Exploring the Indonesian Herbal Tradition – Jamu

By Dorene Petersen, President, American College of Healthcare Sciences

This past May, I was invited to speak at the Asian Aroma Ingredients Congress & Expo on the beautiful Indonesian island of Bali. This biannual conference brings together producers, processors, exporters, scientists, and educators (like me!) to discuss essential oils, essential oil products, and the future of the industry. At this conference there were more than 300 participants from 17 countries!

My lecture, “U.S. Trends in Aromatherapy,” focused on an overview of the use of Indonesian/Asian essential oils in the aromatherapy market in the U.S. To collect my data, I surveyed key communicators within the U.S. aromatherapy industry, including members of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, and Registered Aromatherapists with the Aromatherapy Registration Council.

The results of the survey were interesting and confirmed my feeling that U.S. Aromatherapists have a high awareness of important factors that influence therapeutic viability of oils, such as organic production. What the research also revealed was the Indonesian essential oil industry can have a significant impact on the professional clinical and retail aromatherapy markets in the U.S. if there is marketing and educational outreach focusing on new and emerging oils. I was delighted to learn that organic patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is the Indonesian essential oil with the highest retail sales  in the U.S. I love the warm, spicy aroma that lingers as patchouli fades out, but I know not everyone feels the same: particularly if you are a baby boomer like me. Truthfully, I had expected the most commonly used Indonesian oil to be clove (Syzygium aromaticum) bud.

You can read more about the trends in Indonesian essential oil use in my white paper available through the ACHSedu website here: http://achs.edu/download-us-trends-aromatherapy-white-paper-achs-president-dorene-petersen

For those of you who have been to Bali, you already know it is a beautiful island, rich in culture, lush color, and very warm people. It is a part of Indonesia, a country with a long tradition of herbal medicine use. This traditional plant heritage struck me from day one. You don’t see street vendors offering herbal medicines here in the States, and you’re not likely to get a recommendation from the locals to use cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron) essential oil with insect bites either.

In Indonesia, the ancient art of herbal healing is part of the everyday culture. It’s called Jamu, which promotes inner and outer health and beauty through the use of herbal powders, ointments, lotions, massage, and ancient folklore[1]. A dose of Bali belly provided a great opportunity to experiment with the locals’ recommendations, which included rubbing my belly with neat cajeput oil and ingesting one drop of patchouli oil. I did both and within 24 hours was feeling almost back to normal.

I guess what struck me most was the easy coexistence of the two approaches: Western medicine and traditional herbal medicine being used hand in hand with encouragement, cooperation, and assistance from the Indonesian government. Health and healing  accessible to all was clearly the focus. Now back in the States, this is a powerful reminder and motivator for me to keep doing what we do here at ACHS: provide research- based accredited programs empowering student success in the holistic health and wellness arena. Experiencing Jamu showed me how much can be achieved when all sectors of the healthcare industry cooperate towards a common goal. And whether or not you have the opportunity to travel to Bali yourself, Jamu shows us all that health and wellness is a cultural and a community affair, and that we have the knowledge, the tools, the herbs at our fingertips. So, spread the education and wellness!

If you’re interested in learning more about Jamu, I’m putting together an Indonesian aroma study tour for 2013, including a tour of botanical gardens and distilleries, day trips to remote villages to learn about local, green medicine, and several cultural landmarks. I hope you can make the trip with me! I’ll have more detailed information posted to the ACHS website soon (www.achs.edu). In the meantime, feel free to email me at president@achs.edu.

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[1] For more information, I recommend the book Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing by Susan-Jane Beers. It is available through Amazon.

Growing Valerian in Your Botanical Garden

It's June and our valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is in full bloom! Here's a picture of our valerian taken in the American College Botanical Teaching Garden in Portland, Oregon.

The ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden is part of the ACHS campus and is open to visitors year-round. Stop by! Bring your friends and family for a self-guided tour of some of our favorite medicinal plants ... like valerian! >>Click here for directions

Did you know valerian is a perennial? It has paired leaves and white, or light pink, slightly fragrant flowers.

Valerian, commonly used for its sedative effects, has also traditionally been used with high blood pressure (associated with stress), influenza, insomnia (associated with nervous conditions), mental strain, migraines, nervous irritation, pain, spasms, stress, and traumatic injuries with associated pain.

