Green Your Life while you earn credit

In case you haven't heard...

ACHS is hosting an exciting wellness retreat October 4-9, the ACHS Green Your Life Retreat at Breitenbush retreat center in Oregon.

And now we have even more exciting news—attend, and you earn 1 elective credit towards your ACHS diploma or degree.

You'll have the opportunity to meet and learn with experts such as:

• Plant Identification Walk with ACHS President Dorene Petersen and Essential Oil Company President Robert Seidel
• Essential Oil Distillation with Robert Seidel
• Children's Health with Deborah Halvorson
• Iridology with Dorene Petersen

>> Click here for more information.

Imagine an opportunity to relax, explore your wellness potential, and get hands-on holistic health experience while you earn credit towards your ACHS diploma or degree.

Call us today at (800) 487-8839 or click here to securely register online. We look forward to helping you green your life!

Adverse Event Reporting for Registered Aromatherapists

BY Arianna Staruch, ND, ACHS Academic Dean

According to the FDA, a dietary supplement is a product intended to supplement the diet, which must be labeled as such and intended for ingestion. Ingredients in dietary supplements can include vitamins, minerals, herbs or botanicals, amino acids, dietary substances used to increase the entire dietary intake, concentrates, metabolites, constituents, extracts, or combination of these ingredients. If ingested, then, essential oils can be considered a dietary supplement and should be treated with the same precaution as more traditional supplements.

For that purpose, Registered Aromatherapists (RAs) should familiarize themselves with the new guidance information released by the FDA regarding Adverse Event Reporting and Recordkeeping for Dietary Supplements as Required by the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act. Though this Act does not require reports of adverse effects for foods other than dietary supplements, voluntary submission of reports of "serious adverse events associated with all FDA-regulated foods " are encouraged.

The FDA website defines an adverse event is considered "any health-related event associated with the use of a dietary supplement that is adverse." For RAs who use essential oils internally with their clients, reporting of any adverse events will not only increase general safety but will actively develop a database of current research to help the professional community better understand the potential effects and applications of botanical-based products.

To submit a report of a serious adverse event to the FDA, a MedWatch Form 3500A should be used. This form is also called a FDA Form 3500A. When submitting a form, the submitter is asked to include: an identifiable patient, an identifiable initial reporter, the identity and contact information for the responsible person, a suspect dietary supplement, and a serious adverse event or fatal outcome. (The FDA defines a 'serious adverse event' as one that results in a: death, life-threatening experience, inpatient hospitalization, persistent/significant disability or incapacity, congenital anomaly or birth defect, or an outcome previously listed that requires medical or surgical intervention to prevent.)

References:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm085568.htm

>> This article first appeared in the Aromatherapy Registration Council September 2009 newsletter. CLICK HERE to download the complete newsletter.

>> Read "Natural perfume making with essential oils" on the ACHS website

Natural PerfumeMaking with Essential Oils

BY Dorene Petersen, ACHS President

Looking for a natural perfume? A fragrance that does not contain a collection of synthetic chemicals, which place a burden on your liver and other detoxifying organs. Wander through any perfume counter at the local department store and your olfactory system is bombarded with aromas. Some have names you recognize like gardenia, jasmine, or even rose. But, if you take a closer look at these perfume formulas, it is unlikely you will find anything resembling plant-sourced material even though they may use the term “natural” or “nature identical.” Don’t be fooled. These terms do not mean the perfume was blended from essential oils or absolutes, which are all distilled, expressed, or dissolved from plant leaves, flowers, stems, roots, or seeds in a solvent base.

Unlike perfumes made from plant-based materials, most perfume counter perfumes are made from a combination of synthetic chemicals, derived from petroleum. These ingredients allow perfumers to create an array of fragrances that are either unavailable or difficult to obtain in nature. Of course they are less expensive, too.

