the achs reporter - american college of healthcare...
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Volume 14 • Issue 5 May 2011
• ACHS's Professional Aromatherapy Training Approved by AIA
•ACHS Launches Online, Interactive FAQ Knowledgebase
• Aromatherapy for Self-Care from Massage Magazine
• Cooking with Herbs
• Meet Celeste Young, ACHS HHP Graduate
• Hyperlinks, Full-text Articles, and More!
Inside this issue ...
the ACHS Reporter
Welcome to the ACHS Reporter, your resource for holistic health and college news. Our goal is to provide our students with an interactive and engaging “launchpad” for their own complementary alternative medicine studies and practice. Inside these pages, you will find ACHS college news, industry updates, holistic health tips and recipes, career-building information, continuing education opportunities, and much more.
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[ 2 ] © 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences
A C H S N E W S !ACHS's Professional Aromatherapy Training Approved By AIA
We're very pleased to announce the Alliance of Internation-al Aromatherapists (AIA) has approved the ACHS Cer-
tificate in Aromatherapy as a Level II approved aromatherapy program and the ACHS Diploma in Aromatherapy as a Level III Clinical Aromatherapy program.
ACHS is the only nationally accredited, AIA Level II and III professional clinical aromatherapy training available in the U.S. This recognition ensures ACHS aromatherapy programs and ACHS students meet and exceed AIA’s extensive curriculum requirements for aromatherapy training at the clinical level as critically reviewed by independent evaluators of the AIA Educa-tion Committee.
The mission of the AIA Education Committee is to “foster high standards of safe, ethical and professional practice in the clinical use of essential oils.” To that end, “AIA promotes essential oil research and has established guidelines that promote ex-cellence in aromatherapy education” to ensure “competency of practitioners of clini-cal aromatherapy.” The ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy and ACHS Diploma in Aromatherapy have been recognized as Level II and Level III programs respectively
as a reflection of the College’s commitment to curricula that utilizes the most current research in aromatherapy available, as well as the highest standards of professional training, standards of practice, and professional ethics.
“We’re very proud of this recognition,” says ACHS President Dorene Petersen. “AIA is diligently working to establish a high standard of excellence in the aroma-therapy industry, which begins with quality education. Our mission at ACHS is to provide leadership in holistic health education through comprehensive professional online and on-campus education. This AIA recognition supports our mission and val-idates what we feel on a personal level, that our students are on the cutting-edge of aromatherapy education. We have the great privilege of training responsible, influen-tial members of the growing aromatherapy professional community.”
For more information about AIA approved Level II and Level III programs at ACHS, including the Associate of Applied Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine with the Aromatherapy major, contact ACHS at (800) 487-8839, email [email protected], or stop by the College campus located at 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239.
For more information about ACHS and the AIA, visit the AIA website at http://www.alliance-aromatherapists.org/Aromatherapy_schools.htm
ACHS Launches Online, Interactive FAQ KnowledgebaseIn May 2011, ACHS launched the ACHS FAQ Knowledgebase, an interactive, online forum providing immediate answers to frequently asked questions. The ACHS FAQ Knowledge-base can be accessed online 24 hours per day, 365 days per year at http://faq.achs.edu/ for the most recently updated answers to your ACHS questions. We highly recommend you visit our
searchable FAQ Knowledgebase as your first information resource.If you require supplemental information to what is readily available on the FAQ Knowledgebase, such as specific information about your program, course
of study, or payments, please contact the appropriate ACHS department for further guidance. If you are not able to locate the information you need, or have an FAQ to suggest for inclusion in the ACHS FAQ Knowledgebase, please email your
inquiry to [email protected] for review.
© 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences [ 3 ]
A C H S N E W S !Aromatherapy For Self-Care
By ACHS President Dorene Petersen
Responding to stress is something people naturally do to help regulate the body—but staying in a constant state of stress will eventually have negative health
effects. Cortisol, also called the stress hormone, is part of the body's natural response to stress, but when released at high levels, or when is it not allowed to disperse due to chronic stress, it can decrease immunity, bone density and overall quality of life.
Practicing consistent and intentional self-care to support the body's natural relaxation response and to keep our body's cortisol levels balanced and healthy is essential for long-term wellness. Self-care helps us to manage stress before it becomes constant. Aromatherapy is one effective self-care method we can use to stop stress from taking root in the body.
Aromatherapy triggers the relaxation response, necessary for self-care. The relaxation response can be triggered by doing something you like, such as deep breathing, walking, and self-massage. Triggering the relaxation response has many health benefits, including healthy cortisol levels and decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, improved digestion and normalized blood sugar levels.
That's why it is important to make time for yourself every day, even if that means stolen moments here and there, such as while you're between clients, in the car, washing dishes or even doing laundry. Aromatherapy is flexible and portable, and it provides a lot of diversity, so your self-care time can be most meaningful.
Consider using essential oils as part of your everyday health routine. Using essential oils when you are already relaxed, such as during a massage, creates a positive conditioning response, a positive association.