Valerian has a powerful antispasmodic and tranquilizing effect on the nervous system, yet is not habit-forming and can be used in the stated dosage over time. It was once widely used, but with the advent of synthetic tranquilizers such as Valium and Librium, its use has declined.

Unlike synthetic tranquilizers, it does not have side effects if used in the stated dose. However, an excessive dose of valerian may produce stupor, drowsiness, severe headaches, and vomiting. Smaller doses at more frequent intervals are recommended rather than increasing the size of each dose.

Recipe: Nerve Tonic (for stress and emotional wear and tear)
1 oz valerian Valeriana officinalis
1 oz skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
½ oz catnip Nepeta cataria
½ T coriander seeds Coriandrum sativum
¼ t cayenne pepper Capsicum annuum

Mix ingredients and prepare as standard infusion. Use 4-6 T warm, 3-4 times a day and before bed.

Watch this ACHStv YouTube video with ACHS President Dorene Petersen for an overview of valerian in the ACHS Herb Garden. Great shots of flowering valerian, harvested for its root in the fall.

Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. You should always consult with your primary care physician or naturopathic doctor before making any significant changes to your health routine.

Natural Garden Pest Control

Garden pests chomping on your fresh herbs, fruits, and veggies can be a real bummer. But, what can you do, right? Plenty! Good news: There are several natural products you can try to help stop pests from eating through your garden without the use of chemical pesticides.

For example, have you tried an herbal ant-repellent spray? How about a garlic and chile insecticidal spray? The Herb Companion magazine has recipes for both posted online for you to try as part of "What’s Wrong with My Herbs: Natural Pesticides for Gardens" by Susan Belsinger and Tina Marie Wilcox[1]. 

>>How do you naturally keep garden pests at bay? Post a comment and share your tried and tested techniques for a maintaining a healthy garden.

According to Belsinger and Wilcox: Once "you’ve determined that a pest has taken up residence among your plants, you can take actions to stop it. Begin with the least toxic, least expensive and most convenient method first: a strong spray of water.

"You’ll need an adjustable nozzle turned to the fan setting. This will allow you to direct a wedge of water over a large plant surface. Adjust the pressure so the water will wash away pests without damaging the plant. Spray the entire plant, side to side and top to bottom—as well as the top and bottom of leaves—until the plant is completely clean.

"[...] Besides using these water baths to stop pests, we also use a homemade garlic-chile-soap spray, neem oil and horticultural oil, alternating among them monthly, if necessary, to keep pests off-balance."

Belsinger and Wilcox's Herb and Soap Ant-Repellent Spray[2]

• 1/2 cup fresh tansy leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh santolina leaves
• 1 quart boiled water
• 1 tablespoon Murphy Oil Soap
• 10 drops vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) essential oil

1. Add herbs to boiled water, cover and steep until infusion is cool.
2. Strain out herbs. Stir in soap and vetiver oil.
3. Before use, shake mixture well, then filter it into a sprayer. Use Herb and Soap Ant-Repellent Spray on ant trails, counters, soil surfaces or wherever ants are a problem.

>>Click "comment" and share your tried and tested techniques for a maintaining a healthy garden! We look forward to reading your garden tips!

References: 
[1] Belsinger, S. & Wilcox, TM. (2008). What’s Wrong with My Herbs: Natural Pesticides for Gardens. The Herb Companion. Retrieved online at: http://www.herbcompanion.com/gardening/defend-your-garden-with-herbs.aspx?page=3
[2] Belsinger, S. & Wilcox, TM. (2008). Natural Pesticides: Herb and Soap Ant-Repellent Spray. The Herb Companion. Retrieved online at: http://www.herbcompanion.com/2008-6/ant-repellent-herb-soap-spray.aspx

Kitchen Herbalist: How to Wildcraft and Cook with Nettles Free Lecture at ACHS

Did you know that nettle is not only one of the most useful medicinal herbs, but it can be eaten as a vegetable, like spinach! In fact, this “noxious weed” helps support the entire body.

Learn how in a one-hour lunchtime lecture with American College Herbal Medicine Instructor and Oriental Medicine Expert Scott Stuart, including: health benefits of nettle, wildcrafting techniques, cooking and storage tips, and alternative uses.