However, there is growing public awareness about the relationship between synthetic ingredients—potential toxins—and health challenges. To maintain optimal health, natural perfume blending is a healthy green alternative. These perfumes are made from high-quality essential oils, which are known to have therapeutic health benefits and are truly natural. In this context, the term “natural” refers to plant-sourced perfumes. The plants are grown or wildcrafted naturally and, preferably, grown organically (without synthetic pesticides) and sustainably whenever possible.

>>To read the full-length article and more articles from the Aromatherapy Registration Council newsletter, CLICK HERE

>> To learn more about natural products manufacturing and aromatherapy, check out the American College website

Swine flu is coming: 10 things you should know

Since April, 2009, the swine flu epidemic has made more than 1 million Americans sick and killed 500, as reported by the Associated Press.

According to a White House report, about 30-50% of the population has the potential to catch swine flu and anywhere from 30,000-90,000 could die.

So, what can you do need to know about swine flu and your health? Here are 10 tips to support your immune system this fall.

1. Don’t panic.
2. The swine flu virus is “tougher” on some. (Children younger than two, pregnant women, people with health problems like asthma and diabetes, and young adults are more vulnerable to swine flu.)
3. Wash your hands.
4. Vaccinate your kids.
5. Get your flu shots early.
6. Be patient. Immunity takes a while to “kick in.”
7. Vaccines are being tested in eight cities around the country.
8. If an outbreak occurs, stay away from heavily populated areas, like the mall, and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
9. Pay attention to your body and seek proper medical attention.
10. Swine flu and pork, a myth! (Swine flu is not actually spreading from meat.)

>> Click here to read more about herbal medicine and swine flu, and lifestyle tips for staying healthy this fall.

>> To read the full-length article from the Associated Press, visit:
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2009/09/swine_flu_is_coming_10_things.html

Americans Spent $34 Billion Out-of-Pocket on CAM in 2007

Adults in the United States spent nearly $34 billion out-of-pocket on visits to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners and on purchases of CAM products, classes, and materials in 2007, according to findings released in July from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).1

“With so many Americans using and spending money on CAM therapies, it is extremely important to know whether the products and practices they use are safe and effective,” said Josephine Briggs, MD, director of NCCAM in a press release.2 “This underscores the importance of conducting rigorous research and providing evidence-based information on CAM so that healthcare providers and the public can make well-informed decisions.”

The survey found that nearly two-thirds of the total out-of-pocket costs that adults spent on CAM were for self-care purchases ($22 billion), and the majority of out-of-pocket dollars spent on CAM self-care purchases went towards nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (which includes herbal preparations).1 Purchases of these products equaled $14.8 billion and accounted for 44% of all out-of-pocket costs for CAM in 2007. Visits to CAM practitioners resulted in an estimated out-of-pocket cost of nearly $12 billion.

The approximately $34 billion spent on CAM visits and purchases equates to 1.5% of total healthcare expenditures in the United States and 11.2% of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures for 2007. The $14.8 billion amount spent on nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products is approximately 31% of the amount that the public spent out-of-pocket for pharmaceutical drugs in 2007 ($47.6 billion).

Prior to the release of the NHIS survey data from 2007, the latest estimate of CAM out-of-pocket expenditures was from a telephone survey conducted 10 years earlier. The greatest difference between the2 surveys’ results is that the 1997 survey found that most CAM costs were based on visits to CAM practitioners, while the 2007 survey found that most expenditures stem from self-care CAM purchases. These discrepancies may result in part from differences in the surveys’ methodologies. However, the 2007 results are consistent with industry sales data, which also demonstrate a large increase in expenditures for nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products over the past decade.

The NHIS is an annual survey of health and illness-related experiences of Americans conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Information on out-of-pocket costs for CAM from the 2007 NHIS is based on data from interviews of 23,393 American adults.