To support everyday use, try inhalation of single essential oils, or, if you have more time, creating a personal blend of essential oils. Both methods have therapeutic properties. Deciding which method is most appropriate for your immediate needs may be a simple factor of available time.
If you choose inhalation, select essential oils with a pleasant association. Waft (or diffuse) calming, yet uplifting aromas like palmarosa Cymbopogon martini, neroli Citrus aurantium var. amara, or bergamot Citrus aurantium var. bergamia. Inhale deeply.
If you choose to make a blend, select essential oil with relaxing and/or uplifting properties. Anise Pimpinella anisum, basil Ocimum basilicum, clary sage Salvia sclarea, geranium Pelargonium graveolens, grapefruit Citrus paradisi, lavender
Lavandula angustifolia, nutmeg Myristica fragrans, petitgrain Citrus aurantium, rose attar Rosa damascena, rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, sweet orange Citrus sinensis, tangerine Citrus reticulata, and ylang ylang Cananga odorata are especially useful for simple, stress-reducing blends.
For a stress-relieving shower, combine 4 ounces of unscented shower gel, 15 drops of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, 10 drops of grapefruit Citrus paradisi, 10 drops of tangerine Citrus reticulata, and 6 drops of petitgrain Citrus aurantium. Use externally.
For a more sedating blend for massage or bath, combine one-half cup of sweet almond oil, 6 drops of anise Pimpinella anisum, 6 drops of rose attar Rosa damascena, and 6 drops of nutmeg Myristica fragrans. Use as needed as a massage oil or add 1-3 T to bathwater.
Note that you can use these essential oil blends in a diffuser. Simply leave out the base oil or gel.
*This article originally appeared in the May 2011 edition of Massage Magazine. To read the original article on massagemagazine.com, visit http://www.massagemag.com/News/print-this.php?id=10853
ACHStv On YouTube: Shelf Life of Essential Oils
[ 4] © 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences
Cooking with HerbsBy ACHS Holistic Nutrition Instructor Helen (Eleni) Delfakis, MS, RD
Spring is a great time to begin cooking light and healthy using fresh herbs. One of my favorite herbs is basil, Ocimum basilicum, which is an annual plant cultivated
in temperate climates around the world. In Greece, basil is named Basileus, Greek for 'king', is associated with romance, and has been used for aromatherapy since the third century B.C. in Greek and Roman bathhouses. In more recent times, basil has been cultivated by the cosmetic industry for fragrances, shampoos, and soaps.
For medicinal purposes, basil tea has been recommended by herbalists to cure cramps, vomiting and constipation, and its mild sedative properties make it ideal for relieving headaches and anxiety.
For culinary uses, basil is one of the most popular cooking herbs. Its mildly peppery taste and desirable fragrance makes this herb ideal for flavoring veal, poultry, fish, cheeses, and most vegetable and pasta dishes, especially when blending with olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes. The linguini with tomatoes and basil recipe included is delicious and easy, and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare.
Linguini with Tomatoes and Basil
Preparation time: 15 minutes
½ lb linguini pasta¼ cup extra virgin olive oil¼ cup finely chopped green onion1 lb ripe tomatoes, finely chopped3 cloves garlic, finely chopped½ ounce fresh basil leaves, finely chopped2 ounces feta cheese, crumbledFreshly ground black pepper corns
Calories per serving: 360Number of Servings: 4
Preparation Directions
Cook the pasta in two quarts of water and ½ teaspoon salt according to the time directions stated on the package. Do not overcook. While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables and herbs and crumble the feta cheese.
Using a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over low-medium heat and add the chopped onions and tomatoes. Sauté until slightly wilted, about one minute. Add the garlic and stir for another 15 seconds. Add the cooked and drained pasta, fresh basil, pepper and the cheese, and toss until all the ingredients are well blended. Remove from the heat.
Sweet Basil FAQs
1. Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum is from the family Lamiaceae and is commonly called citral, garden basil, St. Josephwort, and Thai basil.
2. Sweet basil, a favorite kitchen herb, has tra-ditionally been used as an appetite stimulant, antiflatulent, diuretic, and gargle and mouth astringent; it has a peppery flavor and clove-like aroma.
3. Basil is an annual plant; it grows well in warm, sheltered spots, including pots.
4. Sweet basil contains an essential oil with the active constituents estragol, linalool, linalol, thy-mol, lineol, and camphor, among others.
5. Basil also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B2, and vitamins A and C.
© 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences [ 5 ]
ACHS HerbDay 2011 Downloadable Resources
Meet Celeste Young, ACHS Diploma In Holistic Health Practice (HHP) Graduate “The body has an innate ability to heal itself,” says Celeste Young, ACHS Diploma in Holistic Health Practice (HHP) graduate. “I was first attracted to the wellness in-dustry when I experienced side effects with drugs and muscle relaxants. They made me sick to my stomach and I ended up missing a lot of time from work. I went to see my chiropractor, who is also a homeopath, and immediately felt better and started actually ‘LIVING.’ I tried it on my dogs and it worked on them, too!”
