Obama Calls for Health Care Reform in 2009

WASHINGTON (CNN)--President Obama pledged Tuesday night to cure Americans from what he called "the crushing cost of health care," saying the country could not afford to put health-care reform on hold.

President Obama tells Congress Tuesday night: "I have no illusions this will be an easy process."

"This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes," Obama said in his speech to a joint session of Congress.

Obama pointed to the increasing number of uninsured and rapidly rising health-care premiums, which he said was one reason small business closed their doors and corporations moved overseas.

Obama's prescription for health-care reform included making "the largest investment ever" in preventive care, rooting out Medicare fraud and investing in electronic health records and new technology in an effort to reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy and save lives.

"I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process," the president said, adding that he was scheduling a gathering next week of "businesses and workers, doctors and health-care providers, Democrats and Republicans."

"The cost of health care has weighed down our economy and our conscience long enough. So let there be no doubt, health-care reform cannot wait, it must not wait and it will not wait another year," Obama said to a standing ovation.

The president also said Americans would see a cure for cancer "in our time." Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, died of ovarian and uterine cancer at 52.

Obama made health-care reform a central theme of his presidential campaign and promised not only to achieve universal health care in his first term, but also to cut the average family's health care health-care costs by $2,500.

In his speech Tuesday, he placed health-care reform alongside education and energy reforms as central pillars of his recovery plan.

An estimated 45.7 million Americans are uninsured, and for those with coverage, and health-care costs have been rising four times faster than wages, Obama said.

The average cost of family health-care coverage more than doubled from 1999 to 2008, from $1,543 to $3,354, according to a report by the Institute on Medicine released Tuesday.

During his speech, Obama touted changes in the health-care system already passed in his month-old administration as part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Already, we have done more to advance the cause of health-care reform in the last 30 days than we have in the last decade," he said. "When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for 11 million American children whose parents work full-time."

Signed into law on February 17, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also includes $87 billion to bolster state Medicaid programs and offers a 65 percent subsidy for nine months to help the unemployed pay for their COBRA coverage.

COBRA allows the unemployed to pick up the payments and continue the health insurance coverage they had with their former employer. The subsidy would help an estimated seven million Americans, according to a congressional estimate.

The president's health-care message was applauded by Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a national organization for health care consumers.

"President Obama is absolutely correct that the nation's economy and the federal budget deficit cannot be fixed without meaningful health-care reform," Pollack said in a statement.

© 2009 CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.health.care/

Hawthorn, known for its show-stopping bright-red berries, is an all-star performer in the winter garden. But, did you know...

Hawthorn is your heart's best friend.

Native to northern temperate zones in East Asia, Europe, and eastern North America, hawthorn fruit has been used as food and medicine in Europe for centuries. But, why...

Hawthorn has been shown to increase coronary blood flow and reduce oxygen consumption.

Medicinally, research shows hawthorn is beneficial for use with congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary circulation problems, and arrhythmias. It is also used to increase cardiac output reduced by hypertension or pulmonary disease, to support hypotension and hypertension, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and Buerger’s disease.

In addition, hawthorn can also be used as a sedative, antispasmodic, astringent, and diuretic. It is also used for gastrointestinal conditions like indigestion, enteritis, epigastric distension, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

For more information about hawthorn, including clinical studies, download a free monograph from the ACHS Apothecary Shoppe.

To help fortify your heart, save 30% off featured heart healthy products from the Apothecary Shoppe.
CLICK HERE.

Gwyneth Paltrow shares seven-day detox on her site goop.com

The February 22 New York Times featured an article in the Style section about a relatively new website called Goop, nourish the inner aspect.

The originator of the site is Gwyneth Paltrow. Although most known for her work as a movie actress—and more recently for her marriage to musician Chris Martin from Coldplay—Paltrow launched Goop.com last September to provide readers with short, blog-style entries about positive thoughts, parenting anecdotes, and healthy living tips, to name a few categories.

But perhaps most interesting and useful for the holistic health practitioner is an entry posted under the “Make” category called “Detox.” Here Paltrow tells her readers that: “You can detox easily and effectively while you continue to eat as long as you are cutting out the foods and other substances that interfere with the detoxification process. Make sure you check with your doctor before you start any detox. Drink A LOT of water.” All sound advice.

Paltrow also includes a user-friendly seven-day meal plan for detox, including recipes for dishes like Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing, Detox Teriyaki Chicken, and Steamed Salmon and Greens. All of the recipes include nutrient-rich foods easily prepared in 30 minutes or less, including downloadable PDFs to store in your dietary toolbox or holistic health library.

For the full recipes, and more information from Paltrow’s personal doctor, go to: www.goop.com.

Tested a recipe? Would you recommend it? Tell us what you think.

Have a response to the site in general, share with the community. We look forward to hearing from you.

Photo © LA Times: latimesblogs.latimes.com

First Annual ACHS Seed Swap

First Annual ACHS Seed Swap!

To help while away the remaining winter days, the Australasian College is holding their first annual ACHS Seed Swap. Spring and gardening are not too far away. Save money, preserve biodiversity, meet and exchange ideas with your community of local gardeners.

The Seed Swap will be lead by Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener Erika Yigzaw, who will talk about saving seeds, starting seeds, and transplanting seedlings. Weather permitting, Erika will also host demonstrations of direct sowing and transplanting seedlings in the ACHS Botanic Teaching Garden.

What to bring: Your seeds to swap and a place card with information about them. Please include common and Latin binomials (if known), time and place sourced, best time to plant, description, and anything else you think would be helpful. A seed swap is all about learning from each other, after all. You’re also welcome to bring divisions, extra seedlings (if you have any started). Please don’t bring items from the noxious weed list (no ivy or St. Johns wort, for example).