February 22, 2012 from 12-1 p.m. American College of Healthcare Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland, OR 97239. Find directions to the College online here: http://www.achs.edu/about/campus

Free to attend but space is limited. RSVP early on ACHS Facebook here, call (503) 244-0726, or email brookguyot@achs.edu.

We look forward to seeing you!

For a sneak peak, here's a delicious recipe for Nettle Pesto to try:

• 6-cups course chopped nettle leaves (harvest the top few leaves)
• 6 mint leaves 1-2 cloves garlic
• 1⁄3-cup pine nuts (or try walnuts)
• 1⁄2- cup Parmesan
• 1⁄2- cup extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Pick nettle leaves from the stems wearing rubber gloves. Then rinse the nettles in a colander or salad spinner to remove any dirt and insects.

Bring a pan of water to boil and blanch nettles in boiling water for one minute – this will remove the sting. Drain well and squeeze out any excess moisture. You can also steam the nettles. Save the leftover liquid for soup stock or just drink as a tea.

Place all dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse until chopped up. Slowly add the oil while blending until the desired consistency is reached.

Taste and season as desired. It can be used right away over pasta, gnocchi, or pour just a little olive oil over the top in a sterilized jar and store in the fridge for up to a month.

Image © 2012 Scott Stuart. Reproduced with permission.

Antioxidant Spices May Reduce Negative Effects of High-Fat Meal

We thought you would find this herbal information interesting ... In a new study, researchers at Penn State have found that eating a diet rich in spices may reduce the body's negative response to high-fat meals.

Researchers added two tablespoons of the herbs rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder, and paprika to meals given to men aged 30-65 who were overweight, but healthy. These spices reportedly increased antioxidant activity in the blood by 13% and decreased insulin response by 20%.

The two tablespoon of spices provides an equivalent amount of antioxidants to those contained in 5 ounces of red wine or 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate.

>>To read the full-text research review, click here.

>>For more information about using herbs to support optimal health and wellness, visit ACHSedu online here for a schedule of upcoming holistic nutrition and herbal medicine classes. Or, call (800) 487-8839 for more information!


Reference:
e! Science News. (2011, August 10). Antioxidant spices reduce negative effects of high-fat meal. Retrieved from http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/08/10/antioxidant.spices.reduce.negative.effects.high.fat.meal

Cinnamon for Diabetes: New Survey Shows CAM Used with Diabetes Mellitus

Incidence of diabetes is on the rise. Though at this time there is no known cure, the World Health Organization recommends several lifestyle modifications that may help prevent onset of Type II Diabetes, including healthy diet, regular exercise, maintaining normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use.

For those managing Type I and Type II Diabetes, a 2011 survey by the Diabetes Center of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism shows patients with Diabetes Mellitus are using Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a support with conventional health care.

Of the almost 200 diabetes patients surveyed, 34% of Type I Diabetics and 31% of Type II Diabetics reported using CAM supplements. In addition, 56% of Type I Diabetics and 76% of Type II Diabetics who reported using biologically based supplements said they used them daily with conventional health care and prescribed therapies. Nutritional supplements, herbal medicines, and cinnamon were the most frequently reported CAM supplements used.

If you love cinnamon as many of us do, you'd be interested to know the common culinary spice is currently being researched as a useful supplement with Type II Diabetes. It is thought that cinnamon may lower blood sugar by decreasing insulin resistance; in those with Type II Diabetes, insulin, the hormone which lowers blood sugar, does not work efficiently which causes higher blood sugar levels. Further studies are needed, however, to determine the long-term effects of cinnamon on diabetes.

>>Read the full-text review of "Use of complementary and alternative medicine supplements in patients with diabetes mellitus" by the American Botanical Council online here

>> If you'd like to learn more about holistic nutrition to support optimal health and wellness, visit ACHSedu and click on Holistic Medicine, community wellness events, and News and Events for more information

*This information has not been reviewed by the FDA and is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. Before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine, consult with your primary care physician or naturopathic doctor.

Horseradish Named IHA Herb of the Year for 2011

The International Herb Association (IHA) has named horseradish Herb of the Year for 2011!

You may be familiar with horseradish's characteristic pungent aroma and spicy flavor, but did you know that horseradish is high in vitamin C and attributed with antimicrobial properties?

