Have you registered? New classes starting Monday, September 20

Have you registered for fall classes yet? New classes are starting Monday, September 20! It's not too late to begin your journey toward personal wellness and an exciting new career.

What Can You Achieve with Your Training?

ACHS classes provide the practical skills and training you need for a career in holistic medicine and healthcare through programs like Certified Wellness Coach, Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Holistic Health Practitioner, Master Herbalist, aromatherapist, and natural health sales associate. You can also earn your Associates or Masters degree in Complementary Alternative Medicine fully online!

Call us--or visit our website ACHS.edu-- to learn how you can increase your future career opportunities, your lifetime earning potential and your own well-being while working in a field that makes a difference. Find out which classes are still available at (800) 487-8839 or email admissions@achs.edu.

>> For a complete list of aromatherapy, herbalism, holistic nutrition, and holistic health and wellness classes starting Monday, September 20, visit our online College Calendar here: http://www.achs.edu/services/calendar.aspx?id=9

ACHS students can now have their college exams proctored online with ProctorU

ACHS students can now have their college exams proctored online with ProctorU

American College of Healthcare Sciences today announced that students enrolled in their degree, diploma, and certificate programs can now have their college exams conveniently proctored online.

ACHS President Dorene Petersen said the college is always looking for solutions that simplify the learning process for its online students. Petersen said, “The online ProctorU service provides us with a proven and easy-to-use method to ensure academic integrity while allowing our students to take exams at a time and place convenient to them.”

ACHS is one of only nineteen institutions of higher learning that offer online exam proctoring using ProctorU’s proven system. ACHS understands one of the reasons its students enroll is the convenience online courses offer. “We realized that the requirement that a student locate a proctor to take an exam somewhat negated the convenience factor, so we searched for a solution,” said ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw.

Click here to read the full-length press release on the ACHS website.

98% of ACHS Students Said They Would Recommend ACHS to a Friend

After several key developments in 2009, the American College of Healthcare Sciences sees the positive results in student satisfaction

American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), one of the first accredited, online colleges to offer degrees, diplomas, and career-training certificates in complementary alternative medicine (CAM), also known as integrative medicine, celebrated its 20th year of operations in the U.S. in 2009. Building on its foundation of core CAM courses and programs, in 2009 ACHS also launched seven new certificate programs and six graduate certificates for specialized training in CAM in response to growing demand for CAM-trained healthcare professionals.

The January 2010 survey showed exceptional results from ACHS’s 2009 developments and a completion rate of 93% for the top 10 ACHS courses by enrollment. Of the more than 500 survey respondents, 95% said yes when asked, “Did you achieve, or will you have achieved upon completing your studies, the goals you had when you started the course or program?” When asked, “Would you recommend these studies to a friend?”, 98% said yes, and 98% also said yes when asked, “All things considered, are you satisfied with your studies with us?”

“Our surveys and results are a vital part of our outcome Assessment Program at ACHS,” said ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw, who serves as the Institutional Improvement Officer. “We appreciate and value students’ feedback and comments, which we ‘feed back’ into our cycle of improvement. This cycle keeps us at the forefront of our industry.”

“We had our largest enrollment and number of courses starting January 2010,” said ACHS President Dorene Petersen. “That’s exciting! It feels wonderful to know our students are satisfied and happy with their studies, to know we’re meeting their needs, which is something we plan to do well into the future.”

Read the full press here, including more information about ACHS's plans for future development: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=220

OR on eSchool News here: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/03/10/after-several-key-developments-in-2009-the-american-college-of-healthcare-sciences-sees-the-positive-results-in-student-satisfaction/

ACHS adopts TopSchool as their SLM system, increasing efficiency for prospective and current students

The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) has adopted TopSchool as its student lifecycle management (SLM) system. By adopting TopSchool, prospective and current ACHS students will gain greater access to real-time information through dynamic, customized self-help portals.

ACHS’s new portals increase efficiency by allowing students to complete their own automatic degree audit to determine which courses have been completed, which are required to complete their program or degree, and which electives are currently available. Prospective and current students will also be able to apply and enroll at ACHS online; register for courses online; view grades and order transcripts online; securely view financial account information online; and directly manage their accounts online.

