Dr. Lyn Hanshew to be on Healthy Life with ACHS graduate Pamela Heyen

Dr. Lyn Hanshew, a leading expert in environmental toxicity, will be interviewed on Creating Your Healthy Life webcast with ACHS graduate Pamela Heyen on Thursday, September 3, 2009, at 8 am PST.

Dr. Hanshew specializes in toxic environmental issues and their effect on the human body. She will also be discussing treatment modalities that are safe and effective. "Why is everyone so sick?" will be the program's topic, also featuring a discussion of modalities for use with
autism, ADD, obesity, H1N1 influenza, MRSA, and Alzheimer's dementia.

Creating Your Healthy Life airs live on Thursdays at 8 am, Pacific Standard Time on the VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel. To access the show, log on at http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericahealth. All shows will be available in Pamela Heyen's Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel for on-demand and podcast download.

Each week Pamela Heyen (Heyen Wellness Therapies) interviews key figures in the medical and health field to help her listeners create a healthier and more fulfilling life. For more information, email Pamela at: Pam@HeyenWellnessTherapies.com

Toxic Body and Disease

Everyday more and more people are being diagnosed with chronic health problems. Approximately 68 million people suffer from some form of heart disease, 25 million have diabetes, 1.5 million will die of cancer within the next year, 5-8% of the population suffers from a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease, 57.7 million suffer from some mental disorder, and over 6 million are diagnosed with a neurological disease.

Alzheimer's has more than doubled since 1980, every week 200 people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, diabetes has increased over 54% and the rate our children are being diagnosed with Autism, ADD and ADHD is alarming. So, what the heck is going on?

Our problem is not singular, meaning there is no one thing that we can identify as the problem. It is a combination of many things that has resulted in the decay of our health in the United States. Let's start with our environment.

In the last century we have created over 80,000 chemicals and every year, four billion pounds of these toxins are released into our environment. Our air, soil, animals, plants, water, and our bodies are being contaminated. Our bodies are being poisoned by these carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, and gene damaging chemicals and they are being stored within our cells. Do you realize that these toxins have the ability to be passed to fetuses in the womb? A fetus grows in a womb contaminated with as many as 287 foreign chemicals and the level of mercury in umbilical cord blood is 1.7 times higher than the level in the mother's blood. Thousands of babies born each year are at risk for brain damage and learning difficulties due to the toxin exposure while in the womb. Do you think there could be a correlation with these facts and the ever increasing numbers of Autism, ADD and ADHD diagnosis in our children?

It is a proven fact that cancer is caused by environmental toxicity and it affects our immune, neurological and endocrine systems. This toxicity can lead to numerous health problems including allergies, neurological illnesses, immune dysfunction, reproductive dysfunction, mood changes, asthma, autoimmunity, allergies, sexual dysfunction and dysregulation of glucose.

Mercury, the most destructive of these toxins can cause neurological, immunological, psychological and enzymatic issues. It can contribute or cause autism, Alzheimer's, cancers, heart disease, autoimmune disease, endocrine problems as well as neurological and behavioral issues.

Read the full article about toxins, disease, and how chemicals like aspartame affect the brain and overall health.

About the Author
Pamela Heyen graduated from the American College of Healthcare Sciences, Holistic Health Practitioner Program, in 2007. She currently owns and operates Heyen Wellness Therapies.

© 5/16/09 Pamela A. Heyen: http://www.holisticseek.com/articles/205/

New Badge for Graduates

For the code to add this ACHS Graduate Badge to your website, send an email to alumni@achs.edu.









For the code to add this ACHS Graduate Badge to your website, send an email to alumni@achs.edu.

ACHS launches alumni group on LinkedIn

Calling all alumni...ACHS has launched a new ACHS Alumni Group on LinkedIn....Where community lives and networks. This is your place to post information about your career and/or business, to network with other ACHS alumni, to build connections with other industry professionals, and, above all, to tell us about you! How are you using your ACHS education? What is it like to work in the holistic heath field? Where are you headed next? What have you written, published, presented, preformed, talked about lately? We want to know.