Celeste owns and operates K9BWellSM, a holistic health practice for dogs focused on “loving, caring and quality of life.” Based in Manhattan Beach, California, the goal of K9BWellSM is to “energetically balance canine bodies as a “whole.” Bio-en-ergetic screening, nutrition, homeopathy, flower essences and other holistic methods are used to re-awaken their body’s energy to self-heal without the use of allopathic medicines. This improves their health and enhances their quality of life,” Celeste says.
“I have been doing this for almost 20 years and have been using energy medicine myself since about 1993,” Celeste says. “I've had dogs since 1987 and have used homeopathy and experimented with nutrition on them since about 1995. My philoso-phy is that with balanced energy flow, chi, you can achieve and maintain superior health.”
Celeste graduated from the ACHS Diploma in Holistic Health Practice in 2008. She found ACHS after searching for a holistic program focused on healing that could also be used with animals. The ACHS HHP program provides training in several mo-
dalities, including aromathera-py, herbal medicine, and holis-tic nutrition, training that could be combined with her passion for dogs and canine health.
“The one MAJOR thing that I absolutely love about ACHS is the staff,” says Celeste. “I have never had such great communi-cation with any other organiza-tion. The staff has always been very supportive to me. […] I truly respect ACHS for retain-ing this warm atmosphere. I feel like you all are very good friends or even family....”
For more information about K9BWellSM—Holistic Health for Dogs visit http://www.k9bwell.com Celeste can be contacted via email at [email protected]
For more information about the ACHS Diploma in Holistic Health Practice, visit http://www.achs.edu/course-desc.aspx?pid=29&id=4, call (800) 487-8839, or email [email protected] for more information.
On April 27, 2011, ACHS hosted HerbDay 2011, a community wellness workshop honoring the tradition of herbal medicine and the use of herbs for daily health support. Workshop attendees participated in presentations including seed sprouting,
aromatherapy for seasonal balance, and holistic first aid, among others! Pictured right, ACHS President Dorene Petersen demonstrates how to make a tincture from calendula Calendula officinalis flowers, part of the holistic first aid presentation and Apothecary Shoppe Holistic First Aid Kit (available from the Apothecary Shoppe website here).
To see more images from ACHS HerbDay 2011, check out our flickr photosteam here http://www.flickr.com/photos/americancollege/
To watch the presentations on YouTube, visit ACHStv on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/ACHStv
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The ACHS Reporter is a monthly eNewsletter published by the American College of Healthcare Sciences. Its purpose is to provide holistic health education, career information, and resources for holistic health students, ACHS graduates, and professionals.
The ACHS Reporter is available electronically. For the fastest in-box delivery, sign up for the ACHS Reporter at www.achs.edu
Print editions are available by special request. Send requests and correspondence to the editor.
Note the ideas and opinions expressed within third-party articles within The Reporter have been provided for educational purposes only and do not
necessarily express the ideas and/or opinions of the The Reporter, The Reporter staff, the American College of Healthcare Sciences, its staff, or faculty.
Managing Editor & Communications Manager: Lauren Shapiro5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland, OR 97239(503) 244-0726 ext 17Email: [email protected]
© 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences. All rights reserved. Educators should contact the editor for inquiries related to reprints and permissions.
Web ExtrasAVA I L A B LE F O R D OW N L OA D
o News and Events The ACHS website, www.achs.edu, includes a News and Events link on the left-hand toolbar. This is your go-to resource for developing College news and articles by ACHS faculty. Read up on new discounts for industry organization members and potential new scholarships to help fund your education!
o Alumni in Action Read stories from ACHS alumni and learn how they have started suc-cessful businesses, launched radio programs, and published articles. Go to: http://www.achs.edu/alumni/alumni-spotlight.aspx
o ACHS Reporter ArchiveRefer to our past issues for an online archive of holistic health re-sources for personal and professional use. Access our archive at: http://www.achs.edu/news/news.aspx?id=8
CO N N E C T W I T H AC H S
We have more opportunities than ever to see what’s going on at the College and with your fellow students! Networking is a great resource for questions,
discussions, and to continually keep up-to-date with the most recent ideas and top-ics in holistic health.
o ACHS has its own social network: You're invited to join MyACHS Connect, a vibrant online community exclusively for ACHS students and graduates. Please visit http://myachs.ning.com and sign up using the same email address that is in your student records, so your membership can be approved without delay.
o We also have our ACHS YouTube and Vimeo channels where everyone can view seminars, lectures, and videos from ACHS. Be sure to subscribe so you are alerted with updates. You also can tag your own videos with ACHStv and we may select them to be featured on the ACHS channel.
o Follow us on Twitter (ACHSedu and CAMResearch) for real-time updates and news. And—be sure to share your Twitter address with us so we can follow you too!
o Join the discussion and "Like" us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ACHSedu
o Check in with ACHS and the Apothecary Shoppe on Foursquare for special offers: http://foursquare.com/venue/6028061
[ 6 ] © 2011 American College of Healthcare Sciences