“We like the fact that TopSchool’s system is built solely for higher education,” says Dorene Petersen, President of ACHS. “The CRM, SIS, and reporting tools are all integrated, allowing us to automate many of our processes. The system is also easy to use—its flexibility will allow us to configure it on our own as our needs evolve.”

>>Read the full-length article from the American College of Healthcare Sciences here: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=218

ACHS hires Amy Swinehart and Roberta Gamache as Assistants to the Registrar

Amy Swinehart (pictured far right) and Roberta Gamache have been hired as Assistants to the Registrar for the American College of Healthcare Sciences. ACHS is based in the John’s Landing area of Portland, Oregon, and is the only accredited, fully online college offering degrees, diplomas, and career-training certificates in complementary alternative medicine.

Swinehart, who had previously worked for the ACHS Student Services and Admissions Deparments for about ten years, and Gamache, who has several years’ experience working in the service industries, will job-share the Assistant to the Registrar position. Assistant to the Registrar works with current ACHS students to help them meet their financial and educational goals.

“I became familiar with holistic health while assisting prospective and current students during their studies with ACHS,” Swinehart said. “Our students are working hard to enhance or further their holistic health knowledge in order to assist others in leading natural, healthy lives. I am proud to, again, be a part of this college and look forward to reconnecting with the students, assisting them in any way with their current and/or future goals with holistic health.”

Swinehart graduated with a BA in Sociology from Washington State University in 1995, when she relocated to the Portland area. Gamache relocated to Portland more recently in 2008 to be closer to her family.

“Holistic health has been a way of life for me personally,” Gamache said. “Having grown up with illness, I learned early on to take care of myself through diet and exercise, to get to the root of the real problem. This being the case, I am very excited to work in the holistic health field, to help ACHS students gain knowledge and a career for their future.”

For more information about holistic health courses and community wellness events from the American College of Healthcare Sciences, visit: www.achs.edu

Use Your VA Education Benefits for an In-Demand, Satisfying Career

Over the next decade, the healthcare industry is expected to grow more than any other industry. There are more opportunities than ever to help people by providing person-to-person support that promotes sustainable health and wellness. In specific, the healthcare industry is experiencing a growing demand for specialists in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, massage, chiropractic, nutrition, wellness coaching, and acupuncture to work with physical therapists, doctors, and dieticians, among others.

The opportunity to help people find wellness and balance, is relatively unlimited. For many military servicemembers and spouses, it is this pride in helping others that attracted them to the military. A career in holistic health is an opportunity to find new ways to help other.

To read the full-length version of this article, which originally appeared in the 2010 Veterans Education Guide, download it as a PDF here: http://www.schoolguides.com/veterans_education_online.html (This ACHS article starts on page 76 of the Guide.)

ACHS names Pat Reder DETC Outstanding Graduate award winner for 2010

Congratulations to Pat Reder, DETC Outstanding Graduate award winner for 2010!

DETC Outstanding Graduates represent the more than three million distance education students now studying with DETC member institutions.

Pat has worked as a registered nurse for about 30 years, including critical care and emergency and trauma medicine. She has always had an interest in holistic health because she feels there is “a need for an integrative approach between allopathic and holistic healthcare practices.” That is why Pat chose to enroll in ACHS’s Holistic Health Practitioner Diploma program, which she completed in December 2009, in addition to a Certificate in Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism.

Her distance education experience with ACHS gave her “confidence to seek out opportunity,” Pat says. After finishing her first course, Pat says she was able to use the knowledge base from that course to approach her employer about incorporating wellness coaching into their services. She also has used her training to develop a wellness coaching program, which she successfully trialed with her co-workers, and has since “opened the door to marketing the wellness coaching program to their clients.”

To read Pat's full profile, visit: http://www.achs.edu/course-desc.aspx?pid=29&id=4

For more information on the DETC Outstanding Graduate awards, go to www.detc.org.

ACHS names Michael Edwards, Director of Thee Wellness Institute, DETC Famous Alumni award winner for 2010

Congratulations to Michael Edwards, DETC Famous Alumni award winner for 2010!