Here are some more horseradish FAQs you may not know:

• In the United States, an estimated 24 million pounds of horseradish roots are ground and processed annually to produce approximately 6 million gallons of prepared horseradish.
• Horseradish root is harvested in the spring and fall and the ground horseradish is mixed with distilled vinegar and may also contain salt, sugar, cream, vegetable oil, or ground beets or mustards.
• The Egyptians knew about horseradish as far back as 1500 BC. and early Greeks used it as a rub for low back pain and as an aphrodisiac.
• It is said the Oracle at Delphi told Apollo, that "the radish was worth its weight in lead, the beet its weight in silver, and the horseradish its weight in gold."
  

Learn more about the history of horseradish, its traditional uses, and medicinal properties in the article "Sea-Radish (aka Horseradish)" available for free download in the January edition of the ACHS holistic health newsletter, The Reporter, online HERE.

If you're interested in growing, harvesting, and preparing your own horseradish, this is a very useful video from the City Farmer.

ACHS Photo of the Week: Have you submitted your entry?

Help us spread the word ... ACHS has launched a Photo of the Week "contest" on Facebook. Every Monday morning we pick one of the photo submissions we received and post it to ACHS Facebook with the photographer's name and a little info about the image.

Photo submissions must be botanical images: from your own garden, from a public garden, from your community, a rooftop garden, from .... ? We don't care where it's from, just that it makes an interesting and unique addition to our collection of herbal medicine photos accessible to the public through ACHS Facebook.

You must, therefore, have the rights to distribute the photo, and you must be OK with us sharing the image on our page.

>> Visit ACHS Facebook to see this week's selection, submitted by Stacey Rayos!

Where Do I Find Information About Using Medicinal Herbs?

The Web offers a lot of information about the use of medicinal herbs and supplements, but sometimes the information conflicts and it can be hard to determine what is accurate and what is marketing. If you are thinking about incorporating herbs into your daily diet, you may want to spend some time researching.*

Herbs are attributed with many health promoting properties. How you use herbs may depend on the health benefit you are seeking: Is it general wellness or something more specific? Like pharmaceutical drugs, herbs can have several actions in the body, as well as potential contraindications, so if you plan to combine herbs--or to combine herbs with pharmaceutical medications--you will want to research the specific properties of the medicinal herbs you are interested in.*

Here are some research-based resources you can start canvassing. Remember to bring any questions you have to your primary care physician and you may even want to bring copies of your research!

> The ACHS Wellness Guide includes more than 120 pages of health and wellness tips.

> "Herbal and natural health tips for women experiencing menopause" on the ACHS website includes natural health and herbal tips and recipes for easing the menopause transition and improving overall health.

> MedlinePlus is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health and posts new and developing studies daily.

> The American Botanical Council regularly posts new HerbClips on their website. HerbClips are summaries and critical research reviews of articles about the research, regulation, marketing, and responsible use of medicinal plants.

> The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) offers an A-Z Index of Health Topics, including profiles of specific medicinal herbs, supplements, and CAM modalities.

> The Apothecary Shoppe College Store carries a large selection of organic, sustainably wildcrafted herbs. Most herbs include a description of their traditional uses, medicinal uses, active constituents, and many have recipes too!

Herbman Garden Project Teaches People about Medicinal Properties of Herbs and Cultural Uses

Have you heard about the Medicinal Herbman? We're just learning about it too! The Herbman varies in size and travels widely; he is always stretched out on the ground, which is how he teaches people about the herbs he grows.

Intrigued? The Medicinal Herbman is a project that uses a large, human body-shaped garden to teach people about the medicinal properties of herbs and their cultural uses. The Medicinal Herbman is part of the Medicinal Herbman Cafe Project from Earthscape, a Japanese landscape design team, which also includes an herbal cafe. The Herbman and the cafe travel to different locations as part of their goal to teach the public about herbs.

"In order to help illustrate herbs’ healing properties, the Earthscape team designs Herbman’s body as a map of herbs for treating specific bodily ailments," according to HerbalEGram. "When the project visited the Echigo-Tsumari region of Japan, for example, Geranium thunbergii, which is thought to aid digestion, was planted in the stomach area and Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi), which is thought to relieve shoulder stiffness, was planted in the shoulder area, said Nozomi Kobayashi, Earthscape’s public relations director (e-mail, February 22, 2010)."

