In The News: ACHS Aroma 401 Student - Betty Chang

Herbalists' shop full of healing teas

By LINDA BLADHOLM

food@MiamiHerald.com



ON BIRD ROAD: Betty Chang burns a cleansing bundle of sage at BA Natural Body Care.
LINDA BLADHOLM / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD

Step into BA Natural Body Care in a scruffy strip mall along Bird Road and be transported to a Taiwanese healing center. The compact space is lined with glass jars of teas, herbs, and herbal blends for ailments from insomnia to colds. There are also soaps, honey, teapots and vials of essential oils.

The BA is for Betty and Amy, the sisters who run the place along with their mother, Maria Huang. Each morning one of the sisters purifies the shop by lighting a bundle of dried sage. The pungent smoke rises from the flaming leaves held over an incense bowl to cleanse away any bad energy.

The Huang family emigrated from Kaoishiung in southern Taiwan in 1995, joining family members in Miami. Maria had trained as an herbalist, and her daughters took courses here in aromatherapy and Chinese herbal healing. They opened the shop about six months ago. Click here for the rest of the article.

Businessman Enjoys Sweet Smell of Success

Aromatherapy - The quality of the essential oils Robert Seidel sells earns him a following

Thursday, April 26, 2007

POLLY CAMPBELL

In 1977 Robert Seidel started a business that made a lot of scents but not much money.

In fact Seidel, 56, says the first few years he made no money at all.

But 30 years later, The Essential Oil Co., a wholesaler of essential plant oils based in the Sellwood neighborhood of Southeast Portland, grosses about $1 million annually.

Last month he shared trade secrets with students at Clackamas County's Tree School, an annual program targeted to those in forestry and timber management fields sponsored by the Oregon State University Extension Service, Clackamas Community College and local forestry groups.

"Oils are a value-added product," Seidel said. "When you harvest a tree you can collect the branches that you cut off and distill the oil." Click here for the rest of the article.

ACHS Earth Day Volunteer Project

ACHS Earth Day Volunteer Project

SOLV Clean Up at Butterfly Park, Portland, OR

SOLV is a non-profit organization that brings together government agencies, businesses and individual volunteers in programs and projects to enhance the livability of Oregon. This year six ACHS staff and students took part in this fun, kid-friendly project that included invasive plant removal, a small planting, litter removal, and a variety of other projects.


Apothecary Shoppe customer Ann McFarlane


Some friendly frogs to brighten up Butterfly Park


ACHS Shipping Manager Michelle Hammond adds character to the walkway.


ACHS Registrar Heather Baley paints butterflies on the walk through the Willamette Butterfly Park


ACHS Nat 401 Student Amy Lusson


Some new friends were made along the way!

Click here for more pictures!

Thank you to Ann McFarlane, Amy Lusson, and ACHS Herb 401 Graduate Diane Vireday for joining us!

Did you support Earth Day 2007? Tell us about your project at delmulhern@achs.edu.