The DETC Famous Alumni award honors distance education graduates who meet select criteria or academic records and the quality of their contribution to their chosen profession and society in general.

Michael, who graduated with a Certificate in Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism, says, “The first acceptance I had at ACHS made a big difference to me, and it motivated me to read and teach as often as possible. I feel I’m doing my share to give people back control of their health.”

Since completing his Certificate, Michael has completed his master’s degree and launched Thee Wellness Institute (previously The NC Health and Wellness Institute), specializing in preventative health programs and natural products for the community. Edwards also worked as the Clinical Health Educator at Cherry Point Marine Base before accepting the position of Education Program Manager at Patrick Air Force Base. While in this position, Edwards has developed several health-promoting programs and has led motivational wellness classes for thousands of service members in the U.S. Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Read Michael's complete profile here: http://www.achs.edu/alumni/alumni-spotlight.aspx?spid=43

For more information about the DETC and this award, check out www.detc.org.

MyCAA Provides Up To $6,000 in Financial Assistance to Military Spouses

The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) has been approved to participate in the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program.

MyCAA provides financial assistance to military spouses pursuing degrees, licenses, or credentials leading to employment in Portable Career Fields, including holistic nutrition, wellness consulting, and holistic health. Eligible military spouses can receive up to $6,000 in financial assistance to be used for education and training programs, tuition, and licensing/credentialing fees, including Associates, Bachelors, and Masters programs. MyCAA can also be used for course books and supplies needed for the participant’s chosen profession. ACHS Career Advancement Account recipients are currently enrolled in the Certificate in Natural Products Manufacturing and Associate of Applied Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine programs, among others.

As outlined on the MyCAA FAQs, the goals of the program include: To “seek schools and programs that offer academic degrees, licenses and certificates that lead to employment in Portable Career Fields; seek spouses who are ready to start classes within 90 days; and make financial assistance (FA) available to as many eligible spouses as possible with highest priority on spouses who are ready to start classes within 90 days of opening a MyCAA account.”

Eligible participants are spouses of DoD active duty service members or members of the National Guard and Reserve Components. Guard and Reserve member spouses are eligible “from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following De-Mobilization.” To be eligible, participants must pass the Defense Eligibility and Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) screen.

To get started, military spouses should visit the MyCAA website to establish an account at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa. For specific questions about ACHS courses and MyCAA and ACHS enrollment eligibility, military spouses should contact ACHS Admissions to speak with a student advisor. ACHS Admissions can be reached at (800) 487-8839 from Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm, PST, and by email at admissions@achs.edu.

New courses from ACHS: Personal and Community Health & Introduction to Nutrition

ACHS will launch two new courses for 2010 starting January 18, Personal and Community Health (HLTH 101) and Introduction to Nutrition (NUT 101), in response to the growing demand for accredited health and nutrition training.

“Prevention is the future of health care,” says ACHS President Dorene Petersen. “It’s not just about curing a particular problem, but about using a series of health-related tools to identify the root cause of health challenges so that we can make valuable lifestyle changes to help promote optimum health. Health and nutrition education are key for making healthy lifestyle choices. Most people aren’t taught how to read food labels, for example. If we don’t know how to evaluate our food, we can’t make the best choices. There’s a gap in our education. These new courses will teach students how to make good choices for their own health and life, and how to help others do the same for sustainable, long-term wellness.”

ACHS’s new courses—Personal and Community Health and Introduction to Nutrition—are designed for personal interest and as an introduction to holistic health and wellness for healthcare professionals who want to integrate CAM.

American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) announces two new courses for 2010 starting January 18, Personal and Community Health (HLTH 101) and Introduction to Nutrition (NUT 101), in response to the growing demand for accredited health and nutrition training.

As interest in complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and “emphasis on disease prevention through improved dietary habits,” increases, so is the demand for health care and wellness professionals with accredited training to provide food and nutrition counseling in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, prisons, community health programs, and home health care agencies, as reported by “Top 10 Fastest Growing Allied Health Careers” featured on HealthDegrees.com.

