How-To Guide

Getting started

From first launch to your first herb.

1. Open the app. The Herbs page is the front of your book. It starts with one sample herb that you can edit or delete.
2. Tap + to add an herb.
3. Type the name. Suggestions for names and plant families appear as you type; tap one to fill the fields.
4. Fill in only what you want. Any section you leave empty is hidden once the herb is saved, unless you chose to show empty sections.
5. Tap Save.

Herbs

Browse and find.

• Choose By family, A–Z by common name or A–Z by botanical name to organise the page like the chapters of a printed book.
• Use the search box to search names and everything you have written.
• Tap an herb to open it. Edit it from the pencil button.

Sections and tabs

Decide what each herb page holds.

1. Open Settings, then Sections and tabs.
2. Turn sections on or off, drag them into the order you like and rename them.
3. Add section creates a section of your own, for example a journal or a growing log.
4. New tab creates a tab. Choose which tab each section sits in with Move to tab.
5. Show empty sections controls whether blank sections appear on a saved page.

Photos

Pictures on every herb.

1. Open an herb and tap Edit.
2. Add a photo from the camera, your gallery, or Google Drive.
3. Photos are stored inside the app and are included in backups and shared files.

Recipes

Keep your own recipes and link them to herbs.

1. Go to the Recipes page and tap +.
2. Give it a name, write your notes, and pick the herbs it uses. The picker has a search box, so a long list stays quick.
3. Save. The recipe now appears on each linked herb, and the herbs appear on the recipe.

Batches and reminders

Remember what you made and when it is ready.

1. Open a recipe and add a batch, or use the Batches page. Enter the date made and, if you like, a ready date.
2. To be reminded, open Settings, then Batch reminders, turn on Notify me when a batch is ready and choose a time. Android will ask for notification permission.
3. You can also pick an early heads-up. Switch reminders off any time.

Reminders are local notifications on your phone; nothing is sent anywhere.

Remedies

Tie recipes and herbs together.

1. Go to the Remedies page and tap +.
2. Name it, add your notes, and link the recipes and herbs it relates to.

These are your own records. The app does not suggest, check or verify anything you write.

Sharing

Send a page or the whole collection.

1. Open an herb, recipe or remedy and use the Share button, or use Share collection for everything.
2. The app makes a file (photos included) and opens Android's share sheet. You choose where it goes.
3. To open a file someone sends you, tap it. Materia Medica opens and asks how you want to import it.

Shared files are not encrypted unless you add a passphrase, so only send them to people you trust.

Backup and restore

Keep a copy, or move to a new phone.

1. Open Settings, then Backup and restore, then Create backup.
2. Optionally turn on Protect with a passphrase. The file is then encrypted on your device. If you forget the passphrase nobody can recover the backup, including us.
3. Save or share the file somewhere safe, such as Google Drive.
4. On the new phone choose Restore or import and pick the file. Replace everything swaps in the backup; importing shared herbs adds to what you have.

Themes and PIN

Make it look and lock the way you like.

• Settings, then Appearance: pick one of seven colours and choose Light, Dark or System.
• Require PIN: set a PIN (and biometric unlock if your phone has it) so the app asks before showing your entries. The PIN is stored only on your device and we cannot reset it, so keep a backup.