Click here to join the ACHS Alumni Group today.

LinkedIn is a professional network with more than 40 million members in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Is there a better place to see and be seen? If so, let us know about it. We want to be there, too.

Code to Embed Logo

We can provide you with the html to embed the ACHS logo into your site or blog! Simply email communications@achs.edu:

and it will show up like this:



We are working on a range of new badges for ACHS students and graduates and will send you the embed code shortly. Show your pride in your school and in your success at an Accredited College and embed your badges into your blogs and websites. 

Rain, Rain and More Rain Here in NY

It's been raining in NY for the past three days and the weather report says three more days to come. We are all feeling rather soggy right about now. The sun seems a distant memory.

To brighten up dreary days we can use fresh herbs in our homes. The lemon balm is already fifteen inches high outside in the garden and makes a delicious bouquet tied up with raffia and placed in a vase in the kitchen. It scents the air reminding me of why I love spring each time I walk by.

The chives and garlic ramen are terrific now is soups... yes, soup is the favorite dinner along with some crusty whole grain bread when it's raining and chilly. We can dig up some chives and garlic ramen, because there's always plenty more from whence they came.

Spring flowers are in full bloom here in NY. The azaleas are stunning along with the rhododendrons and mountain laurel. Our ground cover of periwinkle looks so pretty against the green backdrop of leaves. It's chilly out and the ground is wet, but a walk in the rain rejuvenates the soul. It's quiet. We can hear the birds chirp in the morning air calling to their mates. The steady dripping sounds of the rain mixed with the splashes of children on their way to school. It's certainly a spring morning in NY!!

ACHS holistic health alumni Stephanie Austin hosts raw foods event

An event like this doesn't take place every day. If you have an interest in raw and living foods, finding answers to health concerns, or you're just looking for a great group of positive, green conscious people, you won't want to miss this event.

Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes, world-renowned raw food authors, educators, and lecturers will speak at the Meadow Park Building in San Luis Obispo, California, April 24, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Monarch and Stokes produce an online TV show called The Raw Food World. In addition, Stokes runs Raw Reform, blogs, and speaks worldwide about the benefits of raw and living food, and Monarch has written books and blogs about the raw food lifestyle, and runs Raw Spirit.

For more information, go to Love, Life, and Laughter, the blog of ACHS holistic health alumni Stephanie Austin.

Soroptomists' Regional Conference May 1 Needs Speaker ASAP

The Soroptomists' Founder Region Conference May 1 in San Ramon, California, needs a replacement for their scheduled speaker. This is a terrific opportunity for a prepared holistic nutrition professional to speak to a highly interested and educated audience.

The conference topic is women’s heart health, and the speaking subject is diet and nutrition. The conference has scheduled a doctor to talk about the signs of an unhealthy heart, including diabetes, but they are in need of a nutritionist to talk about women’s diet and nutrition to improve their overall health and quality of life.

For more information about the conference and presenting, contact Tess Albin-Smith at (707) 961-1123.

AHG TeleSeminar: "What do the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices means for herbalists?"

Registration is open for the second installment in the 2009 AHG TeleSeminar Series. Roy Upton, AHG's Vice-President, will be speaking on "What Do the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices Mean for Herbalists" on May 4 at 7:00 p.m., EST.

When the new GMPs for herbal products were finalized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2007, many breathed a sigh of relief: the FDA was not requiring practitioners who make their own products for their clients to adhere to the new regulations. The FDA did retain the authority, however, to do so in the future. This raises questions for herbalists, like “What would cause the FDA to come knocking" on an herbalist's door or to change their minds and require us to follow the guidelines?

There are few better people than Roy Upton to answer these questions or to discuss the ways to ensure that your clients are receiving high-quality herbal medicines.