“Prevention is the future of health care,” says ACHS President Dorene Petersen. “It’s not just about curing a particular problem, but about using a series of health-related tools to identify the root cause of health challenges so that we can make valuable lifestyle changes to help promote optimum health. Health and nutrition education are key for making healthy lifestyle choices. Most people aren’t taught how to read food labels, for example. If we don’t know how to evaluate our food, we can’t make the best choices. There’s a gap in our education. These new courses will teach students how to make good choices for their own health and life, and how to help others do the same for sustainable, long-term wellness.”

ACHS’s new courses—Personal and Community Health and Introduction to Nutrition—are designed for personal interest and as an introduction to holistic health and wellness for healthcare professionals who want to integrate CAM.

Personal and Community Health (HLTH 101) introduces concepts and skills to identify and help students develop a healthy lifestyle for themselves, their family, and their community. The focus of the course is on day-to-day choices and challenges, and includes stress management, basic nutrition, physical fitness, substance abuse, reproductive health, body weight, environmental health, and death and dying.

Introduction to Nutrition (NUT 101) focuses on introductory nutrition concepts and tools for healthy eating. The components of food (including protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals) are examined, and curriculum includes discussion of hunger in the U.S. and abroad.

Both courses earn credit towards the Associate of Applied Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine (AAS), and can be applied to some certificate programs, including the Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting.

>>Read the full-length press release here: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=207

Where were you?

BY Chris Fierro, ACHS Admissions Advisor

Where were you on this day, September 11, eight years ago?

I was living in Brooklyn, working in Brooklyn Heights. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and took a jog across the Brooklyn Bridge. Truth be told, it was one of the most beautiful mornings I had ever experienced. The air was crisp and cool. The sky was beautiful. I remember thanking God for such a beautiful day.

As we all know, that day turned into a tragedy for thousands. Really, a tragedy for the world.

I will never forget watching people fall, towers fall. Men, women, and children of all backgrounds running for their lives across the the same bridge that I had thanked God for life on that very same day.

The surreal events of that day have motivated my daily activities since then. How can I make a difference in the world? How can I show my appreciation for what is really important?

For those that I have helped to live their passion at ACHS, thanks for letting me be a part of making a difference.

Where were you on this day, eight years ago?

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

ACHS Holistic Health Career Fair Coming August 29

Saturday, August 29, 11-2 pm at the ACHS Campus in Portland

Come meet holistic health professionals and learn more about the exciting opportunities waiting for you as an ACHS Graduate!

Schedule for the day:

11:00-11:30: Diane Vireday, ACHS Master Herbalist Graduate

Diane was in Mexico more than seven years ago when she first took a temazcal, an herbal steam bath from pre-Columbian traditional medicine, and found a calling to become an herbalist. Studying with ACHS and through Tlahui she has become a medical herbalist with interests in traditional Mexican medicine, North American native and European herbs, herbal first aid, her Swiss agricultural heritage, and sustainable farming. She started her apothecary business in 2007 and this year has expanded her herbal plantings to a 3-acre farm.

11:30-12:00: Candice Covington, ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy Graduate

Candice is a graduate of the ACHS Certificate in Aromatherapy program. She will be presenting on the essential oil product line she has created based on Ayurvedic theory called The Tattvas line.

12:00-12:30: Christina Suarez, ACHS Master Herbalist Graduate

Christina is a graduate of the ACHS Master Herbalist program and owner of The Good Herb Company in Hood River, Oregon. The Good Herb Company services clients in a variety of industries such as: nutraceutical and naturopathic, organic food ingredients, food and beverage preparation, tea manufacturing, gourmet specialty and bulk herb retail.

12:30-1:00: Pat Reder, RN & HHP Student

Pat Reder has been a registered nurse for almost 30 years. She currently provides wellness education and disease management to those with chronic diseases, and wellness coaching as a corporate wellness consultant. She is now in her final course at ACHS toward obtaining her Holistic Health Practitioner Diploma, and she plans to open her own practice where she will incorporate all of her allopathic healthcare knowledge and skills, holistic nutritional knowledge, energy work, and aromatherapy into her future career of promoting holistic health and wellness. She is also actively involved in many different volunteer projects; providing Reiki energy work at clinics and retreats, moderating a website section on maintaining a healthy body, and participating on Boards and Committees in an effort to improve the health and wellness in her community.