ACHS will award prizes to: the gardener with the widest variety of seeds, the attendee who traveled the farthest, the youngest gardener, and the oldest gardener. Plus, you’ll receive 10% off nearly everything at the Apothecary Shoppe College Store the day of the seed swap.

So come out and mingle! Open to the public. Limited to the first 35 who RSVP, call (503) 244-0726 or email admissions@achs.edu. $10 deposit holds your place and will be applied to any Apothecary Shoppe purchase. March 25, 2009. Noon-2 p.m. Australasian College of Health Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave.

Not sure what a seed swap is? Check out this article: http://www.motherearthnews.com/seed-swaps.aspx

Aromatherapy Can Help PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Typically, this event threatens serious physical danger or involves physical violence. Following this experience, it would not be out of the ordinary for someone to feel scared, confused or angry. However, if these feelings continue long-term and become disruptive to your daily activities, you may be suffering from PTSD.

In a given year, about 7.7 million American adults suffer from PTSD. Although it was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, PTSD can result from common events, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or personal assault.

It is estimated that among veterans, the rate of PTSD is somewhere between 14 percent and 33 percent. Not every person who experiences a traumatic event will experience PTSD, and not every Soldier will either, but being aware of possible symptoms and stressors could help with treatment and prevention.

In the past, PTSD has commonly been treated with pharmaceuticals or some type of mood management therapy. Today, information about alternative treatments is becoming more widespread and research has substantiated the historical use of aromatherapy for depression. Why not for PTSD?

Aromatherapy means: the use of aromas for their healing properties. The documented use of essential oils goes back to Egyptian times, where herbs were burnt in public squares to purify the air. Today we know that lemon essential oil, for example, can be used to lift mild depression. We also know that aromatherapy is a natural, less invasive treatment for chronic afflictions. And compared to most pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy is typically less expensive and more accessible.

Many people with PTSD get better over time, but about 1 out of 3 experience PTSD as a recurring challenge. Use of aromatherapy has many advantages in these cases. If used correctly, they have minimal to no adverse effects when used over time. Aromatherapy is also a healthy alternative for those opposed to long-term use of prescription drugs, and essential oils, when diluted and applied to the skin (or inhaled), can be absorbed into the bloodstream for almost immediate results.

Essential oils are distilled directly from plants. The term “essential” is applied to these oils because they contain the fragrant part of the plant. Essential oils are powerful and concentrated. Many should not be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. Rather, essential oils should be diluted with almond or apricot oil, which lend additional nutrient and antioxidant health benefits.

Aromatherapy expert, Dorene Petersen, President of the Australasian College of Health Sciences, said her college store carries organic certified oils because “it’s important to have the highest quality oils available. Essential oils are extracted from plants, which absorb toxins in their environment. Certified organic essential oils are free of contaminants and pesticides; a purer oil means greater health benefits.”

When treating chronic challenges like PTSD, a consistent routine is important. The recommended solution is a combination of wellness protocols such as holistic nutrition and aromatherapy. A balanced, natural foods diet is the greatest tool we have to maintain healthy physical and psychological functions. When regularly added into the diet, aromatic herb plants that contain essential oils will boost immunity, circulation, and metabolism, among other things. For example, chamomile, which has been found to soothe low levels of stress and depression, can be made into a tea, and geranium, which is commonly used to stabilize emotions, can replace vanilla in baking recipes.

To complement a healthy diet, here are some suggestions for simple, yet effective uses of aromatherapy at home. First, undiluted essential oils can quickly be diffused into the air on a room-by-room basis. Second, you can drop essential oils directly into a relaxing bath or foot soak. (Some oils are more potent than others; until you know how the oil will react with your system, less is more.) Or, try replacing commercial cleaners and air fresheners with essential oils and sprinkling a few drops in and around drains, trashcans, and pillowcases.

Before using aromatherapy as a PTSD protocol, consult with a Registered Aromatherapist, which can be located through the Aromatherapy Registration Council Web site: www. aromatherapycouncil.org.

The Australasian College of Health Sciences is the only DETC-accredited, fully online college offering continuing education, certificate, diploma, and degree programs in complementary alternative medicine with aromatherapy and holistic health majors. For more information about aromatherapy and the college, visit www.achs.edu.

CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the complete article.

© 2009 Article originally appeared in the February edition of Military Spouse Magazine

Aromatherapy Can Help PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Typically, this event threatens serious physical danger or involves physical violence. Following this experience, it would not be out of the ordinary for someone to feel scared, confused or angry. However, if these feelings continue long-term and become disruptive to your daily activities, you may be suffering from PTSD.

In a given year, about 7.7 million American adults suffer from PTSD. Although it was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, PTSD can result from common events, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or personal assault.

It is estimated that among veterans, the rate of PTSD is somewhere between 14 percent and 33 percent. Not every person who experiences a traumatic event will experience PTSD, and not every Soldier will either, but being aware of possible symptoms and stressors could help with treatment and prevention.

In the past, PTSD has commonly been treated with pharmaceuticals or some type of mood management therapy. Today, information about alternative treatments is becoming more widespread and research has substantiated the historical use of aromatherapy for depression. Why not for PTSD?

Aromatherapy means: the use of aromas for their healing properties. The documented use of essential oils goes back to Egyptian times, where herbs were burnt in public squares to purify the air. Today we know that lemon essential oil, for example, can be used to lift mild depression. We also know that aromatherapy is a natural, less invasive treatment for chronic afflictions. And compared to most pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy is typically less expensive and more accessible.

Many people with PTSD get better over time, but about 1 out of 3 experience PTSD as a recurring challenge. Use of aromatherapy has many advantages in these cases. If used correctly, they have minimal to no adverse effects when used over time. Aromatherapy is also a healthy alternative for those opposed to long-term use of prescription drugs, and essential oils, when diluted and applied to the skin (or inhaled), can be absorbed into the bloodstream for almost immediate results.

