Volume 1 • Issue 3 July 2009

> Is DETC accreditation equal to “regional” accreditation

> ACHS raises lavender awareness

> Use of complementary and alternative medicine in the U.S.

> Who are ACHS students?

> Pursue your passion: July 15 application deadline for fall classes

> How to green your pets

Inside this issue ...

MyWellness FutureWelcome to My Wellness Future, your resource for holistic health and distance-learning news. Our goal is to provide our prospec-tive students with an interactive and engaging “launchpad” for a successful holistic health education and career. Inside these pages, you will find articles about attending college online, ca-reers in holistic health, College news, student profiles, and much more.

July 2009

Pursue your passion.

ACHS programs are specially designed to provide you with the information and skills you need for a career in holistic medicine and healthcare.

Your journey begins when you apply.

The deadline to apply for fall classes is July 15. Call us at (800) 487-8839.

Featured classes starting August 17 include:

Homeopathy

Nat 204, Homeopathy, is based on the natural law of heal-ing, Similia Similibus Curantur, or “like cures like”. Learn how to stimulate the body’s self-healing response with homeo-pathic remedies for personal and professional use.

Flower Essences

Nat 202, Flower Essences, is based on the Bach flower es-sences developed by Dr. Edward Bach. Simple and natural, flower essences are commonly used for emotional and psy-chological conditions, and are safe and effective for adults, children, babies, animals, and plants.

Iridology

Nat 203, Iridology, explores the techniques and theory of iridology, including analysis of the iris of the eye in relation to the body’s health and the theory of iris analysis.

Contact us today to begin your holistic health training with ACHS. Call (800) 487-8839 or go to www.achs.edu

> For a complete list of fall courses, click here

Registration deadline for fall classes is July 15. ACHS community classes

July 13: Diet and Lifestyle Choices for a Healthy Life

In this lecture Dr. Ariana Staruch will review the basics about food as fuel: easy ways to move towards a healthy diet that supports a normal weight and lots of energy. She will also dis-cuss the glycemic index, and how to balance blood sugar lev-els and why this is important. Learn about healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and look at ways to increase ex-ercise and reduce stress. 6-7 pm. To RSVP, call (800) 487-8839. American College of Healthcare Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239.

July 27-31: DoD Worldwide Educational Symposium

The DoD Worldwide Education Symposium brings together all of the major players in voluntary education: Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Meet ACHS Director of Military Relations, Kate Harmon, and ACHS Dean of Admissions and Military Education Coordina-tor, Tracey Miller, at DoD 2009, booth #811. July 27-31, 2009. Mariott Atlanta Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave., Atlanta, Georgia

For more information about the DoD, ACHS military benefits, or ACHS Meet and Greet event opportunities, call (800) 487-8839.

August 29: ACHS Holistic Health Career Fair

Meet holistic health professionals and learn more about the exciting career opportunities waiting for you as an ACHS grad-uate. Noon-3 p.m. To RSVP, call (800) 487-8839. American Col-lege of Healthcare Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland.

ACHS raises lavender awareness by sponsoring two educational events

The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) will host two educa-tional events in July to raise aware-ness about the benefits of growing lavender and its applications.

Lavender Open House and U-Pick on Friday, July 17, 2009, is an opportunity for the commu-nity to explore the ACHS Botani-cal Teaching Garden and to learn how to make lavender wands, to differentiate varieties of lavender, and how to make natural prod-ucts with lavender. Participants

also will learn how to harvest fresh lavender from the garden ($6 per lavender bunch or 2 bunches for $10). Lavender Open House runs 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the ACHS campus in John’s Landing, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland.

Lavender Distillation on Satur-day, July 18, 2009, will take place at Sherwood Lavender Farm, owned by ACHS Senior Vice President Er-ika Yigzaw. Participants will learn about the benefits of lavender for small agriculture and its many by-

products. Master Distiller Rob-ert Seidel from The Essential Oil Company and ACHS President Dorene Petersen will also lead a class about lavender distillation, including an introduction to es-sential oil and aromatherapy, the art and science of using volatile plant oils to promote health and relaxation. Lavender Distillation

runs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call (503) 244-0726 for directions.

Lavender Open House and U-Pick on July 17 is free to attend. The Lav-ender Distillation at Sherwood Lav-ender Farm on July 18 has a materi-als fee of $35. Both events require RSVP. Call (503) 244-0726 or email admissions@achs.edu to reserve your space.

For a complete list of communi-ty education events sponsored by ACHS, visit ww.achs.edu and click on Community Wellness Classes.> To watch the June 17 ACHS rosemary distillation on YouTube, click here

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States

In December 2008, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (part of the Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention) released new findings on Americans’ use of complementary and alterna-tive medicine (CAM). The findings are from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

About CAM

CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used to-gether with conventional medicine, and alter-native medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine combines con-ventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.