1:00-1:30: Angie Goodloe, LMT, ACHS Master Herbalist Graduate

Angie Goodloe is an Oregon licensed massage therapist, writer, and herbalist practicing in Sandy, Oregon. As an herbalist, Angie specializes in local medicinal herbs, women and children's health and wellness, and home herbalism. She teaches classes about herbalism both locally and online. Learn more about Angela on her blog online at www.herbalistpath.blogspot.com.

1:30-2:00: Amanda Lattin BA, MA, Dip.Aroma, MH

Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts (Chemistry) from Huntingdon College and a Master of Arts in Teaching (Chemistry) from Lewis and Clark College Graduate School of Education. She completed her herbalism training at American College of Healthcare Sciences and is also a certified aromatherapist. Learn more about Amanda online at www.terracinaherbals.com.

This event is open to the public, so bring a friend and join us for the afternoon!

Space is limited. For more information and to RSVP, please call (503) 244-0726 or email admissions@achs.edu.

U.S. Department of Education finds online learning has advantages over traditional classrooms

By Jonathan Kaplan

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Education released a report that looked at 12 years' worth of education studies, and found that online learning has clear advantages over face-to-face instruction.

The study, "An Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies," stated that “students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

But imagine for a moment that the report came to the opposite conclusion. I’m sure that if the U.S. Department of Education had published a report showing that students in online learning environments performed worse, there would have been a major outcry in higher education with calls to shut down distance-learning programs and close virtual campuses.

I believe the reason that the recent study elicited so little commentary is due to the fact that it flies in the face of the biases held by some across the higher education landscape. Yet this study confirms what those of us working in distance education have witnessed for years: Good teaching helps students achieve, and good teaching comes in many forms.

We know that online learning requires devout attention on the part of both the professor and the student -- and a collaboration between the two -- in a different way from that of a face-to-face classroom. These critical aspects of online education are worth particular mention:

• Greater student engagement: In an online classroom, there is no back row and nowhere for students to hide. Every student participates in class.
• Increased faculty attention: In most online classes, the faculty’s role is focused on mentoring students and fostering discussion. Interestingly, many faculty members choose to teach online because they want more student interaction.
• Constant access: The Internet is open 24/7, so students can share ideas and “sit in class” whenever they have time or when an idea strikes -- whether it be the dead of night or during lunch. Online learning occurs on the student’s time, making it more accessible, convenient, and attainable.

In higher education, there is still too much debate about how we are delivering content: Is it online education, face-to-face teaching, or hybrid instruction? It’s time for us to stop categorizing higher education by the medium of delivery and start focusing on its impact and outcomes.

Recently, President Obama remarked, “I think there’s a possibility that online education can provide, especially for people who are already in the workforce and want to retrain, the chance to upgrade their skills without having to quit their job.” As the U.S. Department of Education study concluded, online education can do that and much more.

>> READ MORE about the U.S. Department of Education study, "An Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies," here

© Jonathan Kaplan, Inside Higher Ed: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2009/08/11/kaplan

International Fragrance Association wants to ban melissa, rose, oak moss, and bergamot

By Rhavda Cooper Emison

Today in the aromatherapy community we have a "call to arms" in facing another challenge with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) due to the IFRA imposing more and more unfair, ungrounded regulations worldwide on what can and cannot be used in the perfume/fragrance world. Melissa, Rose, Oak Moss, and Bergamot are just a few of the essential oils that the IFRA wants to remove from our use in not only the perfume/fragrance industry but also in the aromatherapy world.

The IFRA is continuously and quickly taking away our rights and freedoms in choosing what natural products are best for us to use in our businesses. The loss of our rights and freedoms impacts all of us. Whatever IFRA's true agenda for removing our choices to grow, manufacture, and buy natural products is yet to be fully seen but the main causes are suspected to be power, money, and greed. IFRA is placing its interests above the interests of the community that it is supposed to protect.