Essential oils are distilled directly from plants. The term “essential” is applied to these oils because they contain the fragrant part of the plant. Essential oils are powerful and concentrated. Many should not be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. Rather, essential oils should be diluted with almond or apricot oil, which lend additional nutrient and antioxidant health benefits.

Aromatherapy expert, Dorene Petersen, President of the Australasian College of Health Sciences, said her college store carries organic certified oils because “it’s important to have the highest quality oils available. Essential oils are extracted from plants, which absorb toxins in their environment. Certified organic essential oils are free of contaminants and pesticides; a purer oil means greater health benefits.”

When treating chronic challenges like PTSD, a consistent routine is important. The recommended solution is a combination of wellness protocols such as holistic nutrition and aromatherapy. A balanced, natural foods diet is the greatest tool we have to maintain healthy physical and psychological functions. When regularly added into the diet, aromatic herb plants that contain essential oils will boost immunity, circulation, and metabolism, among other things. For example, chamomile, which has been found to soothe low levels of stress and depression, can be made into a tea, and geranium, which is commonly used to stabilize emotions, can replace vanilla in baking recipes.

To complement a healthy diet, here are some suggestions for simple, yet effective uses of aromatherapy at home. First, undiluted essential oils can quickly be diffused into the air on a room-by-room basis. Second, you can drop essential oils directly into a relaxing bath or foot soak. (Some oils are more potent than others; until you know how the oil will react with your system, less is more.) Or, try replacing commercial cleaners and air fresheners with essential oils and sprinkling a few drops in and around drains, trashcans, and pillowcases.

Before using aromatherapy as a PTSD protocol, consult with a Registered Aromatherapist, which can be located through the Aromatherapy Registration Council Web site: www. aromatherapycouncil.org.

The Australasian College of Health Sciences is the only DETC-accredited, fully online college offering continuing education, certificate, diploma, and degree programs in complementary alternative medicine with aromatherapy and holistic health majors. For more information about aromatherapy and the college, visit www.achs.edu.

CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the complete article.

© 2009 Article originally appeared in the February edition of Military Spouse Magazine

How to Make Herbal Teas from Your Garden

Yesterday afternoon the Seasonal Gardeners held their meeting in our Apothecary Shoppe. I met with the group for about an hour and talked how to use their garden in their kitchen—specifically, easy-to-use methods for making herbal teas and infusions. (A video of my talk will be on ACHS TV soon. To see it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/achstv)

Making herbal teas is one of the simplest ways to get the health benefits of your backyard plants. Herbal teas are relaxing to drink and smell good, but with regular use they also tone, soothe, and balance the body.

The basic recipe for herbal teas is:
1-t dried herbs or 2-t fresh herbs
1-cup boiling water

Infusions, however, are slightly more complicated. An infusion is stronger than regular herbal tea and is made for immediate use (you can store an infusion for up to 24 hours in the fridge). They have all of the benefits of regular herbal tea, but also extract glycosides, alkaloid salts, and water-soluble vitamins.

The basic recipes for infusions is:
1-oz dried herbs
1-pt purified water

Place your herbs into a ceramic or glass teapot. Bring the water to a boil. Do not use an aluminum pot. An electric kettle or kettle on the stove is fine. Turn off the heat and pour the water over the herb. Cover the pot and let steep for 10 to 20 minutes.

There are no definite rules for combining herbs in a tea mixture. Intention and taste are the two most important things. The Seasonal Gardeners asked me to blend a tea for them. When I discovered they were all women about my age, I created the menopause support tea – see below. It tastes great!

When you start to create a tea blend, think about the end result you would like to achieve and always think of taste. I am a great believer in making medicine taste good! After all isn’t that what Hippocrates meant by “Let food be your medicine.”

If you’re looking for relaxation, focus on the aromatic herbs. If you’re looking to soothe an ailment, then you will want to choose the herb best suited to the task (this could be a second herb combined with an aromatic).

Here are some popular and easy-to-make recipes for you to try at home.

1. For a cough, headache, or fever use:
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis (for the cough and irritation)
Yarrow Achillea millefolium (for the fever and cough)
Peppermint Mentha piperita (to improve the overall flavor)

2. Menopause Support Tea (see the photograph of the herbal blend above)
1-oz Hops Humulus lupulus (balances the nerves and nourishes nervous system)
1-oz Red clover Trifolium pratense (to assist with hot flashes and circulation)
1-oz Lemon balm Melissa officinalis (to assist with sleep and improve the flavor)
1-oz Skullcap Scutellaria laterifolia (it has been studied for use with addiction and assists with sleeplessness)
1-oz Chamomile Matricaria recutita (a mild nervine that also balances digestion)
1-oz Spearmint Mentha spicata (balances digestion and improves flavor)
1/2-oz Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra (adrenal support)

3. Bran Tea
This tea cleanses the kidneys and supports healthy blood pressure.
1-cup Bran
2-cups Boiling water
Lemon and honey to taste (optional)
Simmer the bran and water for 30 minutes. Drink throughout the day.

You can adjust any formula for your own tastes. Always listen to your body, and, most of all, relax and enjoy your cup of tea.

The Menopause Support Tea will be available through the Apothecary Shoppe soon. Check back with us at www.apothecary-shoppe.com.

Remember, you can subscribe to ACHS TV and see all of our how-to videos, expert lectures and talks, and information about our Summer School study-abroad programs in Greece.

How-to Make Herbal Teas from Your Garden

Yesterday afternoon the Seasonal Gardeners held their meeting in our Apothecary Shoppe. I met with the group for about an hour and talked how to use their garden in their kitchen—specifically, easy-to-use methods for making herbal teas and infusions. (A video of my talk will be on ACHS TV soon. To see it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/achstv)

Making herbal teas is one of the simplest ways to get the health benefits of your backyard plants. Herbal teas are relaxing to drink and smell good, but with regular use they also tone, soothe, and balance the body.