Trained in both traditional Western and Chinese herbalism, Roy Upton is a founding and professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. His background includes extensive study with various Native American and non-Native herbalists, ethnobotany of the United States Virgin Islands, and seven years of clinical practice, followed by a three-year clinical internship with Michael Tierra and training at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. He is the executive director and editor of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® and is also a member of the Standards Committee of the American Herbal Products Association.

In his "day job," Upton is general manager of Planetary Formulas. He writes extensively and is the author of St. John's Wort and Echinacea, as well as co-author of the Botanical Safety Handbook—a landmark text of herbal safety—and is currently active in the preparation of a new edition.

To register for the AHG TeleSeminar, call the AHG Office at (203) 272-6731 or visit: http://americanherbalistsguild.com/node/132.

Spring Is In the Air

Spring is arriving a little more each day. The trees here are covered with bulging buds ready to pop. Magnolias are almost in bloom. Today I spent time in the sun enjoying the work of readying my herb garden for this years growth. I trimmed the oregano and lemon balm -both of which love to spread and take over my garden. I cut back the marjoram - that one seems to try to escape the herb bed by growing over my edging stones. The chives are already over a foot tall and will be ready for my soup this week. Sage and lavender grace the back of the garden making a beautiful wall along the bricks.

The squirrels have graced my garden with flowering bulbs I never planted, and again this year I have purple and blue bells sprouting between the herbs. They are lovely, so I leave them. At the edges of my herb garden I have daffodills blossoming and enjoyed the snow drops last month. The New York weather is too harsh for the rosemary to survive winter so I will replant again this year along with two types of basil for salads.

Since New York is crowded, there are no open areas nearby for me to safely harvest dandelion greens which are delicious now when they are small. I buy them at the local green grocers to add to salads. They are great for cleansing the toxins left from winters gloomy days. Soon I will be able to pick blackberries from the trees nearby along the bay. I look forward to getting a few, usually the birds beat me to most of them. The days are longer now and with daylight savings time in effect it is light out until almost 7:30pm. The neighbors bar-b-ques are going in the evening and the sweet scent of the herbs mixes with the heady odors from the grilles. This is my favorite time of the year. Happy spring everyone!!!

Rose: King of Indian flowers

Amongst all the scents used in perfumery, rose is one of the oldest and best known. Ancient reference of rose distillation is found in books by Charak and Susruta (Ayurveda sanhita). Mogul emperor Jahangir filled canals of his Palace Garden with distilled rose water. The oil, which was found to float over it, was collected and named as ‘Itr-e-Jahangiri’. This oil was nothing but the rose oil.

Legends about rose
Some say that rose was created from a drop of sweat falling from the brow of Mohammad. Some say, it was due to Bacchus. He fell is love with a beautiful nymph and to appreciate her beauty, covered a thorny bush with red perfumed flowers, we now call rose. Cupid said to have given the God of silence a rose to bribe him, not to reveal the amours of Venus. The rose then became the emblem of silence.

Cleopatra was bathing in rose water and used absolute rose to seduce her lover Antony. Lord Krishna's favorite was rose. Hindus wash and clean their alter of Gods with rose water. Roman banquets were decorated with Roses. When Alexander the Great came to India, he fell in love with beautiful gardens of India, nicely decorated with various kind of fragrant roses.

Rose species: There are more than 5,000 varieties of roses known to botanists. Only a few of them are fragrant and the fragrance varies according to the plant variety. Most of the fragrant roses are hybrids and the fragrance, referred by perfumers as ROSE, is found exclusively in the roses belonging to the group ‘cetifolia’ of family Roseaceae. Out of these only three are commercially exploited for the production of oil.

1. Rosa damascena: Also known as ‘Pink Damask Rose’
Found in wild in Syria, Morocco, and Andalusia. This variety contains relatively high amount of volatile oil. The oil required for perfumery is obtained from rose cultivated in Bulgaria and Turkey. The volatile oil obtained is light yellow, slightly greenish and is semisolid at room temperature. Odour is powerful and is characteristic of fresh roses. Flavour is sweet, strong and honey like. Damascena rose absolute is orange yellow, orange reddish or slightly olive yellowish viscous fluid with extremely rich, warm, spicy floral deep rose odour, with honey undertone.