According to Tony Burfield of CropWatch and Safety Advisor to NAHA, he used to support the IFRA until the time of the 40th Amendment. At that point, Tony believed that the IFRA started to put the interests of its composite career toxicologists over and above its function of a balanced safety policy-making unit for the fragrance industry based on the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials' (RIFM) research. The other point is that IFRA's large budget allows it to carry out a certain amount of research on essential oil toxicology and their findings and policies greatly influence safety legislators and officials throughout the world. Unfortunately there is no similarly-financed independent organization able to monitor or carry out counter-research where needed.

I have been involved with aromatherapy (AT) for over 25 years. I have seen many things come and go but I have been surprised by the tenacity and staying power of the IFRA with their current agenda. I expected them to go away after a while and leave the natural products/fragrance world alone but they haven't. Melissa (Melissa officinalis) essential oil is their latest victim on their "hit list" of essential oils to destroy.

Effect on the Entire Aromatherapy Community

In my opinion, the IFRA is smart in that they are going after the perfume/fragrance community first. This community has the most to lose from the ban on using certain essential oils (eos) along with other natural products. For this article, I will be in reference to only a few of the essential oils on the IFRA's "hit list" such as Rose, Melissa, Oak Moss, Bergamot, etc. By going after the community that has the most to lose, the IFRA will cause the biggest and harshest impact. With the removal of certain essential oils that have been used safely for centuries in the perfume/fragrance industry, the IFRA will cause it's biggest ripple effect in the supply chain yet. This ripple effect will trickle down to you and me when certain essential oils become unavailable for us to use in our AT businesses. If the perfume/fragrance industry decides to comply and bow down to the IFRA, then the IFRA will have successfully killed the perfumery/fragrance industry as we know it today. This, in turn, will create a vacuum in the demand for certain essential oils. Growers will quit growing certain herbs and flowers for the manufacturers to manufacture into essential oils and the suppliers then will be unable to purchase the essential oils for resale to the perfume/fragrance industry. That in turn, can put us all out of business, folks. No products, no industry. No money. You will have to find another job to earn your living. I, for one, don't want to do this. I have been an aromatherapist for too many years now to want to change professions. What about you? Are you willing to be forced into changing professions? I hope not.

What We Can Do

What can we do about this? Become pro-active. Support Tony Burfield and CropWatch, which monitor IFRA continuously. Write your congressman and senator. Tell them how you feel about the possibility of an EU organization putting you out of a job. Don't sit on your laurels and wait for someone else to do something. Become pro-active NOW and before it is too late. Take Action. Research. Read. This is your business. Do you want to LOSE IT? I think NOT! I am already Pro-Active but I am only one person. Come and join me in saving our Aromatherapy community. I can't do this alone and neither can NAHA nor any other aromatherapy organization. It will take all of us joining together to make a difference.

To learn more about the original announcement on the Unfair Treatment of Melissa Oil visit www.cropwatch.org. To learn more about Tony Burfield, click here.

Cropwatch Disclaimer
Cropwatch has presented information and formed opinions from what has been believed to be current and reliable sources. The data is supplied without warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the potential use of any materials described in these opinions. It is the users responsibility to determine the safe conditions for use of these materials, and to assume liability for loss, injury, damage of expense arising from their improper use.

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/cozymemories/3625573663/

International Fragrance Association wants to ban melissa, rose, oak moss, and bergamot

By Rhavda Cooper Emison

Today in the aromatherapy community we have a "call to arms" in facing another challenge with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) due to the IFRA imposing more and more unfair, ungrounded regulations worldwide on what can and cannot be used in the perfume/fragrance world. Melissa, Rose, Oak Moss, and Bergamot are just a few of the essential oils that the IFRA wants to remove from our use in not only the perfume/fragrance industry but also in the aromatherapy world.

The IFRA is continuously and quickly taking away our rights and freedoms in choosing what natural products are best for us to use in our businesses. The loss of our rights and freedoms impacts all of us. Whatever IFRA's true agenda for removing our choices to grow, manufacture, and buy natural products is yet to be fully seen but the main causes are suspected to be power, money, and greed. IFRA is placing its interests above the interests of the community that it is supposed to protect.