The basic recipe for herbal teas is:
1-t dried herbs or 2-t fresh herbs
1-cup boiling water

Infusions, however, are slightly more complicated. An infusion is stronger than regular herbal tea and is made for immediate use (you can store an infusion for up to 24 hours in the fridge). They have all of the benefits of regular herbal tea, but also extract glycosides, alkaloid salts, and water-soluble vitamins.

The basic recipes for infusions is:
1-oz dried herbs
1-pt purified water

Place your herbs into a ceramic or glass teapot. Bring the water to a boil. Do not use an aluminum pot. An electric kettle or kettle on the stove is fine. Turn off the heat and pour the water over the herb. Cover the pot and let steep for 10 to 20 minutes.

There are no definite rules for combining herbs in a tea mixture. Intention and taste are the two most important things. The Seasonal Gardeners asked me to blend a tea for them. When I discovered they were all women about my age, I created the menopause support tea – see below. It tastes great!

When you start to create a tea blend, think about the end result you would like to achieve and always think of taste. I am a great believer in making medicine taste good! After all isn’t that what Hippocrates meant by “Let food be your medicine.”

If you’re looking for relaxation, focus on the aromatic herbs. If you’re looking to soothe an ailment, then you will want to choose the herb best suited to the task (this could be a second herb combined with an aromatic).

Here are some popular and easy-to-make recipes for you to try at home.

1. For a cough, headache, or fever use:
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis (for the cough and irritation)
Yarrow Achillea millefolium (for the fever and cough)
Peppermint Mentha piperita (to improve the overall flavor)

2. Menopause Support Tea (see the photograph of the herbal blend above)
1-oz Hops Humulus lupulus (balances the nerves and nourishes nervous system)
1-oz Red clover Trifolium pratense (to assist with hot flashes and circulation)
1-oz Lemon balm Melissa officinalis (to assist with sleep and improve the flavor)
1-oz Skullcap Scutellaria laterifolia (it has been studied for use with addiction and assists with sleeplessness)
1-oz Chamomile Matricaria recutita (a mild nervine that also balances digestion)
1-oz Spearmint Mentha spicata (balances digestion and improves flavor)
1/2-oz Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra (adrenal support)

3. Bran Tea
This tea cleanses the kidneys and supports healthy blood pressure.
1-cup Bran
2-cups Boiling water
Lemon and honey to taste (optional)
Simmer the bran and water for 30 minutes. Drink throughout the day.

You can adjust any formula for your own tastes. Always listen to your body, and, most of all, relax and enjoy your cup of tea.

The Menopause Support Tea will be available through the Apothecary Shoppe soon. Check back with us at www.apothecary-shoppe.com.

Remember, you can subscribe to ACHS TV and see all of our how-to videos, expert lectures and talks, and information about our Summer School study-abroad programs in Greece.

Meet ACHS Instructor Oleg Maksimov, Ph.D. Chemistry

Oleg Maksimov
BS, M.Ph., Ph.D.

Oleg Maksimov was born in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the United States in 1995. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the City University of New York in February 2002. He then worked as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Physics and as a Research Associate in the Materials Research Institute at Pennsylvania State University. In addition, Dr. Maksimov holds an M. Ph. and a B.S. in Chemistry, both from the City University of New York.

Dr. Maksimov is an author and co-author of more than 60 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, an active member of the American Physical Society, and an editorial board member for Scientific Journals International. He serves as a reviewer for a number of scientific journals, including Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Materials Chemistry and Physics, and Thin Solid Films, and as a proposal reviewer for Research Foundation of City University of New York. In addition, he teaches General Chemistry for South University Online.

Dr. Maksimov has been happily married for 12 years and has a three-year-old daughter.
He currently teaches General, Organic and Biochemistry (Chem 501).

Meet ACHS Instructor Helen Oketch-Rabah, Ph.D. Pharmacognosy

Helen Oketch-Rabah
B.Ed (Sc), MSc (Biol), PhD (Pharmacognosy)

Hellen Oketch-Rabah, is originally from Kenya, where her father managed one of Brook Bond’s Tea manufacturing facilities in Kericho and her mother was a practicing herbalist. Hellen developed a passion for herbal medicine from childhood. In pursuit of a better understanding of plant medicines, she studied pharmacognosy at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, where she received her Ph.D.

Thereafter she taught pharmacognosy for four years at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. During that period she received a research grant from the World Health Organization (WHO). Later she joined the University of California, Berkely, where she researched medicinal plants for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms and on breast cancer biology.

Currently she is a Chief Scientist and directs and performs phytochemical analysis and medicinal plants research in one of the top U.S. dietary supplement manufacturing facilities.

Hellen believes that, as far as the potential of plants as medicines is concerned, we have only “scratched the surface.” She currently teaches Fundamentals of Toxicology and Safety in Botanical Medicine (Tox 501).

Green Your Life in 2009: ACHS Conference and Wellness Retreat

October 4-9, 2009 at Breitenbush Hot Springs

Wellness is a daily endeavor. It requires care and conscious decision making to maintain optimal health. Too often the health care industry sells itself as the health cure industry. But we, the holistic health community, 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 presenters will guide you through a series of presentations, workshops, and nature-based outdoor sessions addressing issues like: practical techniques for greening your life; green foods and herbs that promote prevention; and what does your sustainable wellness lifestyle look like.

The ACHS Wellness Retreat is a social and educational wellness event open to the ACHS advisory board, faculty, students, and the community. Participants can choose from one of two tracts: clinical, which provides continuing education credits, or general interest.

Sessions will include workshops, information sessions, demonstrations, roundtable discussions including point/counterpoint, and author discussions, where authors guide discussions on their books and conduct signings.