2. Rosa alba: Also known as ‘white cottage rose’
This contains much less volatile oil and is of inferior quality compared to damask rose. This variety is resistant to unfavourable climatic conditions and hence is preferred by farmers. It is also grown in Bulgaria.

3. Rosa centifolia (L): Also known as ‘Light Pink Cabbage Rose’
This variety is grown exclusively in the Grasse region of southern France. It is also grown in Morocco and there it is also referred to as ‘Rose de mai’. It is difficult to distill oil from this variety using steam distillation. Hence solvent extraction is used to prepare concrete and absolutes from this rose. This variety appears to be related to Rosa damascena. ‘Rose de mai’ is orange-yellow to orange-brown viscous liquid, with rich sweet honey like tenacious odour.

Rose plantation: Soil in which rose thrive best is clayey, rich in humus, slightly sandy containing traces of ferrous salts. The soil should be slightly moist, not too dry. Hill slope at the altitude of 2,500–3,250 feet are very much suitable for the growth of rose plant. The plant should be well protected against cold winds as well as hot winds. Climate should be humid. New fields are started in fall. The first harvest can be obtained in third year after planting. Normal harvest is obtained after five years.

Harvesting: Rose begins to bloom in the second week of May and lasts for 3 to 4 weeks. Harvesting begins as soon as flowers open. They are collected by hands; nipped off just below the calyx. Usually plucking starts at day break and continues until 8–9 am.

Perfumery and flavour application of rose oils: Rose oil adds beauty and depth to the odour blend. When solubility in dilute alcohol is important, rose oil is used. Rose absolute can be used only when high grade alcohol is used. It is very important in rose –jasmine complex found in fashion perfumes. Rose de mai is useful in rounding up sharp notes in synthetic compositions. It is useful to flavour a variety of tobacco, snuff and chewing tobacco, soft drinks and alcoholic liqueurs. Also, to add interesting effect in fruit flavours such as apricol, raspberry, bitter almonds, etc.

Rose in India
The introduction of scented rose cultivation in India was started during Mughal time. Major rose oil producing region in India are Kashmir valley, mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, upper plains of Uttar Pradesh, Haldi ghati in Rajasthan and upper Shivalik hills in Punjab. More than 50% of production is confined to the state of U.P. & Rajasthan. We have been credited for introducing large-scale cultivation of Rosa damascena in Shivalik zone and upper plains of Punjab. The jawala variety of Damask rose developed by IHBT, CSIR has been standardized for the cultivation of this valuable crop in the plains of Punjab.

Therapeutic application of rose
The rose has many therapeutic values as long as it is of good grade, pure natural oil. Arab healers believed rose ‘jam’ could heal lung complaints. Dr. Leclerc, in Plantes Condimentaires published in 1950,valued it as a gentle laxative. It is astringent, antiseptic, soothing to eyes. A recipe by Galen suggests use of rose in cold cream. Galen was great Greek Physician. In cosmetic applications, rose is useful in eczema, to cure broken skin, against wrinkles and help remove skin puffiness. It is suitable for all skin types. It increase smoothness, reduce wrinkles on the face and helps the skin of the body glowing and charming rose oil helps patients suffering from depression, fear, nervous tension, insomnia and gives the feeling of well-being. It is helpful in women’s gynecological disorders, menopausal symptoms. It reduces excessive heat of the body. If used before menstrual cycle, it reduces P.M.S. problems.

About the author
Dr. Geetanjali Ranade is a graduate of the Australasian College Certificate in Aromatherapy program. She is a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and was visiting scientist at the National Cardiovascular Center, Japan, for post-doctoral research in brain physiology. She also holds RMP(Registered Medical Practitioner) from Indian Board of Alternative Medicine.