A previous analysis of results from the 2007 NHIS found that approximately 38% of adults and 12% of children in the United States use CAM, with the most commonly used CAM therapy of both adults and children being nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products, including herbals. Those findings were released in December of 2008, and an article regarding that data was published in the February issue of HerbalEGram.3

© Courtney Cavaliere, American Botanical Council

References

1.Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, Bloom B. Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports, Number 18; July 30, 2009.
2. Americans spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on complementary and alternative medicine [press release]. Bethesda, MD: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; July 10, 2009.
3. Cavaliere C. Government survey finds over one-third of American adults use CAM. HerbalEGram, February 2009;6(2). Available at: http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume6/02%20February%20/CAM_Survey.html. Accessed August 10, 2009.

Herbs for use with swine flu H1N1

By Scott Stuart, ACHS Faculty

While offering no guarantees, vitamin D may help keep the swine flu away because it plays a critical role in enabling the immune system to successfully defeat viruses of all kinds. One 2006 study hit headlines when it concluded that vitamin D is effective in fighting standard influenza strains.

Elderberry syrup, or sambucol, a standardized extract of elderberry, has been shown by repeated scientific studies to fight standard strains of influenza. Elderberry appears to reduce the duration of colds and flu by several days. Other studies have shown elderberry syrup to be effective in fighting H5N1 bird flu, which is one of the core components of the swine flu pandemic's biology. Laboratory trials have confirmed that elderberry extract effectively defeats H5N1 avian flu with up to 99% efficacy.

Another ingredient they offer is selenium. In vitro studies confirmed that selenium, like elderberry syrup, can effectively fight the H5N1 strain of avian flu, making it a potentially important supplement for preventing a swine flu pandemic.

Other herbs they say may help include echinacea, goldenseal, zinc, and vitamin C.

DIGESTION
Some say that the flu “begins in the gut and ends in the gut.” This means that if you have good digestion, you will increase your resistance to this and other flu strains. Take a probiotic daily. Live probiotics are available in natural food stores, and probiotics are now more widely available in grocery stores, such as in yogurt culture and even in chocolate.

HOMEOPATHY
The homeopathic remedy Anas Barbariae is made from the liver of migrating geese. Because they travel the world, they build immunity to many viruses years before humans do. Be sure to get the 2009 version by checking the expiration date. In addition, the remedy Ferrum phos is effective in treating the early stages of the flu when used within the first 24 hours, and the remedy Influenzinum can be taken as a prophylaxis. This remedy is made from the same disease strain as the CDC uses to make each season’s flu vaccine.

LIFESTYLE ADVICE
1. Get Plenty of Sleep. To improve your resistance to any disease, the most important thing you can do is get enough rest. Your body knows how to heal, and it does this best when sleeping. Get adequate rest on a daily basis, and if you begin to feel fatigue during a time of increased stress to your immune system, take naps, get into bed earlier, relax and let your body do what it does best: restore and rebuild.

2. Hydrate. Our bodies are 80% water. Drink plenty of water each day to stay hydrated and to allow the body to flush toxins from the blood and the liver. Drink pure water, not soda or juice, for best results.

3. Exercise. Exercise increases your resistance to disease. It stimulates the cleansing blood flow and increases your natural stress reducing hormones. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to be beneficial. Science has shown that walking daily is good for your health and well-being.

4. Spend time outdoors. The healing benefits of nature are yours and all you need to do is step outside. The fresh air cleanses your lungs and the vitamin D from sunshine is great for general health. Even on a rainy day or at night, the fresh air is beneficial.

>> To read the full-length article, go to: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=189

>> For more information about herbal medicine and holistic health classes, visit: www.achs.edu

Food as Pharma

According to a recent Times article, "Food as Pharma," it is becoming more clear that "food is more than just fuel." What you choose eat, in fact, effects "how elastic your blood vessels are, how easily you resist cancer-causing toxins and whether or not you will barrel down the road toward heart disease."

Can food, though, actually prevent disease? Current research suggests that Yes, the foods in your kitchen do have the potential to fight disease. In a 2002 study, for example, "researchers found that people at risk of diabetes could delay or in some cases even prevent the disease from developing by eating fewer calories, getting them from the right kinds of foods and exercising more than two hours a week."

>> To learn more about holistic nutrition, CLICK HERE

>> To read the full length article "Food as Pharma", CLICK HERE