Sessions already proposed include: The Secret to Healthy Kids, Balancing Chakras, Organic Gardening, Hand-on Iridology Workshop, Distillation Workshop, Wildcrafting Workshop, and more!

Conference fee $325. Early bird registration $250 by June 1, 2009. Accommodations $100-120/ night; call Breitenbush for details.

Space is limited. Register today! To reserve your space at the conference, call ACHS at (800) 487-8839 or email achs@achs.edu. For accommodations, call Breitenbush directly at (503) 854-3320.

About the Hot Springs

Breitenbush is a worker-owned cooperative, whose mission is to care for the hot springs, the land, and the on-site retreat and conference center.

Situated on 154 acres, Breitenbush boasts a beautiful, “off the grid” mountain setting. The power of the river and heat from the hot springs, combined with simple living, allow guests and community members to thrive in this sanctuary without significant dependence on fossil fuels. For a detailed list of the facility’s commitment to sustainability, please visit http://www.breitenbush.com/about/sustainability.html.

Australasian College’s green approach to education approved by Green Business Network

Portland, OR—February 4, 2009—The Australasian College of Health Sciences (ACHS) is now an approved member of Green America’s Green Business Network, America’s oldest network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses. To earn approval, the College passed Green America’s stringent screening process, including examination of the College’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, increasing sustainable energy, and sourcing the most eco-responsible botanicals and essential oils available. Green America’s Green Business Network recognizes the College’s 30-year-commitment to advancing their green approach to distance-learning education.

Green America’s Green Business Network is a network of progressive business leaders, who are working to solve today’s social and environmental problems by growing the green economy. For ACHS, the only accredited, fully online holistic health college, the work of greening has some unique challenges and decidedly more rewards.

“The sustainability movement is no longer a niche thing at most colleges,” said Peggy F. Barlett once told the New York Times. As she predicted: “There’s going to be a real cultural transformation in the coming years in this area.” At ACHS, this “cultural transformation” not only involves growing the green economy through an emphasis on eco-friendly coursework and course materials; the College is greening their approach to education in total.

In 2005, ACHS put their course lectures online, rather than printing and mailing them, which, over the past three years, has resulted in a 70% reduction in printing. This is one example of the College’s commitment to reducing their carbon emissions where and whenever possible. When in-house materials are required, the College has partnered with Xerox (their complete sustainability policy is available on the Xerox website), and for outside print jobs, like catalogs, ACHS uses only soy-based ink.

In addition, to further reduce carbon emissions, in 2009 ACHS launched their Sustainability Committee, which recently launched a tree planting initiative: the College will plant 10 trees through the American Forests organization for every participant in their 2010 study-abroad Summer School in Greece program.

The cumulative result of these decisions reduces environmental impact and waste, and equally important, supports the ethics and practices of green business. To that end, ACHS employs equally stringent standards when selecting botanicals for use in their coursework (which are also available for use by the community through the ACHS Apothecary Shoppe College Store). ACHS only sources their botanicals and essential oils through manufacturers that adhere to strict environmental standards, including the ban on child labor, forced labor, and unfair wages. College President Dorene Petersen and Vice President Erika Yigzaw visit the majority of essential oil and herb suppliers in person to verify that they are meeting environmental and labor standards, including every distiller the College has purchased from in the last two years: distillers in the U.S., Turkey, India, New Zealand, and France.

Green business is more than an idea. It is “a practical and powerful way to help create a more just and environmentally sustainable economy.” Green American’s Green Business Network provides resources for “socially and environmentally responsible businesses to emerge and thrive in communities across the U.S.,” and as a responsible business, ACHS models, as well as educates about and promotes, healthful living.

For more information about the Australasian College’s commitment to greening the economy, go to www.achs.edu and select “About.” To see the College’s listing on the Green America website, or to read more about the Green America screening process, go to: www.coopamerica.org.

Ahead of the Curve: Wellness Coach

Fitness trainers have long been popular, but ever more, people also want support in their efforts to eat less, stop smoking or drinking, and reduce stress. These people are starting to seek out wellness coaches. This trend should accelerate if—as is widely predicted—more of us are pressured by younger, tech-savvy workers, globalization, automation, and the massive influx of immigrants from Asia and Latin America who are willing to work long hours for low pay. Wellness coaches are being hired not only by individuals but by employers and health insurers as a likely cost-beneficial perk for their employees.

(Originally printed in “Best Careers.”) © usnews.com, December 11, 2008

Organic food growth slows amid downturn

By Nigel Hunt and Brad Dorfman

LONDON/CHICAGO (Reuters) -- As recession drives consumers to cut costs, their commitment to organic food has been tested with sales growth slowing -- but so far, sales are not falling. How green are our wallets?

Grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, organic food has been booming, driven by claims it is healthier, tastes better and its production does less damage to the environment than conventional agriculture.

The global market for organic food and beverages was worth $22.75 billion (16 billion pounds) in 2007, after more than doubling in five years, according to market research firm Euromonitor International. The United States accounted for about 45 percent of that total.

With economies in crisis, the trend is slowing in the United States, Britain, France and Europe's most important market for organic food, Germany. So far, Britain is the market tipped for a fall as shrinking incomes force the newly green to save money.

Typical growth rates of 20 to 30 percent for organic food sales in the United States eased in the second half of 2008 as middle- and upper-income families felt the strain of layoffs and declining investment portfolios, said Tom Pirovano, director of industry insights at market research firm The Nielsen Co.

Sales in December were up 5.6 percent, year on year, against a 25.6 percent rise a year earlier.

Even though growth is slowing, Pirovano noted that most people who purchased organic foods were very committed.

"I'm not convinced that we are going to see big declines in organics any time soon," he said.

Nielsen data measures packaged foods with bar codes at many retail outlets. Discount retailer Wal-Mart does not participate in the market research.