© 2008 This article originally appeared in the NAHA Aromatherapy E-Journal, 2008.3

Holistic Practices - Fusing our Skills

In the next few days the Congress will vote on President Obama's budget. In thinking about the concept of fiscal policy, I am struck by the vast difference between the way we as individuals and business persons are required to handle our finances vs the methodology of the federal government. If my business runs a deficit for an extended period of time, I am out of business. If I follow poor fiscal policy in planning my budget, I will eventually be met with failure. We as individuals are held to a higher standard of fiscal and monetary policy than that of our federal government.

As a holistic health care practitioner I am proud of the fact that I can share with clients not only my expertise in herbal medicine and healthy relationship practices, but also my ability to effectively manage my business and personal finances. My earlier Master's degree in finance and economics gives me the background to share specifics from my personal experience in responsible budgeting and fiscal policy as a part of my practice.

When we, as graduates, move into our chosen field of study, we bring to the table a vast array of skills we may have previously garnered. The more we can incorporate these varied areas of expertise into our practice, the more benefit we bring to our clients. Having a wider base of education and experience give us a more holistic approach to helping our fellow human beings. We can be proud of all our accomplishments and fuse them together to make our practice as beneficial as possible for our clients.

The root of my life: my family (plants' healing potential)

One day, when my daughter was in kindergarten, her teacher called to tell me that Brecca had rebelled against doing the Hokey Pokey, and she had incited a mutiny by getting the other children to follow her lead. When I questioned Brecca, she replied, “It’s not like I would not do my math. What does the Hokey Pokey have to do with anything?!” Well, in addition to discussing classroom decorum, I soon started dosing her with the vibrational essence of Vine, as it helps to correct the imbalance of “being domineering and autocratic, and not seeing value in another’s point of view.” Happily, this worked like a charm, and my sweet child has developed the traits of “selfless service, and joyfully participating in and listening to the individuality of others,” the flip side of the pattern of Vine vibrational essence.

Several years later, Brecca decided that she wanted to get to know her father, so she left home with me to live with him for a few years. She had planned to live with him until she completed high school, but had grown so unhappy living with him that she asked if she could return home for her senior year of high school. In the middle of this already sticky process, her father was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. After moving back home with me, I noticed that she could hardly get enough dill to eat, and she ate it on everything—including pizza! I knew that her craving was driven by her innate intelligence, which was holding space for her. The vibrational essence of Dill is good for “helping one stay centered when experiencing an overwhelming number of impressions, feelings and sensations, and when feeling under pressure,” and “to change perception [from] being a victim to seeing one’s power.”

Her father has a strong personality that she felt was engulfing hers, which was complicated by her father being hurt, and the feelings of guilt that arose from having strong negative emotions towards an injured individual. Her craving for dill expressed to me what she was not able to find the words for, and allowed me to respond to her in the most beneficial way, including using Dill vibrational essence in her sublingual blends. When her dill craving diminished, I knew that she had regained her balance and personality, and no longer felt like a victim. She now speaks often of her love of Daffodils, which tells me that a deep place within her desires “to find her own voice and know her divine nature.” Naturally I now include the flower essence of Daffodil in her blends.

I cannot express how comforting it is to know that no matter what challenges my daughter may encounter, there is a corresponding plant to help ease the way. The core lesson I have tried to impart to her is that life is about understanding Self and how one responds to situations. She never needs to feel overwhelmed, stuck, sad, discouraged or caught in an uninvited pattern. Plants, whether in the form of essential oils or vibrational essences, are the keys to making the adjustments necessary.

Author Bio: Candace Covington is a graduate of the ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy program. She is an aromatherapy, Ayurveda, and spa modalities instructor, a presenter for Red Mountain International Resort and Spa, and author of Just Ask Miss Candice, a weekly online self-help column.

