Physic: A Primer of Herbal Medicine

A detailed guide to understanding what is needed to effectively treat patients with herbal medicine

Drawing on decades of experience, Julian Barker provides a comprehensive approach to the practice of herbalism, encompassing many of the problems a herbalist may encounter and offering advice on how they can help.

Placing natural science at the forefront of its discussion, the initial section of Physic takes a wide-lens approach to exploring human biology, discussing the inner physiology of the human body, through concepts such as energy, movement, cycles and temperament. It also presents Barker’s concept of poise, which is the human ability to maintain an adaptive ratio.

The book moves on, in part two, to consider the actual practice of herbalism, discussing important aspects of the interaction between herbalist and patient. Physic culminates in a discussion surrounding the influence of plants upon people, including an extensive Materia Medica.

Physic provides a wealth of information regarding the needs of both the patient, and the practitioner who looks after them, solidifying it as a foundational textbook for students and practitioners of herbal medicine for years to come.

Julian Barker started his training in herbal medicine in North and Central America, before returning Britain as an apprentice herb-grower at Suffolk Herbs while studying concurrently on NIMH’s tutorial course, at which point he joined the first cohort at the School of Herbal Medicine. In 1983, he opened a clinic in Brighton offering acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and osteopathy but recently has upsized to a single practice.

Teaching botany at the School of Herbal Medicine for over twenty years, Julian supervised BSc dissertations and taught philosophy on the MSc course in herbal medicine at the University of East London. Since 1998 he has worked in Paris and has studied in London with Dr. Jean-Claude Lapraz on the application of medicinal plants along Endobiogenic lines.

He is a fellow of the Linnaean Society, serves on the Accreditation Board of the European Herbal Practitioners’ Association, and is a member of the College of Practicing Phytotherapists and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.