Late on a Friday in London's South Kensington, shoppers at the Whole Foods store owned by the U.S.-based organic and natural foods supermarket were sparse.

"I always try to buy organic if I can. But I definitely have cut back," said Mary Boynton, 20, adding that she buys more organic produce from supermarkets which have a cheaper offer.

Shares in Whole Foods Market Inc. have been on a broadly weakening trend since 2006 and trades around $11, down from nearly $80 in late 2005.

But Michael Besancon of Whole Foods, which claims the world-leading slot in the sector with more than 270 stores in North America and Britain, says there is a hard core.

"It is not a fad," said Besancon, the company's senior global vice-president of purchasing, distribution and marketing. "I'm 62 and my mother is still waiting for me to shave my beard and stop eating organic food. That isn't going to happen."

Ronnie Cummins, national director of the Organic Consumers Association, said occasional buyers of organic produce were cutting back, but regular buyers were lightening up on processed food in favour of organic whole fruits, vegetables and meats.

"They are trying to stretch their money but they are not willing to stop buying organic," he said. "We think in the long run the prognosis is good. The energy crisis and climate change can only really be addressed with organic production."

Wholefoods' Besancon argued consumers were treating organic purchases differently from those of other premium products.

"When you buy organic you believe it is inherently better for you and the planet," he said. "Who can afford to get sick? So people are becoming more introspective about what they eat. There is growth in the category. It is just less than it was."

GERMAN CARROT SHORTAGE

If the relative cost of healthcare is one significant factor keeping well-educated Americans with organic produce, in Germany producers argue organic foods are being helped out of a niche into the mainstream.

Growth in Germany's organic food sales in 2008 to 5.8 billion euros (5.4 billion pounds) did slow to about 10 percent, the German organic food industry association BOLW estimates.

This compared with 14 percent growth booked in 2007.

Alexander Gerber, the association's chief executive, argued that Germany's giant discount food supermarket chains were increasingly introducing organic food, which was underpinning the market.

Germany had a shortage of organic carrots in 2008 as major discounter Aldi suddenly introduced them into its product range, buying up most available supplies, Gerber said.

"Consumers want healthy food produced in an environmentally friendly and humane way," Gerber said. "They are not simply throwing this concept overboard because of the difficult economic times."

In France, the sector continued to grow last year and the head of "Agence Bio", the main organic food group gathering officials and producers, said she was confident it would continue to do so, albeit more slowly, in 2009.

"For the moment sales are keeping up, consumers are still interested and demand is rising," said Elisabeth Mercier.

Although official data will not be available until next month, she said her comments were based on wide and recent contacts with producers, specialist shops and supermarkets.

"In Europe, apart maybe from the U.K. where the market seems more fragile, I do not believe there will be a drop in consumption this year although growth rates may be less spectacular," Mercier said.

DEEP GREENS

In Britain, growth in sales of organic products has slowed dramatically, to an annual rate of about 2 percent from 16 percent, according to Nielsen data for the year to early November 2008.

"What I would expect is for this year to see a small single- digit decline for organics," said Jonathan Banks, U.K-based business insight director with Nielsen.

The challenge boils down to quality. "Organic producers must show their products taste better, are more nutritious and better for the environment. If they tick all those boxes they can sustain a (price) premium," he said.

In the London Whole Foods store, shopper Jonathan Daniels agreed. "Eventually, it has got to hit home. I think I'll cut back," he said, checking his mobile phone near the cheese display, a pack of green beans tucked under his arm.

"It all hinges on: 'Is organic all it's reputed to be? Is it really better for you?'"

Patrick Holden, director of Britain's leading organic certification body the Soil Association, said he was getting mixed reports, with some consumers switching from organic to cheaper free-range products.

Demand for many products is, however, holding up well: some are benefiting from growing demand for locally produced food.

"Organic food with a local story is bucking the recession," he said. "This recession has destabilised things a little, but not catastrophically."

Holden said about 20 percent of organic food sales were vulnerable, being bought by "light green" purchasers who had been influenced by the actions of other consumers.

These he contrasted with the "deep greens" -- who make up 80 percent of demand and are committed to the benefits for health and the environment.

"Storm and tempest won't affect their buying habits," he said. "I think that rump of committed consumers are with us to stay."

(Additional reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City, Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris and Catherine Bosley in London; Editing by Sara Ledwith)

© Reuters January 28, 2009: http://uk.reuters.com/article/stocksAndSharesNews/idUKLNE50R02Q20090128?sp=true

Industry To Rally In Washington At Natural Products Day

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, the Natural Products Association (NPA) hosts its 12th annual lobbying effort on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Natural Products Day is designed to broaden the natural products industry's base of political support by educating members of Congress about the important role natural products play in keeping Americans healthy, and the overwhelming public benefits of preventative care.

Each year, participants visit their legislators' congressional offices and talk to staffers about key legislation affecting the natural products industry. Natural Products Day continues growing in popularity, with hundreds of retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and supporters of the natural products industry gathering at the Capitol or participating in a "virtual fly-in" via e-mail and videos to rally for natural products. Natural Products Day will focus on bills in the House and Senate regarding issues like child nutrition, food quality and safety, safe manufacturing practices, and assured access to dietary supplements.

Like last year, the association will offer an evening cruise along the Potomac on a private yacht the Monday before the lobbying event.

Natural Products Day features a morning session with association and government relations experts to teach participants effective ways to communicate with legislators, and provide briefings on key legislation. Following afternoon appointments, participants will attend a reception in the new Capitol Visitor's Center, honoring NPA Congressional Champions, legislators who have worked hard to support initiatives important to the industry.

"Natural Products Day is a fun and effective way for industry members to establish and strengthen personal relationships with members of Congress," said David Seckman, NPA executive director and CEO. "It helps legislators stay aware of issues important to our industry and to their districts, and is an essential tool in gaining support for our many important initiatives, particularly with more than 65 freshmen senators and representatives and their staffs beginning new terms on the Hill."