How Many People Use CAM

In the United States, approximately 38% of adults

(about 4 in 10) and approximately 12% of chil-dren (about 1 in 9) are using some form of CAM.

Who Uses CAM Most

People of all backgrounds use CAM. Howev-er, CAM use among adults is greater among women and those with higher levels of edu-cation and higher incomes.

CAM Therapies Used the Most

Non-vitamin, non-mineral natural products are the most commonly used CAM therapy among adults. Use has increased for several therapies, including deep breathing exercises, meditation, massage therapy, and yoga.

Use of Natural Products

The most popular natural products are fish oil/omega 3, glucosamine, echinacea, and flaxseed.

Health Conditions Prompting CAM Use

People use CAM for an array of diseases and conditions. American adults are most likely to use CAM for musculoskeletal problems such as back, neck, or joint pain. The use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a substantial decrease from 2002 to 2007. Fig-ure 6 ranks the top 10 conditions prompting CAM use among adults for 2007 and 2002.

CAM Use Among Children

The 2007 NHIS asked selected adult respond-

ents about CAM use by children in their households. Overall, approximately 12 per-cent of children use some form of CAM. Use is greater among:

• Children whose parents used CAM (23.9%)Adolescents aged 12-17 (16.4%), compared to younger children

• White children (12.8%), compared to Hispanic children (7.9%) and black children (5.9%)

• Children whose parents had higher edu-cation levels (more than high school: 14.7%)

• Children with six or more health condi-tions (23.8%)

• Children whose families delayed conven-tional care because of cost (16.9%)

Additional Reports

NCCAM plans to collaborate with NCHS on further analyses of the survey findings. Among the areas of interest to the research-ers are CAM costs and spending, dietary sup-plements, and reasons for CAM use. Future reports will be published by NCHS and post-ed on the NCCAM web site.

Reprinted with permission from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website.

> Click here to visit the NCCAM website

ACHS grad Amanda Lattin creates her own blend for success

Amanda Lattin, a graduate from the ACHS Diploma in Aromatherapy and Master Herb-alist programs, owns and operates Terracina Aromatics and Herbals, a line of therapeutic aromatherapy blends.

Amanda formulates her blends to be used alone, or to complement other modalities like acupuncture, massage, reike, and chiro-practic. She also has worked to put the ac-tions of the blends “into the terms” of these modalites to make aromatherapy more ac-cessible to practitioners and their clients.

In addition to Terracina Aromatics and Her-bals, Amanda also has an aromatherapy and

herbal practice in Portland, Oregon, where she leads customized aromatherapy sessions and formulates herbal protocols using the founda-tions and principles from Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic systems. She also works with acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiro-practors, and nurse practitioners as a consult-ant, and leads private educational sessions for practitioners who want to incorporate aroma-therapy into their modality.

Amanda holds a BA in Chemistry and an MA in Teaching Chemistry. She also is a Teaching Assistant for the ACHS Masters program, and is a guest lecturer at ACHS and other venues.

Teracina Aromatics and Herbals www.terracinaherbals.com

Email: amanda@terracinaherbals.com

Who are ACHS students? Meet Dana Ford.

Dana Ford became interested in holistic health and wellness about five years ago. She was living a “sed-entary lifestyle,” which had begun “to cause all kinds of problems in my life, physically and emotionally,” Dana says. “I had become a couch potato with no energy.”

Then she had a self-described “ah-ha moment,” and decided to do something or “I was going to be a poster child for heart disease and obesity,” she says. “I knew there

was no quick fix to lose weight and get back into shape. I began a year-long process of changing my eat-ing habits, learning about health and nutrition, and just getting out of the house and moving around.”

Over the course of that year, Dana lost 85 lbs., decreased her body fat from 49% to 22%, and dropped her cholesterol from 270 to 157. “I have learned,” she says, “that a holistic ap-proach works and keeps everything in balance like it was designed to be.”

Dana’s new goal is to become a lifestyle coach, to help others im-prove their fitness while working as a personal trainer and through holistic nutrition consulting “using the knowledge I gain from classes at ACHS,” Dana says.

“I chose ACHS at first because I could take classes online. When I looked into it further, I really liked the classes being offered,” Dana says. “I will definitely recommend ACHS to any prospective students!”

In every measurable way, yes! DETC accreditation is just as valid as any regional accreditation, and the Sec-retary of Education has officially rec-ognized DETC since 1959 and by the Council for Higher Education and its predecessors since 1975. DETC meets precisely the same standards as do the regionals, and would hasten to add DETC has vastly more experience and tougher, more stringent stand-ards for distance learning than any other agency in the U.S.

