Rachel Johnson Herbalist

15/06/2025

Three years of studying is finally over 🍾😁

I’m probably more proud of this certificate than any other that I’ve achieved along the way. Training to be a Chinese herbalist has been so hard - possibly not helped by my post-menopausal brain just not retaining or recalling information as quickly as it used to when I was younger. I’ve absolutely loved the journey and want to say a huge thank you to all the amazing tutors and guest lecturers at White Crane Academy of Chinese Herbal Medicine - your wisdom, generosity and support has been outstanding!

This certificate represents the end of a long training in Chinese medicine which started with a three year degree in acupuncture. After a decade of clinical practice I added a one year postgrad Nutrition diploma, a six month Qigong teacher training certificate and now a three year Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine. I’m also a qualified Health and Wellbeing Coach having completed that in May.

That’s enough certificates for this lifetime! And of all of them, this is the one that makes me smile the most 🥰

Next… well, I might take a few days off 😎 And then back to work as normal supporting women through their menopause journey, and helping those living with chronic illness to reduce the symptom burden and improve their quality of life.

12/05/2025

Ooooh, I did a thing! I have a YouTube channel 😁

Hi, I'm Rachel Johnson. I'm a Chinese herbalist, health coach and Qigong teacher and I help people improve their health with Chinese medicine. I qualified as an acupuncturist in 2011 and after over a decade of clinical experience I decided to undertake additional training to add Chinese herbs to my....

12/05/2025

ME Awareness Day 2025 💙

Transcript...

Hi I'm Rachel. I'm speaking to you today as a Chinese herbalist but also as a carer to someone with ME.

ME is one of life's worst illnesses. Not just because of its life-altering impact on health but also because of the stigma, the misinformation, the patient-blaming and the constant battles that many people with ME have to deal with.

Many of my patients tell me that this causes so much added distress on top of an already very disabling condition.

If you have ME, whether that's developed post-Covid or from a different viral/bacterial infection, I just want to say that you deserve to be treated with kindness, with dignity and with compassion. You deserve to be heard, to be believed and supported. You deserve healthcare where people know about your illness and understand its impact on your life. You deserve a joined-up approach to your unique pattern of fluctuating symptoms. You deserve for your strength and resilience to be acknowledged. You deserve solutions to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

On ME Awareness Day 2025 while we wait for the final Delivery Plan for ME and for the results of the DecodeME research, my thoughts go out to all my patients with ME and their families. You deserve better.

08/05/2025

New phone has just arrived so I’m back in contact again 😁

04/05/2025

My phone has just died. If you need to contact me please use email for the next few days until the replacement arrives.
Thanks
racheljohnsonherbs@gmail.com

30/04/2025

Aaaaand it’s done! Final project submitted and three years of intense studying comes to an end (pending confirmation that I’ve actually passed of course). Next step, graduation in June 😁
In the meantime, clinic reopens again next week so I can get back to doing what I love best - supporting people on their journey back to better health.

26/04/2025

The dissertation is nearly done, ready for submission by 1st May. And I finally have a website! 🤗 Hopefully there won’t be too many glitches, but if you spot something please let me know.

Rachel Johnson Herbalist. Chinese herbal medicine and health coaching. Specialising in women's health issues, menopause, autoimmune and postviral health conditions. Consultation on Zoom, herbs posted from UK based pharmacy.

29/03/2025

I had a rather lovely email this morning confirming that I have passed my final clinical rotation 😁 Just the research project to go, then I graduate in June. It’s been a tough three years and a massive learning curve but I’m nearly there. Thank you to all the lovely people who have trusted me with their healthcare while I’ve been a student, I couldn’t have completed my clinical practice without you 😘

09/03/2025

So much beautiful Spring sunshine out there today 😎 And I’m sitting indoors for a weekend of specialist lectures focusing on using Chinese herbs to manage autoimmune conditions. Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus, Multiple Sclerosis and so much more. Definitely worth missing the sunshine for (although my office assistants may disagree with me).

08/03/2025

Two book recommendations for International Women’s Day. If you’ve ever wondered why it takes an average of 8 years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis… or ever been told that you just have to ‘get on with it’ after a diagnosis of ME/CFS or an autoimmune condition because there isn’t a treatment for what you have… if you’ve been told its your age, or your hormones or been otherwise ‘fobbed off’… if you’ve ever had to stop work or reduce your hours because menopausal symptoms have just made it too hard to work full time… if you’re an unpaid carer struggling with burnout… if you’ve ever wondered why your car seatbelt isn’t comfortable, or why your phone seems too big for your hand, both of which make injuries more likely…

🌸 Women’s healthcare has been chronically underfunded throughout history. Chronic illness and autoimmune diseases (which disproportionately affect more women than men), and reproductive/gynaecological health, have often been sidelined in medical research, education, policy and services.

🌼 Most research is conducted on male bodies with data extrapolated for women without any additional testing, even though women’s bodies are structurally and hormonally different from men.

🌺 And around the world, women are more likely to be unable to access vital healthcare due to various constraints.

These two books will definitely make you think about the world we live in and its impact on your health.

04/03/2025

Please check any paracetamol you’ve bought from Boots recently.

Boots recalls paracetamol over labelling error

Packaging inside the box incorrectly states the pills are a different painkiller, aspirin.

04/03/2025

Endometriosis UK are hosting a free one-hour webinar on March 11th for anyone who wants to find out more about endometriosis. Whether you are wondering whether you have it and want to know about treatment options, or whether you know someone who has it and want to understand what they’re going through a little better. Follow the link to register - I think it’s recorded so can be watched after the event if you can’t make it in person.
And remember that Chinese herbal medicine is another safe and effective treatment option, usually with fewer side effects. Helping with pain relief, reducing heavy bleeding, and improving your quality of life.

Join us on Tuesday 11th March for 'Endometriosis Explained', a free to attend webinar with Joanne Hanley, Endometriosis UK's Specialist Advisor and Adanced Clincal Nurse Practitioner, Zoe Lapwood, Endometriosis Nurse Specialist and Nurse Spport Line Advisor, and Elsa Palmer, Endometriosis Nurse Specialist in Endometriosis and Nurse Support Line Advisor.

Jo, Zoe and Elsa will talk all things endometriosis, what it is, the symptoms, treatment and management, how it is diagnosed and more. There will be a Q&A at the end of the talk.

This session is perfect for those who want to learn more about and understand endometriosis. Please share with your friends and family and encourage them to learn more this Endometriosis Action Month.

Register now at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1076

Image description: Red text on a yellow background with a small red icon of a laptop at the top. Text reads: "Endometriosis Explained, FREE Webinar, Tuesday 11th March 7:00 - 8:00pm"