, deep dives into medical research, and alternative perspectives on public health policies. It provides a platform for discussions, scientific debates, and stories that are often explored outside of mainstream corporate media.
Watch The Highwire →Free Birth Society Podcast
A collection of personal stories exploring alternative perspectives on maternal wellness. The podcast shares a wide spectrum of childbirth experiences, from undisturbed, instinct-led approaches to unique birth settings, highlighting the personal journeys of women exploring autonomous birth choices.
Free Birth Society →A Midwestern Doctor
An anonymous, independent doctor whose Substack, The Forgotten Side of Medicine, explores historical medical practices and offers alternative analyses of conventional treatments, ranging from dermatological care to cardiovascular protocols. It serves as an interesting supplementary resource to review alongside discussions with your healthcare provider.
Read on Substack →Wise Traditions Podcast
A project of the Weston A. Price Foundation, for those interested in exploring health through the lens of ancestral practices. This podcast focuses on the philosophy that optimal wellness is supported by looking to historical, traditional foodways and lifestyle practices rather than relying solely on modern interventions.
Listen on Spotify →Ancestra Times
A digital magazine for women exploring holistic health, motherhood, and nourishment. From gut health discussions to herbal education, motherhood, and hormonal wellness, Ancestra shares insights for modern living centered on traditional practices rather than passing wellness trends.
Ancestra on Substack →Ray Peat
Dr. Ray Peat’s website hosts a comprehensive collection of free articles exploring the relationship between cellular energy, metabolism, and thyroid health. His bioenergetic framework offers a unique, alternative perspective on human physiology and nutrition, serving as a foundational educational resource for anyone interested in holistic wellness.
Read on RayPeat.com →Bioenergetic Helpline with Danny Roddy
A bioenergetic podcast exploring the nutritional philosophy of Ray Peat, where Danny Roddy fields listener questions on metabolism, energy, and holistic wellness. If you have read my articles on pro-metabolic eating and want to explore the practical application of these dietary concepts, this is a rich, ongoing resource.
Listen on Spotify →The Bioavailable Naturopath
Andra Sitoianu, ND, writes about holistic fertility, nose-to-tail nutrition, mineral bioavailability, and root-cause naturopathic approaches. Her explorations into how environmental factors like nickel may relate to digestive and skin wellness pair perfectly with my own articles, and her food-first approach aligns beautifully with my perspective.
The Bioavailable Naturopath →Free Herbal Medicine E-Books
Free e-books are a great way to start learning the medicinal properties of herbs. Physical books are always my preference, since online files can change or be removed at any time (if that ever happens to a link below, I apologize). Your local library is another underrated free resource for herbal books.
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs
James A. Duke's classic reference covering hundreds of medicinal plants with dosages, indications, and safety data. A serious desk reference, available as a free PDF.
Download the PDF →Culpeper's Complete Herbal
Nicholas Culpeper's 1653 herbal is one of the foundational texts of Western herbalism, and it is in the public domain. Read it free on Project Gutenberg, along with many other classic herbals and materia medica.
Read on Project Gutenberg →King's American Dispensatory
The 1898 Eclectic physicians' reference, still cited by herbalists today for its detailed clinical uses of American medicinal plants. Hosted in full, free, on Henriette's Herbal.
Read King's Dispensatory →Research Tools & Informed Consent
Do not outsource your health decisions. These free tools let you read the primary sources yourself: the studies, the trial data, the package inserts, and the ingredient safety data.
Just The Inserts
A fantastic resource for enhancing your informed consent about any medical product, including vaccines, GLP-1s, Botox, the vitamin K shot, and more. They even offer a self-paced course on how to research your own health products.
JustTheInserts.com →ClinicalTrials.gov
Browse the actual clinical trial data behind most US medications and find out to what extent a drug was tested before approval. An eye-opening resource for anyone who assumes "approved" means "thoroughly studied."
ClinicalTrials.gov →PubMed
The largest free database of biomedical research in the world. When I cite studies in my articles, this is usually where they live. Learn to search it and you never have to take a headline's word for anything again.
Search PubMed →DailyMed
The official archive of package inserts for every drug sold in the US, including full prescribing information, adverse reactions, and trial summaries. Pairs perfectly with Just The Inserts: read the actual document, not the marketing.