The Medicinal Herbman Cafe Project visited three locations during the 2009 calendar year, and all of the proceeds from the Medicinal Herbman's cafe are used to build playgrounds and schoolyards in developing countries. According to the project's website, "Herbman in thinking about his next destination as he prepares for his trip in the early spring."

To learn more about this herbal medicine education project, check out the full-length article by the ABC's HerbalEGram, "Traveling Medicinal Herbman Garden Project," here: http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume7/04April/HerbmanGardenProject.html?t=1269620617

Learn more from the Medicinal Herbaman Cafe Project website here: http://www.mhcp.jp/

Image (c) 2010 Medicinal Herbman Cafe Project: http://www.mhcp.jp/2nd/about/index.html

Federal Government Stimulus Money Funding New Herbal Research

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, has about $5 billion (of a total of $787 billion) allocated for scientific and medical research. A handful of these studies involved research on herbs and herbal dietary supplements.

There are several interesting uses for herbal ingredients being researched with the aid provided by these federal grants. For example, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jeevan Prasain, PhD, is testing whether metabolites in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) can protect against bladder cancer. Researchers at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor are studying the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) root as a preventative of colorectal cancer. For the ginger study, Suzanna Zick, ND, MPH, and her team of 10 other researchers are using the $98,022 to hire a part- and full-time employee, creating 2 jobs (oral communication, October 21, 2009). Specifically, the supplemental grant will fund the analysis of a panel of inflammatory markers in the gut tissue of people at normal or high risk for developing colorectal cancer. The grant funds will be used to obtain supplies, rent equipment, and hire the personnel to run the inflammatory marker assay, according to Dr. Zick.

“If we didn’t have this stimulus grant, it wouldn’t make us as competitive for the next grant,” said Dr. Zick. “Bio-marker work is expensive.”

Dr. Zick also added, “Ginger is an up-and-coming herb in cancer prevention.” She further noted that the main use she and her colleagues are studying is the prevention of colorectal cancer, not cancer treatment, as in previous animal studies ginger was most effective if rats were given ginger before cancer started growing or at the very beginning. She also added that ginger may be effective against metastatic cancer as it has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Another interesting study, taking place at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, involves the possible inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by the constituents in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, grown in Wisconsin, obtained from the Wisconsin Ginseng Board). The grant received by lead researcher Laura Murphy, PhD, will total $275,000 with $125,000 awarded the first year and $150,000 the second. The $125,000 will primarily be used for the salary of a new technician. This ginseng research team currently consists of 2 research technicians, and 1 undergraduate student whom is working for class credit. The researchers hope to further recruit 1 graduate student (whose stipend will have to be paid by the department of physiology) and 1 unpaid undergraduate intern.

In the research team’s research project they have found repeatedly that oral ginseng treatment helps the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin be more efficacious in decreasing human breast cancer tumor growth in nude mice. According to Dr. Murphy, there has been nothing published using animals or in humans related to this specific ginseng indication.

“But, it is very difficult to tease apart the mechanism of action,” said Dr. Murphy (e-mail, October 20, 2009). “The uniqueness of this project is that we recognize that ginseng is a virtual ‘drug store.’ Treating a mouse with a single ginsenoside or polysaccharide component does not tell you what ginseng will do.”

>>Read the full-length article here

By Kelly E. Lindner. This article was originally published in HerbalGram, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Botanical Council, in issue 85, ©2010. www.herbalgram.org

Herbs and natural foods support optimal brain function

"Many foods an nutrients are known to improve brain function," according to NaturalNews. "Fish has long been known as 'brain food' because of the omega 3 fatty acids, but many other foods can improve and maintain healthy mental function and improve memory."

Adaptogens, for example, help brain function by reducing stress caused by the "fight or flight" response (such as, ginseng and rhodalia), while other plants work to detoxify the blood and brain (such as cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, arugula, radish, wasabi, watercress, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, and turnips).

Other types of brain-healthy herbs and foods include vitamin D, which is important for calcium absorption, omega 3 fatty acids, thought to help with mood, and protein foods.

In general, "to improve brain function, avoid foods that contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup. [...] Processed foods in general, do not help build healthy bodies or brains."