How to make your press release newsworthy

There are four common PR misperceptions to watch for...

1. You are the focus of your PR.

Although we like to think it, we are not the news. (Sorry.) To convince strangers that they want to hear what you have to share—and that they then want to take action—your press release should focus on the service you are offering...a service that is The Solution.

Remember, your future customer does not know they are looking for you. They're looking for someone or something that can ease their stress, help with lifestyle improvement, relive a persistent cough, etc. Therefore, to show your future customer the truth, that your service is The Solution, focus on the concrete benefits to them.

2. More is Better

More is not better. Specifics are better.

For example, you are hosting a community wellness event about nutrition. The inclination might be to send out a press release about all of the services you offer, thinking “When will these people read about me again?" But, it would be more beneficial to ask yourself, "If my future customer only remembers one thing, what should it be?"

The answer: the day, time, and location of your event.

Be specific. Use a specific, targeted headline when you send out your press release, such as: Free nutrition consultation for students with ADD.

3. Flash is Better

Flash is hard to pull off. It’s better to be informative than insincere; although they are both memorable, one has clear benefits over the other.

What constitutes as flash? Overwriting. Overselling. Over anything...

Stick to words and descriptions your audience is familiar with, will respond to.

For example: "New eco-sheik botanic day spa consultancy opening in your neighborhood featuring free aromatherapy massages ranging from $60-100."

Huh? I'm not sure I even know what I mean. Is it a day spa or a consultant business? What's free? Eco what?

Or: "Stress-targeting massages with organic aromatherapy products boost your immune system and support green business."

You now know what the service is, how it benefits your future customers, and that there is a larger connection to the environment, which makes your press release news worthy.

4. The More Flashy Qualifiers the Better

Qualifiers take up space. Again, it is better to be sincere, informative, and service-minded than dazzling.

What is a qualifier? Good. Great. Greatest. Best. Better than. Amazing. Great. And so on.........

We think these words will catch the reader’s attention. And they do, but not in the way we want. They signal overstating or overwriting, which automatically makes the reader defensive and suspicious.

Why? Like writing with “flash,” self-promotion without substance is hard to pull off, and qualifiers mean different things to different readers. What one person may find good or great, another may not. This is the “one-size fits all” approach, and it doesn’t work.

Remember, it is better to offer a strong, service-oriented promotion than to oversell a so-so one.

3 tips for using Twitter to promote your blog

Twitter—aka the new social media which has everyone “tweeting” professionally—is being used in many different ways and by lots of people. At its most basic, Twitter allows you to post short sentences alerting friends and family (i.e., followers) to what you’re doing.

But there are several social networking applications too. For example, some businesses use Twitter to announce new promotions and others use it as a survey tool to gauge customer response and demand.

Yet, for holistic health professionals (that is, small to medium-sized business owners, Twitter is becoming the fastest way to build a word of mouth following.

3 tips for using Twitter to promote your blog:

1. Ask a Question

It’s easy to tell people what you’re doing. But it won’t hold their interest for very long. So, instead of saying “Posted article about caring for your pets with homeopathy,” ask, “How has homeopathy helped your pet to feel better?” Questions encourage conversation, which allows more followers to contribute their experience.

2. Remark

The competition over blog comments can be fierce. But, if you post something that attracts a lot of comments, first comment back. Then, post a short line to Twitter inviting people to join the conversation.

3. Ask for What You Want

Once you know which of the social media referral sites (or voting sites) drives the most traffic to your blog, ask your followers to dish out a review (for example, StumbleUpon, Digg, Newsvine, etc.). Think of it as cross promotion. Every blog needs a little push now and then.

Based on Chris Brogan’s article “How I Use Twitter to Promote My Blog” on Problogger: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/03/25/how-i-use-twitter-to-promote-my-blog/

Now That I'm Counseling - Holistic Counselor

Since my graduation from ACHS I have increased my client base at a steady pace over the past three years. I have opted for private practice, so my first clients were the toughest. I gave myself away in the beginning. I offered my services in mini seminar format to local groups, churches and businesses for little or no cost. I did work as a volunteer at local shelters for battered women. I had to do much leg work initially, but the results worked. Eventually I had a client who recommended me to another person, and so on and so on, and that is how my practice grew.