To register for Natural Products Day, visit http://www.NaturalProductsAssoc.org/npd09.

The Natural Products Association is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. The association represents more than 10,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids. Association members meet annually each July in Las Vegas at the association's official tradeshow, Natural Market Place.

© Medical News Today, January 27, 2009: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136834.php

Health Freedom Updates, Monthly Column by Kim Sharples, HHP, 2008 Alumni

Happy February!

Many states have started their legislative sessions and are going strong. Make sure you check your state update to see if there is anything new.

I have also set up a health freedom website so you can see what is new. To access it, email me at: kimberlysharples@msn.com.

I also have the yahoo group set up so that you will receive important alerts as they are released. To join, just send a blank email to: FYHF-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

We all have friends, relatives, customers, etc. in other states. This is a good way to pass along information to people.

Please remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to complementary and alternative health care.

There are currently six states that have health freedom laws. These are: Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Idaho. If you live in one of these states, you need to know the laws regarding health freedom, what you can and cannot do, and what disclosures you may need to provide to your clients.

There are 15 states and the District of Columbia that license or regulate naturopathic physicians. If your state is one that regulates naturopathic physicians, you need to know what that law says in regards to what you can and cannot do. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Minnesota just passed a registration bill for naturopathic physicians that should take effect July 1, 2009.


NATIONAL HEALTH FREEDOM ORGANIZATIONS

• Coalition for Natural Health: www.naturalhealth.org or Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org
• Health Keepers Alliance: www.healthkeepers.net
• Citizens for Health: www.citizens.org
• Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation: Contact person: Troy Bledsoe at herbalsurvival@cox.net or www.sunshinehealthfreedomfoundation.com.
• National Health Freedom Action/Coalition: www.nationalhealthfreedom.org

For questions or more information about health freedom in your state, please feel free to contact me: kimberlysharples@msn.com or (719) 390-1979.

HEALTH FREEDOM INFORMATION

CANADA
The Canadian Parliament adjourned for the summer without debating or passing bills C-51 and C-52, which could have overturned long-standing legal precedent protecting Canadians’ health freedom. For more information, click here.

CALIFORNIA
Prop 65 is proposed regulation that wants to classify all beneficial nutrients with above-RDA potencies as cancer-causing agents unless proven otherwise.
For more information, please go to this website.

COLORADO
A monopolistic naturopathic physician bill has been introduced that we are opposing. This is HB 09-1175 and you can view it by clicking HERE.

If you haven't joined the CO4HFG yahoo group, we need you to do that. If you know other health freedom supporters, we need them to join as well. There are thousands of people to contact, and it makes it much easier if we only have to send one email that goes to everyone. You can join by sending a blank email to:CO4HFG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or, send your email address to Kim at kimberlysharples@msn.com and she will add you to this yahoo group, which will allow you to automatically receive health freedom emails. This is a very important way to help support health freedom in Colorado. Please pass this information on to others. This is how we will notify you about HB 09-1175 and other bills, so please join.

We also have a website: www.co4hf.synthasite.com.

For those who do not have Internet access, an updated message number has been setup for your convenience. We will leave messages to keep you informed of important information and legislation. This is available 24/7. Just dial (641) 715-3900 and enter code 9357483#. You may also leave a message at this number and someone will return your call.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Health Freedom Coalition. Email Craig Respasz at: crepasz@hotmail.com.

IDAHO
Just when we thought Idaho was settled, Senate Bill 1425 was introduced by the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on February 11, 2008. The bill, as introduced, would have transformed the law from what was an agreeable, accommodating law under which all natural health practitioners benefited, to a restrictive licensing law favoring “naturopathic physicians.” The bill progressed quickly through the Senate and The Coalition jumped into the fray with both feet to protect the language in the bill that allowed for multiple pathways to licensure. With the help of the Idaho Coalition for Natural Health and others, the bill was amended, thus minimizing the effect on the law in Idaho. We will continue to monitor the activities of the Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners as they work towards promulgation of rules.

For more information, contact Boyd at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org. You can also visit the website for Idaho CNH at: http://www.naturalhealthidaho.org.

IOWA
Iowa introduced Health Freedom language in 2008, but was not successful. To learn more about the Iowa Health Freedom Coalition, you can access their website: www.iowahealthfreedom.org.

LOUISIANA
Louisiana’s focus this year was to introduce a total Health Freedom Bill in the 2008 Louisiana Legislative Session. They held a statewide membership meeting in March with 3 excellent speakers: Senator Sharon Weston Broome (Sponsor of the bill), Dr. John Baker, head of LSU Law School (health freedom advocate), and Boyd Landry, Executive Director of CNH.

They also held several statewide meeting to attract new members as well as enlighten the member that reside outside the Baton Rouge area of their intentions to introduce a bill in this year’s 2008 session; as well as meeting with legislators at the Capitol Rotunda several times.

They hired a Lobbyist to work with us to amend Acts 655 and 334, which were bills we passed in the 2006, and 2005 sessions. With lobbyist Kathy Chittom and Senator Broome’s influence, they were able to pass a bill in this year’s 2008 Legislative Session. The Governor signed the bill into law at the end of June (Act No. 524). They now feel as though Louisiana finally has a Total Health Freedom Bill.

Their board meets the last Monday of each month, and they have a conference call number for those who cannot attend in person.

If you live in Louisiana and would like to help, please contact Cynthia Reed, ND, President of the Louisiana Health Freedom Coalition at (225) 756-8400 or herbs-etc@cox.net.

MARYLAND
Maryland introduced a health freedom bill in 2008, but it was not successful. Contact Dr. Mishra for more information regarding Health Freedom in Maryland: mishra13505@yahoo.com.