Benefits of DETC Accreditation• An assurance of high standards and ed-ucational quality through the institution’s adherence to established criteria, poli-cies, and standards.

• By federal law, it provides eligibility for certain benefits. For example, only ac-credited distance education institutions are eligible to participate in the Mont-gomery G.I. Bill.

• Allows students to qualify for tuition re-imbursement under certain state, indus-

try, corporate, or union-sponsored tuition assistance plans requiring enrollment with an accredited institution.

• Helps facilitate, but does not guarantee acceptance of credits and degrees by oth-er academic institutions.

* ACHS was first accredited by the DETC in 2003 and is the only DETC accredited, fully online college offering degrees, profession-al diplomas, and career-training certificates in complementary alternative medicine. > Read more about DETC accreditation

Is DETC accreditation equal to “regional” accreditation?

Lavender distillation at the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden on June 29, 2009. Participants harvested about 10 lbs. of lavender and then distilled with ACHS President Dorene Petersen about 29 mls of essential oil and 160 fluid ounces of hydrosol. > Watch the harvest and distillation on ACHStv

Green Your Life at Breitenbush Hot Springs from October 4-9, 2009

About Green Your LifeIt requires care and conscious decision mak-ing to maintain optimal health. Too often the health care industry sells itself as the health cure industry. But we, the holistic health com-munity, know that in reality, prevention is the only sustainable cure!

Learn how to create and support wellness while experiencing wellness first-hand at our six-day, five-night Green Your Life in 2009 retreat.

ACHS faculty, staff, graduates, and guest pre-senters will guide you through a series of presen-tations, workshops, and nature-based outdoor sessions addressing issues like: practical tech-niques for greening your life; green foods and herbs that promote prevention; and what does your sustainable wellness lifestyle look like.

Conference registration is $325. To register, call

ACHS at (800) 487-8839 or email: achs@achs.edu. Registration deadline: September 18, 2009.

Green Your Life Sessions IncludeOrganic Gardening

Master Gardener Erika Yigzaw will lead you through an organic gardening workshop, high-lighting easy ways to grow from seeds, propa-gate from cuttings, and sustain your garden.

Ancient Walking to Primal Rhythms

Learn how to become more fit, relaxed, and ag-ile by adopting a self-paced Listening, Learn-ing, Leading, and Guiding process-dialogue with your body. Randy Eady, EdM, NCC, will demonstrate various steps and movements that stimulate key acupressure points and nerve pathways for self-care and healing.

The Betterness® Weight Loss Solution

Dr. Russ L’HommeDieu, DPT, is the originator of Betterness®, a personal training program that journeys through the stages of Awareness, Accep-tance, Action, and Adaptation to identify, set, and accomplish life changes. Participants will learn to: apply Betterness®, understand the benefits of real food, design and implement a personal plan, and develop a framework for goal setting.

Master Distiller Robert Seidel

Join Robert Seidel, The Guerilla Distiller and

Master Distiller, for a workshop about distill-ing. Learn how to sustainably harvest local ar-omatics for optimal essential oil product and distill them on site.

Wild Herbs and Weeds Walk with Dorene Petersen and Robert Seidel

Iridology with Dorene PetersenFor more sessions, call (800) 487-88398 or visit www.achs.edu and click on Community Wellness Classes

About Breitenbush Hot SpringsBreitenbush boasts a forest setting with a pris-tine river and abundant hot springs. The more than 154 acres of wildlife sanctuary are sur-rounded by national forest, which provides a peaceful and secluded sanctuary. Guests stay in simple, rustic cabins located a short walk from the lodge.

To book accommodations, call (503) 854-3320.

We’re on the move: Get involved today

Student & Alumni Networking

ACHS provides many social network-ing opportunities, including blogs, a College networking site, and active Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn pages. To get started, start following ACHS college news and holistic health information on Twit-ter: http://twitter.com/ACHSedu

ACHS Wellness Workshops

ACHS hosts community wellness workshops monthly. Featuring ACHS faculty and industry leaders, work-shops teach about using holistic health as everyday prevention and to promote overall health. Topics vary and include organic gardening, grow-ing and harvesting herbs, lavender distillation, aromatherapy, making

natural products, iridology, homeop-athy, and nutrition.

> Click here for a current list of scheduled community wellness workshops.

> Live out of town, most workshops are recorded and posted to ACHStv on YouTube for your use. Click here to view the newest ACHStv videos.

Call Admissions Today

Your journey begins when you ap-ply. The deadline for August 17 classes is July 15. Call Admissions at (800) 487-8839 to schedule an inter-view. Get the information and edu-cation you need to succeed.

> Click here to request more information

Advertising OpportunityACHS now offers low-cost classified listings in both of our monthly news-letters, which combined directly reach more than 20,000 people and are searchable from our main website. This is your target audience. Start making connections today.