>> For more information about herbs, herbal medicine, and holistic nutrition, click here
>> Read the full-length article on NaturalNews here

Beekeeping for medicinal use

Mother Earth News has a very useful article on their website right now, "Keeping Bees Using the Top-bar Beekeeping Method." With this method, author Phil Chandler says, you can build simple, inexpensive hives now and start keeping bees as soon as next spring.

Unlike more conventional hives, with this method, Chandler explains, "you build simple box hives with slats (bars) of wood laid across the top, to which the bees attach their wax comb." The benefits of which include: less expense, increased pollination and improved yield of fruits and veggies, and production of both honey and beeswax in a rural OR urban setting.

Chandler's one caution, however: "If your goal is to obtain the absolute maximum amount of honey regardless of all other considerations, top-bar beekeeping is not for you. This style of beekeeping can produce adequate amounts of honey, but the emphasis is on sustainability and keeping healthy bees rather than maximizing honey crops."

>> For detailed instructions about how to build top-bar hives and the medicinal benefits of small-scale beekeeping, visit the Mother Earth News website: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Top-Bar-Beekeeping-Method.aspx?page=2

© http://www.flickr.com/photos/sour_patch/2365008343/sizes/s/#cc_license

Herbs used around the world to protect against swine flu

The October issue of HerbalEGram features an article about how herbs like holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) are being used in countries worldwide to help protect against swine flu. The "International Report on Herbs and Swine Flu" cites statistics from a recent World Health Organization report: "More than 300,000 people around the world are estimated to have contracted Influenza A(H1N1) virus, and at least 3,917 people have died from it." Though a shortage of vaccination is not expected in the U.S., many developing countries will not be able to supply the demand of the their population and as a result "some in these nations are turning to medicinal herbs with immune-boosting properties in attempts to help protect against the virus."

In Bangalore, for example, "people are purchasing Indian tinospora (Tinospora cordifolia), a deciduous climbing shrub with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, and immune-boosting properties." In addition, in the "Indian tribal district of Dangs, where medicinal plants grow throughout the forests, the health department is giving tourists an herbal drink also containing Indian tinospora. Prepared by local Ayurvedic doctors, the drink also contains holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), which exhibits adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, and ginger (Zingiber officinale) root, which has anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory effects and also aids digestion."

>> To find out more about how herbs are being used to help protect against H1N1, click here for the full-length article: http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume6/10%20October/Herbs_SwineFlu.html?t=1254147913

>> If you're interested in learning more about herbal medicine, click here for more information from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/3813775506/sizes/m/#cc_license

New study shows enforcing kids' bedtimes improves children's health

Children who do not get enough sleep "can have behavioral and emotional problems and cognitive developmental issues," according to a September 14 article, "Enforcing bedtimes improves kids' health" on CNN.com.

Based on a study by Jodi Mindell, which appeared in the May edition of the journal Sleep, bedtime routines, the article continued, including a bath, cuddling, or singing, help "infants to sleep better through the night and improve sleep issues for children."

>> Read the full-length article about sleep and children's health on the CNN website

>> Read more about the connection between bedtime and adult health in Hey...Are you still awake? by ACHS graduate Maureen Jeanson

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/yolandafenwick/321864017/sizes/m/#cc_license

Passion flower peel may alleviate symptoms of asthma

Asthma, or airway inflammation and mucus secretion, can cause wheezing, coughing, and dyspnea. According to the HerbClips article "Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Alleviating Asthmatic Symptoms in Adults," about 17 million people in the U.S. have asthma, an increasing number, which has led to increased interest in the use of nutritional protocols to control asthma.

Purple passion fruit Passiflora edulis peel (PFP) has a history of use with health challenges. In South American folk medicine, extracts of the peel have been used with anxiety, insomnia, asthma, and bronchitis. The extract contains three antioxidants (cyanidin-3O-glucoside, quercetin-3O-glucoside, and edulilic acid) and was "shown to modulate nitric oxide in hypertensive rats."

In a 2008 study with 42 subjects, all participants showed wheeze symptoms at baseline, but only 19.1 % of subjects who took PFP and 78.9% of participants in the placebo group showed symptoms at the end of the study. In addition, "of the approximately 90% and 79% of subjects in the PFP and placebo groups, respectively, with shortness of breath at baseline, approximately 10% and 37%, respectively, had symptoms after treatment. Of the nearly 100% of subjects with cough at baseline, approximately 20% and 50% of subjects in the PFP and placebo groups, respectively, had symptoms after treatment."