DailyMed →EWG Databases
The Environmental Working Group runs free searchable databases I use constantly: Skin Deep for cosmetic and skincare ingredients, and the Tap Water Database for what is actually in your local water supply. Check your zip code, then read my water filter guide.
EWG Skin Deep → Tap Water Database →COVID-19 Resources
Navigating post-pandemic health decisions has led many individuals to seek a broader range of perspectives regarding mRNA technologies and their long-term profiles. With ongoing public discussions around reported adverse events, overall health trends, and individual patient outcomes, many people are looking for additional context to make informed choices. Personally, I believe in carefully evaluating all available data and independent research when consulting with healthcare providers.
If you are looking for ways to support your immune system's resilience, or seeking resources related to long COVID and post-vaccination health experiences, it is important to explore diverse information. While I cannot give medical advice, I can point you to these free online resources so you can gather information to discuss with your healthcare provider.
Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC)
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Paul Marik and Dr. Pierre Kory to research and develop alternative COVID-19 treatment approaches. Their I-RECOVER protocols are designed to address long COVID and post-vaccination observations, while their MATH+ protocols focus on critical care. Their guidance reflects their ongoing clinical experiences and independent research reviews.
Long COVID Protocol →Post-Vaccine Protocol →
mRNA Vaccine Injured Community on X
Are you seeking support regarding your post-vaccination health experiences? This community on X provides a platform for individuals in similar situations to connect, share their personal stories, and discuss their health journeys openly.
Join the Community →OpenVAERS
A free, browsable interface for the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. The raw VAERS data is publicly available but can be complex to navigate; OpenVAERS organizes the reports into a more readable format so you can review the submitted data yourself.
Browse OpenVAERS →Podcasts & Channels for COVID-19 News
Here are some of my favorite online sources for alternative COVID-19 news and updates. While not all of these creators are practicing scientists, they regularly feature doctors, researchers, and MDs who offer differing perspectives on COVID-19 and mRNA technologies. These channels provide viewpoints and medical analyses that often fall outside of mainstream media coverage.
- Dr. John Campbell: A retired nurse teacher and former clinical nurse based in England, sharing accessible health education on YouTube and examining global health data.
- Dr. Robert W. Malone: A physician and researcher involved in early mRNA technology development, sharing his perspectives on current US vaccine policies and medical data. MD, Northwestern University; B.S., UC Davis.
- A Midwestern Doctor: An anonymous, independent doctor whose free Substack, The Forgotten Side of Medicine, explores historical medical practices, alternative therapies, and independent analysis of the pharmaceutical industry.
- DarkHorse Podcast: Hosted by evolutionary biologists Dr. Bret Weinstein and Dr. Heather Heying. We started listening in 2021 while living in Portland, OR, finding their analytical approach to complex biological and societal topics to be a valuable resource.
- Dr. Pierre Kory: A pulmonary and critical care doctor writing about the American medical system and the role of generic alternative treatments. He frequently shares his independent analysis of COVID-19 clinical trial data and trial design.
- The Jimmy Dore Show: Independent journalist and stand-up comic covering politics, current events, and global health. He frequently shares his personal health experiences post-2021 and explores alternative viewpoints on the medical industry.
- Redacted News: An independent news organization run by two former mainstream anchors, offering alternative analysis of global events. They have extensively covered COVID-19 and mRNA vaccines from an independent media perspective.
More Free Learning on This Site
Everything I publish here is free to read, and there is a lot of it.
Health Articles
Long-form, research-backed articles on herbs, nutrition, toxins, and holistic health, always citing primary sources so you can verify everything yourself.
Browse Articles →Gut Health Guide
Poor gut health is now linked to mood disorders, skin issues, and a whole slew of other conditions. Learn how to keep your microbiome healthy and in balance.
Gut Health Hub →Herbs for Pets
Holistic care does not stop with the humans in your house. Learn how to safely support your animals with herbs and natural approaches.
Holistic Pet Care →Become an Herbalist
Thinking about formal training? I break down the paths, schools, and what to expect from a career in herbalism.
Start Here →Health Articles
from My Blog
Are cold plunges good for women? Occasionally, in warm weather, when you feel like it, they are fine. As a daily health practice, I do not recommend them. The research on women shows a stress response that never fades, a thyroid shift after each exposure, and no recovery benefit in the one trial done in women. Here is what the studies say, what Ray Peat and the older thyroid writers said about cold, and why I keep cold plunges occasional.