Classified ads are offered in 6-month increments limited to 25 words at a total cost of $150. Website hyperlink included free of charge. Purchase of classified advertising also includes a one-time featured profile in The Re-porter and a high resolution accompa-nying image.

The submission deadline for August is July 24. For information, call Lauren at (503) 244-0726 or email newsletter@achs.edu.

U.S. military uses alternative medicine Yoga is one of the newest ‘secret weapons’ in the US Armed Forces. Major Nisha Money, who currently serves as the Chief of Air Force Fitness for the Surgeon General at USAF Headquarters in Washington DC, gave me the scoop. Soldiers suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. within a specialized care program that incorporates the iRest protocol. Major Money stated that she hopes that it will not be long before there is a movement to integrate body-mind-spirit heal-ing modalities that not only serve as treatment interventions for emotional and physical trau-ma but also play a role in prevention by attenu-ating the impact of emotional trauma experi-enced in the battlefield.

As she put it, “Our soldiers are sent into combat-

ant zones physically prepared to fight. It would also be helpful to add components within de-ployment readiness training programs that build mental strength as well.” Major Money MD, MPH, ABHM, trained in Preventive Medicine with an emphasis in clinical epidemiology and international health has an integrative medi-cine practice on the side. She’s also boarded by the American Board of Holistic Medicine, cer-tified by UCLA’s Physician’s Medical Acupunc-ture Program, accomplished in “neurorobics”, and trained in mind-body medicine modalities and yoga nidra (Integrative Restoration - iRest) to help alleviate emotional distress secondary to trauma.

© Ode posted to SustainLane 6/15/09

> Click here to review and post a response

We love our pets, whether they’re fetching a stick, purring in our laps, or stealing that organic T-bone off the table and chowing down the family meal. But our cats and dogs do more than bring joy and bemusement. Today’s pets have real impacts on the planet. What’s a caring owner to do?

What would we do without our fluffballs of joy? Whether they’re sleeping, drooling, chewing, scratching, or knocking down lamps with their tails, our pets are some of the best friends we have. But like the two-legged members in the family—and we mean humans, not parakeets—dogs and cats can also harm the earth.

If worrying about Spot and Puff’s greeness isn’t something you have time for, relax: Reducing carbon pawprints is a snap.

Spay today. Some 3,000 kittens and puppies are born every hour in the U.S. each year. As many as 8 million unwanted dogs and cats wind up at animal shelters and about 4 million of them are euthanized annually because no one will adopt them.

What do the numbers have to do with the en-vironment? Pet overpopulation is cruel to an-imals—and bad for the earth, too. Feral and abandoned pets suffer hunger and disease, foul waterways with their feces, and chase away or kill wildlife. No bones about it: spaying is the best thing you can do to solve what many experts call a pet overpopulation crisis.

Don’t buy that doggie in the window. Yes, they’re

adorable and worthy of a 1950s radio hit. But all-too-many canines at pet stores come from puppy mills—operations run by unscrupulous breeders who profit from producing as many animals as they can, often under terrible conditions.

Let the heeling begin. Dogs that are off-leash or left to roam are likely to harass, hurt, or kill wildlife—and can get lost, hit by a car, or wind up at the pound.

Felines, meanwhile, are unrivaled bird serial kill-ers. The nation’s 100 million cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Avoid these woes and keep dogs in check—and cats indoors. An extra benefit: Indoor cats live much longer.

Green the chow. You won’t see these ingredients on the label, but conventional pet foods contain earth-hurting (and dangerous) additives like pes-ticides, herbicides and hormones. If you see “meat or poultry byproducts” or “reconstituted animal byproducts” on pet food packaging, what you could be getting is waste material from slaughter-houses, including hair and blood. Some pet foods even contain byproducts from “4D” animals: the dead, diseased, dying, or disabled. What to do?

Buy natural organic pet foods. They’re pro-duced in eco-friendly ways and free of harmful chemicals, additives, and drugs.

Go natural. Your pooch and kitty don’t need ac-cessories made of vinyl, a major environmental

evil (and instantly shred-able, to boot). Instead, pick up the natural alternatives, made with or-ganic ingredients and produced in sustainable ways. Today’s marketplace is filled with dozens of green organic dog products and cat items, in-cluding everything from treats and beds to kitty litter and chews for that gnaw-happy puppy. Try Purrfect Play or one of the many other business-es offering organic pet supplies.

No pile left behind. Dog poop is, well, a mess. Left ignored, it winds up on people’s shoes or (eww) bare feet. It spreads germs and runs into storm sewers and local waterways.

© Amy Linn, SustainLane Staff

> Green your pet with the Apothecary Shoppe, where natural pet products abound

> Click here to read the original article

How to green your pets