Before there were pharmacies, there were plants — this is the field guide
Let's Play Herbal Doctor is Dr. Ma Lan and Dr. Joel Wallach's herbal companion to their classic Let's Play Doctor — over 400 pages on using plant medicines at home. The authors walk through the pharmacological properties of medicinal herbs, the traditions they come from, and the everyday ailments the authors match them to.
The premise carries Doc's signature edge: humanity treated itself with plants for thousands of years before the prescription pad existed — and the authors argue that knowledge belongs back in your household, not locked behind a co-pay.
Paperback: $19.95
Let's Play Doctor covers vitamins and minerals; this book covers the plants. Together they form the authors' complete home self-health reference — most readers end up keeping both within arm's reach.
What's included
- The complete paperback — over 400 pages of herbal reference material.
- Herb-by-herb profiles — the therapeutic properties and mechanisms the authors describe for each medicinal plant.
- The history of herbal healing — the traditions behind the remedies, from folk medicine to modern practice.
- Shipped with tracking — processed in 1–2 business days.
What you'll explore inside
Educational content presenting the authors' research and perspective
How herbs actually work
The pharmacological properties behind traditional remedies — the compounds, and the effects the authors attribute to them.
Ailment-to-herb lookups
Everyday complaints paired with the plant medicines the authors discuss for each — organized for quick reference.
Thousands of years of practice
The healing traditions the remedies come from — and why the authors believe modern medicine dismissed them too quickly.
A gentler first resort
The authors' case for reaching for the herb cabinet before the medicine cabinet for life's minor complaints.
About the authors
Dr. Ma Lan, MD, MS earned her medical degree at Beijing Medical University — where traditional plant medicine and modern practice have long stood side by side — and practiced as a microsurgeon. Dr. Joel D. Wallach (BS, DVM, ND) is a veterinary pathologist turned naturopathic physician and Nobel Prize in Medicine nominee for his trace-mineral research. Together they have co-authored numerous health references, including Dead Doctors Don't Lie and Let's Play Doctor.
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If this book doesn't earn its place next to Let's Play Doctor within 30 days, write to us and we'll make it right.
This book is sold for educational purposes and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Health claims within reflect the opinions and research interpretations of the authors. Consult your physician before using herbal remedies, especially alongside prescription medication.
