Josephine L Johnston B.Sc (Hons) – Medical Herbalist

Hello, my name is Jo Johnston and I practice as an Medical Herbalist & Clinical Aromatherapist in Dunholme, Lincolnshire

I have always had a special interest in Plant Medicine having experienced their capacity for healing first-hand some 35 years ago and have never looked back. The power of Plants still amazes me and every day brings something new.

My Journey

Initially I trained as a Clinical Aromatherapist with Penny Price at the English School of Aromatherapy in Hinckley gaining Diploma in 2007. This in-depth course gave me the bug to study further and I decided to undertake the three year degree at the University of Lincoln and successfully gained a BSc (Hons) in Western Herbal Medicine in 2014. As a Medical Herbalist, I am trained not only to a high level in Herbal knowledge but also in orthodox clinical and diagnostic skills with over 500 hours of clinical practice. Training also involves the process and development of disease and how pharmaceutical drugs work and interact with herbal substances.
When prescribing Herbal medicines I take into account not only current research findings but also traditional  methods as I have a great respect for the knowledge gained over thousands of years by our ancestors. I continue to develop my knowledge of herbal and aromatic medicine through seminars and teaching aromatherapy and herbal medicine within my practice.
A personal holistic approach is used basing the medicine on a person’s individual story and lifestyle. Prescriptions are unique to each person and may include either herbal medicine, aromatic medicine or both. Plant medicine is living medicine; the constituents in plants called metabolites are the chemical components responsible for the therapeutic action of the plant. They work by regulating, restoring and generally harmonising with the body treating the whole person rather than the symptoms, this allows the body to restore wellness and balance. Signs and symptoms are just part of each person’s story, the herbalist will also want to know where you are in your life, how you live, what has happened to you and where you are going. The answers to these questions are all vital to understanding each individual and creating your own prescription. All conditions have a story, a cause, and a reason. A herbalist works in partnership with each individual and the herbs to create healing. Many of the herbal combinations used are based on centuries of traditional use supported by current scientific understanding. Using herbs as medicines help people to reconnect to life and living.

Herbal Medicine

Plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years, today it is estimated up to 60% of the World's population uses herbal medicine as their primary source of health care.
Most people have heard about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine however few are aware of our own western tradition originating in Greece and around the Mediterranean. This knowledge was passed down through the generations right up until the Industrial revolution in the 19th century.
Today herbalists use this traditional knowledge together with current scientific research when evaluating a patient's requirements for medicine.

Aromatherapy 

 
Aromatherapy is the ancient art of healing using essential oils, bringing about health, healing, wellbeing & balance. An essential oil is a concentrated liquid obtained from plants & trees. The oils heal you holistically; that is to say they treat your mind, body, emotions, & spirit. Every client is treated with an individual controlled blend of essential oils which are chosen to suit each person Essential oils have been used in perfumery, food flavouring and medicine for thousands of years. Long before they were first distilled in Persia, the Ancient Egyptians produced scented oils from frankincense, cedarwood and other plants - utilised by priests and perfumers alike.
However the term Aromatherapy was coined as recently as 1928 - by French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, having gained popularity in the UK as beauty treatment during the 1960,s however increasing recognition of its therapeutic potential by orthodox health care professionals has made it one of our fastest growing complementary therapies over recent years.

Workshops & Courses

I do various workshops and courses through the year, here are a few examples.

An Introduction to Herbal Medicine
An Introduction to Aromatherapy
How being in nature helps mental health
Seasonal workshops using local herbs
Making syrups and teas
Blending your own perfumes
Making face and body products
Using clays, floral waters and oils
All about Roses
All about Lavender

Please check our Facebook pages for more information and prices

Saturday Club