According to Tony Burfield of CropWatch and Safety Advisor to NAHA, he used to support the IFRA until the time of the 40th Amendment. At that point, Tony believed that the IFRA started to put the interests of its composite career toxicologists over and above its function of a balanced safety policy-making unit for the fragrance industry based on the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials' (RIFM) research. The other point is that IFRA's large budget allows it to carry out a certain amount of research on essential oil toxicology and their findings and policies greatly influence safety legislators and officials throughout the world. Unfortunately there is no similarly-financed independent organization able to monitor or carry out counter-research where needed.

I have been involved with aromatherapy (AT) for over 25 years. I have seen many things come and go but I have been surprised by the tenacity and staying power of the IFRA with their current agenda. I expected them to go away after a while and leave the natural products/fragrance world alone but they haven't. Melissa (Melissa officinalis) essential oil is their latest victim on their "hit list" of essential oils to destroy.

Effect on the Entire Aromatherapy Community

In my opinion, the IFRA is smart in that they are going after the perfume/fragrance community first. This community has the most to lose from the ban on using certain essential oils (eos) along with other natural products. For this article, I will be in reference to only a few of the essential oils on the IFRA's "hit list" such as Rose, Melissa, Oak Moss, Bergamot, etc. By going after the community that has the most to lose, the IFRA will cause the biggest and harshest impact. With the removal of certain essential oils that have been used safely for centuries in the perfume/fragrance industry, the IFRA will cause it's biggest ripple effect in the supply chain yet. This ripple effect will trickle down to you and me when certain essential oils become unavailable for us to use in our AT businesses. If the perfume/fragrance industry decides to comply and bow down to the IFRA, then the IFRA will have successfully killed the perfumery/fragrance industry as we know it today. This, in turn, will create a vacuum in the demand for certain essential oils. Growers will quit growing certain herbs and flowers for the manufacturers to manufacture into essential oils and the suppliers then will be unable to purchase the essential oils for resale to the perfume/fragrance industry. That in turn, can put us all out of business, folks. No products, no industry. No money. You will have to find another job to earn your living. I, for one, don't want to do this. I have been an aromatherapist for too many years now to want to change professions. What about you? Are you willing to be forced into changing professions? I hope not.

What We Can Do

What can we do about this? Become pro-active. Support Tony Burfield and CropWatch, which monitor IFRA continuously. Write your congressman and senator. Tell them how you feel about the possibility of an EU organization putting you out of a job. Don't sit on your laurels and wait for someone else to do something. Become pro-active NOW and before it is too late. Take Action. Research. Read. This is your business. Do you want to LOSE IT? I think NOT! I am already Pro-Active but I am only one person. Come and join me in saving our Aromatherapy community. I can't do this alone and neither can NAHA nor any other aromatherapy organization. It will take all of us joining together to make a difference.

To learn more about the original announcement on the Unfair Treatment of Melissa Oil visit www.cropwatch.org. To learn more about Tony Burfield, click here.

Cropwatch Disclaimer
Cropwatch has presented information and formed opinions from what has been believed to be current and reliable sources. The data is supplied without warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the potential use of any materials described in these opinions. It is the users responsibility to determine the safe conditions for use of these materials, and to assume liability for loss, injury, damage of expense arising from their improper use.

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/cozymemories/3625573663

Erik Estrada poses with ACHS at the DoD Worldwide Education Symposium

ACHS Director of Military Relations Kate Harmon and ACHS Dean of Admissions and Military Education Coordinator Tracey Miller pose with Erik Estrada at the DoD Worldwide Education Symposium.

Kate and Tracey are representing the American College of Healthcare Sciences at the Symposium and Mr. Estrada is supporting anti-child pornography online.

Photobucket slideshow of ACHS lavender distillation

Photos taken by Jen Keller at the ACHS lavender distillation held at Sherwood Lavender Farm on July 18, 2009.

ACHS now offers six graduate certificates for specialized CAM training

July 23, 2009--The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) has launched six new graduate certificate programs in the field of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). These new certificates impart graduate-level specialized training with less time and financial commitment found in the more traditional master’s program. ACHS graduate certificates provide healthcare professionals with more in-depth knowledge of holistic health and wellness protocols and the ability to better serve the health needs of their communities.