MINNESOTA
A Naturopathic Physician registration bill was passed in Minnesota that will not go into effect until July 1, 2009. You can read about this bill and work group here.

Another group has formed in Minnesota--Minnesota Advocates for Complementary and Alternative Practices, MNACAP. The President is Katie Murphy, and you can email her at: 4healinginsights@comcast.net.

MONTANA
The Montana Health Freedom Coalition is moving forward with legislation in the 2009 Legislative session. The chair of the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs committee, Senator Joe Balyeat, volunteered to sponsor the bill. He is a strong advocate for health freedom and a supporter of alternative and complementary health care.

Montana has introduced SB 287--the Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act. It can be tracked on the legislative website: www.leg.MT.gov.

We are excited as there are many positive things happening with the bill right now, including that six of the 11 Senate committee members are either sponsoring or co-sponsoring the bill. Things are looking good and we'll keep you posted.

The hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 9 at 9 a.m. If you know people in Montana, encourage them to contact the committee and their legislator NOW. More information about that can be found on our website; click on the "Advocacy" page: http://www.montanahealthfreedom.org.

Contact Deb Kimmet at: deb@debkimmet.com.

NEW JERSEY
A Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensure bill has just been introduced in New Jersey and been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. This bill could limit nutritional advice to only those dietitian/nutritionists licensed by the state of New Jersey. You can view the bill here. Please contact Kimberly Sharples: kimberlysharples@msn.com.

NEW YORK
There were three restrictive bills introduced in New York, which could have prohibited traditional naturopaths from practicing. Boyd Landry with CNH worked at killing these bills and they are monitoring legislation for the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. You can contact Boyd Landry for more information: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

NORTH CAROLINA
There was restrictive naturopathic medicine bills introduced this year in NC. Fortunately, these bills died in committee. The North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom has a health freedom bill introduced and they are hoping for it to be heard in the long session, starting in January. At this time they need assistance with signing petitions (on their website), volunteering and donations. For more information, you can go to their website: www.ncchf.org. Their contact person is Claiborne Holtzman: Claiborne@ncchf.org.

OHIO
The Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition has introduced a health freedom bill, H.B. 580. You can read the bill here. The OSHFC Steering Committee recorded a phone call updating the Ohio situation. If you would like to listen, please call (641) 715-3409 and enter PIN 288597#. They are also asking for help in calling, emailing, or faxing members of the committee that the health freedom bill is assigned to. To learn more, please contact Linda Murray: hertouch@juno.com or go to their website: www.ohiosunshinehealthfreedom.info.

TENNESSEE
Two identical restrictive licensing bills were entertained this session. Fortunately, both of these bills died in committee. They expect similar legislation to be introduced in 2009. For more information, please contact Boyd Landry at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

TEXAS
The Texas health freedom bill author, Rep. Frank Corte, has filed HB 40, their 2009 health freedom bill. The bill text can be viewed at the following link: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.

They also have discovered that the Texas Dietetic Association has hired a lobbyist to attempt to push through their exclusionary licensing agenda for the 2009 legislative session. They will need your help to defeat this legislation that could take away practitioners rights to give out nutritional advice.

There are installments of “WAKE UP AMERICA” on their website, on the right side under “Recent Posts.” Their website has been updated so please visit www.texashealthfreedom.com to see the “WAKE UP AMERICA” video series and other health freedom information.

Texas needs volunteers and donations--If you can help, please visit their website or contact Peter McCarthy at texascam@earthlink.net.

VIRGINIA
Health Freedom bill (HB1744) was introduced and heard in committee, but tabled. Unfortunately this means that the bill is dead but can be reintroduced at a later session.

Naturopathic Physician bill (HB1820) was heard on Monday, February 2 at 5:00 p.m.

Please check www.cnhpva.org or www.fyhf.synthasite.com for current updates.

Keep checking the websites for regular updates and action steps. We all want to make this happen in 2009, so please do your part. We can't do it without you!

Remember, a deluge of e-mails, faxes, letters, or calls from constituents will get the attention of the representative. I know because I'm married to a local representative and he takes action when the masses contact him.

Contact Sharon E. Hrichak C/O Virginians for Health Freedom, a project of the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals, P.O. Box 316, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005.

WASHINGTON
Washington has a health freedom bill introduced, Senate Bill 6886, and was referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. To read this bill, go to: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/.

Preserve your Freedom of Choice in health care! For more information, go to the Washington Health Freedom website: http://healthfreedomwa.org, email healthfreedom.wa@gmail.com, or call (360) 357-6263.

WISCONSIN
WIHFC is a Wisconsin nonprofit 501(c) 4 lobbying organization for social justice supporting an exciting new Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act in Wisconsin in the 2009 to 2010 legislative session.

Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act will ensure consumer choice by providing a safe harbor exemption for those doing non-licensed healing therapies as long as they follow guidelines of the bill. It also gives the consumer freedom to choose alternative practitioners and services desired. This is an exemption bill for everyone doing no harm.

WIHFC opposes the WDA (Wisconsin Dietetic Association) licensing bill (SB 394 & AB 742) that was defeated last session and will be re-introduced in the 2009 to 2010 session. The WDA bill would allow only licensed Dietitians trained by the ADA (American Dietetic Association) and a few other licensed professions to discuss nutrition. We see this as a freedom of speech issue. Food must remain in the public domain.

They ask that everyone call their lawmakers now. WDA mailed letters to every office in Madison. Have every client in your office/store call form your phone, and make them take action now. For those not aware of the WDA Licensure bill go to: http://wihfc.com/about_us.htm. Find your legislator: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.

Check out our website: http://wihfc.com. Contact Syncha Maniscalco, Director WIHFC, synchaa@gmail.com or call (715) 452-5544.

Kimberly Sharples, HHP
Health Freedom Activist
kimberlysharples@msn.com
(719) 390-1979