Herbs & Spices Dictionary: from Anise to ....

I can't find a spice or herb that begins with Z, so my cute and kitschy title is rather ineffectual.

Oh well.

I've been thinking for awhile that I want--need, really--an herb and spice dictionary, an encyclopedia, or perhaps an Herbs and Spices Table of Elements. Something that helps guide my cooking concoctions: which herbs go together well, which are a huge mistake, and what should never be used on rutabaga, etc. I would certainly appreciate any ideas. I've found one book which seems to be a staple, as it's been around since 1950. It's called Cooking with Herbs and Spices, by Milo Miloradovich. It sounds like a good text, but I wouldn't mind a more up-to-date reference that properly addresses spices found in Indian, Thai, and other Asian cuisine.

Jill Norman has written a couple of books on the subject: Herbs & Spices: The Cook's Reference. This seems like a really good candidate, as does Ian Hemphill's The Spice and Herb Bible: A Cook's Guide.

My interest in spices and herbs come from my attempts to eat more heathfully in order to shed my post-Habitat/Americorps pounds. The transition from house builder/construction worker to office girl-extraordinaire has taken it's tolls on me and my wardrobe. The more I know about the how's and why's of cooking, the easier and more enjoyable my pound-shedding will be.