ACHS graduate certificates require 12 credits of study, or four 16-week courses for completion, and are available in the fastest growing integrative healthcare modalities. ACHS graduate certificates include: Graduate Certificate in Nutrition, Graduate Certificate in Anatomy and Physiology, Graduate Certificate in Complementary Alternative Medicine, Graduate Certificate in Aromatherapy, Graduate Certificate in Herbal Medicine, and Graduate Certificate in Botanical Safety.

Today, more and more people are turning to preventative care as a solution to rising healthcare costs. The healthcare industry needs professionals trained in holistic health and wellness protocols, as well as botanical safety and drug and supplement interactions. With an ACHS graduate certificate, healthcare professionals can:

• Enhance their employability and job growth with each specialized certificate.
• Train to meet the growing demand for educated and trusted CAM professionals.
• Learn botanical safety.
• Increase ancillary services offered, thereby increasing clients and income.
• Educate others about wellness and complementary alternative medicine.

Students who enroll in a graduate certificate program will benefit from the same amenities as ACHS Masters of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine students, including access to the extensive Natural Standards and Natural Medicines databases, full text, online journal resources; instructors who are industry experts; highly interactive online classes and instructor-led discussions; and training from the industry-leader in accredited, online holistic health education.

The ACHS graduate certificate programs are open to new students, as well as current ACHS students, and can be completed while pursuing a Masters of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine. For more information and detailed course descriptions, visit www.achs.edu or call ACHS Admissions at (800) 487-8839.

American College of Healthcare Sciences is the only accredited, fully online college offering degrees, diplomas, and career-training certificates in complementary alternative medicine. Founded in 1978, ACHS is committed to exceptional online education and is recognized as an industry leader in holistic health education worldwide. For more information about ACHS programs and community wellness events, visit www.achs.edu, call (800) 487-8839, or stop by the College campus located at 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239.

ACHS now offers six graduate certificates for specialized CAM training

July 23, 2009--The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) has launched six new graduate certificate programs in the field of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). These new certificates impart graduate-level specialized training with less time and financial commitment found in the more traditional master’s program. ACHS graduate certificates provide healthcare professionals with more in-depth knowledge of holistic health and wellness protocols and the ability to better serve the health needs of their communities.

ACHS graduate certificates require 12 credits of study, or four 16-week courses for completion, and are available in the fastest growing integrative healthcare modalities. ACHS graduate certificates include: Graduate Certificate in Nutrition, Graduate Certificate in Anatomy and Physiology, Graduate Certificate in Complementary Alternative Medicine, Graduate Certificate in Aromatherapy, Graduate Certificate in Herbal Medicine, and Graduate Certificate in Botanical Safety.

Today, more and more people are turning to preventative care as a solution to rising healthcare costs. The healthcare industry needs professionals trained in holistic health and wellness protocols, as well as botanical safety and drug and supplement interactions. With an ACHS graduate certificate, healthcare professionals can:

• Enhance their employability and job growth with each specialized certificate.
• Train to meet the growing demand for educated and trusted CAM professionals.
• Increase ancillary services offered, thereby increasing clients and income.
• Educate others about wellness and complementary alternative medicine.

Students who enroll in a graduate certificate program will benefit from the same amenities as ACHS Masters of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine students, including access to the extensive Natural Standards and Natural Medicines databases, full text, online journal resources; instructors who are industry experts; highly interactive online classes and instructor-led discussions; and training from the industry-leader in accredited, online holistic health education.

The ACHS graduate certificate programs are open to new students, as well as current ACHS students, and can be completed while pursuing a Masters of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine. For more information and detailed course descriptions, visit www.achs.edu or call ACHS Admissions at (800) 487-8839.

American College of Healthcare Sciences is the only accredited, fully online college offering degrees, diplomas, and career-training certificates in complementary alternative medicine. Founded in 1978, ACHS is committed to exceptional online education and is recognized as an industry leader in holistic health education worldwide. For more information about ACHS programs and community wellness events, visit www.achs.edu, call (800) 487-8839, or stop by the College campus located at 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239.