I have also used the Internet as a tool in growing my practice and getting my name "out there", so to speak. I have a blog on which I write daily, http://holistic-counselor.blogspot.com/. I also write posts for other blogs and forums. My blog automatically posts to my Facebook page, as well as on my LinkedIn Forum. I use My Space and Twitter to invite followers to read my posts. I invite people to view my blog, suggest topics they would like covered, and comment on my posts. The results have been excellent. Virtually all my clients read my blog daily, and I have received emails from other followers asking for postings on topics they would like covered.

For those of you reading these blogs, the leg work may be substantial in the beginning, but pays off in the end. Don't skip the Internet. It can work for you as well.

Good luck in your endeavors!!

The ACHS Experience - Holistic Counselor

I've been an information junkie all my life. I'd been practicing with herbs, supplements, nutrition and a holistic lifestyle for years. Finally I decided to get the necessary credentials. I started my search for a school on line, as most of us do today. I checked out lots of local institutions... I live in NYC, so there's loads... and decided that with a child at home, PTA President, and a part time job I really had no more hours available to attend classes in person. That's when distance learning became a real solution. After much debate and research I settled on ACHS. Their reputation and accreditation were in order and the staff I encountered in my initial contacts were supportive and willing to help me complete my work. Throughout my studies I received excellent feedback and intelligent critiques on my work. My mentors were bright capable people who took their position as advisor quite seriously. As a result of their efforts, and my own, I completed the program with Honors.

I entered the program never before having worked through distance learning. I was surprised at how much I loved it. Doing the labs with my son was a blast. We made infusions, decoctions, salves and creams. We tasted, rubbed, sniffed and inspected. He even used some of our work as a class project! It was a great bonding experience for us, me being a single Mom at the time. My son is proud of my ACHS experience and calls me Dr. Mom. I knew my son was watching my efforts and so I made certain to ace all my classes. How could I ask more of him than myself. Thanks ACHS. This was a terrific life changing experience!!

Update from Nat 308 Grad Mike Debanewicz

Mike Debanewicz, Nat 308 graduate, has been featured in the first of a new series being tapes for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and the City of Miramar. View the clip here: 

ACHS Alumni on Inside Cosmeceuticals

Dr. Geentanjali Ranade, an ACHS aromatherapy graduate, has a new article on the Inside Cosmeceuticals website, "Sandalwood--Ceremony, Serenity, and Comfort." Dr. Ranade's article provides useful information about the cultivate of sandalwood and its historic use in perfumery, among many other tips and insights. Show your support for ACHS grads...Leave Dr. Ranade a comment on the Inside Cosmeceuticals website, and while you're there, share a little of your own experience studying sandalwood and aromatherapy. You never know who's reading!

ACHS Announces Wednesday Brown Bag Lecture Series

Starting on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, ACHS will be offering a weekly lecture series from 12-1 pm at our campus in Portland.

This will be a 50-minute brown bag lecture series on a variety of topics. These lectures are free to ACHS students and graduates and only $10 for the public. To reserve your place, please call 503-244-0726.

Our first lecture will be on Iridology with ACHS President and Holistic Health Expert Dorene Petersen:

Did you know that by looking at the texture of your iris you can evaluate your own or your client's health potential. When you study iridology you can analyze the overall constitution. This is a great tool to help you formulate wellness protocols. You can also see inherent weaknesses before they actually manifest as symptoms in the body.

This lecture is an introduction to the history, theory and philosophy of Iridology.

Schedule of upcoming lectures:

February 4: Introduction to Iridology with ACHS President Dorene Petersen

February 11: Introduction to Homeopathy with ACHS Instructor Dr. Matt Zorn, ND

February 18: Cheap & Effective Community Marketing for the Holistic Practitioner by ACHS Director of Marketing Kate Harmon

February 25: Writing Press Releases with ACHS Communications Manager Lauren Shapiro

All lectures will be videod. Highlights of the lecture will be available on the ACHS TV Channel on YouTube with full videos available in selected online classrooms for ACHS students. Be sure to subscribe to the ACHS YouTube Channel online here to receive notification when a new lecture is available.

Also, keep an eye on your email for an invite to join the ACHS Holistic Health Tip of the Week Google group to receive weekly announcements about upcoming lectures and additional tips for personal health and wellness! You can also view the ACHS Events calendar online here.

We look forward to seeing you on-campus!

Valentine's with Face, Body, Soul ACHS Alumni Kiva Lane

Take advantage of the food, music, and fun planned by ACHS alumni Kiva Lane at her NE Portland natural health spa.

February 6, 2009, Face Body Soul will host a luscious pre-Valentine's Day event to help you plan for the big day, with a focus on health, wellness, and high-quality body care. Find the gift sure to bring a smile: gourmet, vegan truffles, spa treatments, savory candles and artisan soap. The list goes on and on! And as a gift to you--or a gift to share with a loved one--all certificates purchased between 7-9 p.m. include an additional, complementary 25-minute enhancement.

Face Body Soul
4727 NE Fremont Ave
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 719-5055

2009 Trends: Wellness Coaches

The December 2008 edition of Entrepreneur magazine featured a 2009 Trends to Watch. The report, which featured some to-be-expected categories like Economy, Digital, and Green, also included Health (which frequently means the pharmaceutical, the cosmetic, or the unrealistic personal trainer routine). Not this time—at least, not entirely.

Yes, there was talk of the number of convenient care clinics expected by 2012 (health clinics in retail locations) and the growing popularity of everything gluten-free popularity. But there also was a significant head nod to the growing appreciate for, and expected increase in WELLNESS COACHES. According to Entrepreneur:

"For people seeking a lifestyle fix rather than a meal plan or workout regimen, wellness coaches focus on the whole shebang—stress and time management, diet and fitness—to encourage personalized, sustainable, healthy behaviors. Both individuals and corporations hire wellness coaches, who can charge anywhere from $60 to $150 an hour [...]."

Holistic health—or complementary alternative medicine—is growing in public awareness. That means a larger job market for trained professionals, more educational opportunities, and, above all, a healthier world. It's a good day!

© Entrepreneur 2009: http://www.entrepreneur.com/hottrends/index.html

Clinical Phytotherapy Summer Camp in BC

Led by Chanchal Cabrera, MSc, MNIMH, this five-day camp offers advanced training in botanical medicine for practitioners and senior students. Case review-based format will also include detailed discussions of pathologies, therapeutic strategies, and botanical Materia medica for specific conditions. Cases and conditions examined will include: healthy heart and circulation, preventing osteoporosis, repairing connective tissue, managing anxiety and insomnia, and managing auto-immune diseases.

There will be an addition two days dedicated to cancer care with the use of botanicals and nutrition. Learning sessions will include: example cases studies of different types of cancer; a review of the bio-mechanics of cancer (what it is and how it progresses); blood and tissue tests for diagnosis; treatment planning and monitoring; nutritional and botanical interventions; working with chemotherapy and radiation; and overall case management strategies.

Also enjoy yoga and breath work, herb walks, the horticulture therapy program, a camp fire, delicious home cooking featuring vegetables from the garden and lots of fun.

Chanchal Cabrera has been practicing herbal medicine for more than 22 years, and has been the Faculty Director in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster, BC, since 2004.

August 9-13, 2009. Classes run 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 30 hours of instruction. $500 plus GST includes all tuition, course notes, camping, and three meals a day.

For information and a registration form, call (250) 336-8767 or visit www.chanchalcabrera.com.