These results show that passion fruit peel extract significantly improves asthmatic symptoms after four weeks of usage without adverse effects. The authors of the study concluded that: "PFP extract may be safely offered to asthmatic subjects as an alternative treatment option to reduce clinical symptoms."

References:

Watson RR, Zibadi S, Rafatpanah H, et al. Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma. Nutr Res. 2008;28: 166-171.

Based on article © Brenda Milot, ELS, "Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Alleviating Asthmatic Symptoms in Adults," HerbClip

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/17548490@N00/1608949872/sizes/s/#cc_license

How to make lavender wands from fresh lavender

Lavender lovers came from near and far for the 7th annual ACHS Lavender Open House held at the College campus in SW Portland on July 17. Participants were treated to a series of lavender-themed workshops that ranged from the practical to the scientific, including making natural lavender products to differentiating lavender varieties.

As the culmination of the workshop activities, participants headed into the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden to harvest their own lavender Lavandula angustifolia for drying and making into lavender wands.

Look for a video of the day's events on ACHStv, the ACHS YouTube channel, soon.

In the meantime, here is some information about making your own lavender wands. If you live in the Portland area, harvest your own fresh lavender at the ACHS campus Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm. If you're not in Portland, Oregon, find a U-Pick in your area at pickyourown.org.

Materials Needed

• 13 stems of fresh lavender (or any odd number larger than 13)--each at least 12-inches tall.
• 3 yards of satin or other ribbon, ¼-inches wide.
• Patience... allow yourself about 40 minutes to do your first wand. Be very forgiving of yourself... like all skills, this one improves with practice.

Directions
1. Strip all the leaves from the stem. The suppleness of the stem is important to the success of wand making. Harvest the lavender early in the day, and make sure that the flowers are not damp.

2. Line up the bottom of the flower heads and tie them gently together with the end of the 3 yards of ribbon.

3. Turn the bundle upside down and gently bend each stem down around the blossom heads. You can facilitate this step by scoring the underside of the stem section that is being bent with your fingernail. When all of the blossoms are “in the cage of stems”, the long end of the ribbon should be pulled out of the cage, the short end tucked inside.

4. Line up all of the stems evenly around the blossoms, making sure that they do not overlap.

5. Start to weave the ribbon under and over the stems. Gently pull on the ribbon to make sure the weave is tight. The most difficult part of this process is in the first two rows of the weaving. On the second row you should be going under the stems that you had gone over on the first row.

6. Continue weaving until you have covered all the flowers. You can use a stem of lavender to push any buds that stick out back into the weave or rub them off. Wrap the ribbon around the “neck” of the wand and tie a slip knot.

7. Trim the stems to the same length and continue to wrap the stems until you reach the end. Use a rubber band to secure the ribbon to the end of the stem. After the stem has dried and shrunk, you can rewrap the ribbon and glue the ends.

>> To learn more about lavender, or herbal medicine or aromatherapy classes, visit the American College of Healthcare Sciences website.

How to make lavender wands from fresh lavender

Lavender lovers came from near and far for the 7th annual ACHS Lavender Open House held at the College campus in SW Portland on July 17. Participants were treated to a series of lavender-themed workshops that ranged from the practical to the scientific, including making natural lavender products to differentiating lavender varieties.

As the culmination of the workshop activities, participants headed into the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden to harvest their own lavender Lavandula angustifolia for drying and making into lavender wands.

Look for a video of the day's events on ACHStv, the ACHS YouTube channel, soon.

In the meantime, here is some information about making your own lavender wands. If you live in the Portland area, harvest your own fresh lavender at the ACHS campus Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm. If you're not in Portland, Oregon, find a U-Pick in your area at pickyourown.org.

Materials Needed

• 13 stems of fresh lavender (or any odd number larger than 13)--each at least 12-inches tall.
• 3 yards of satin or other ribbon, ¼-inches wide.
• Patience... allow yourself about 40 minutes to do your first wand. Be very forgiving of yourself... like all skills, this one improves with practice.

Directions
1. Strip all the leaves from the stem. The suppleness of the stem is important to the success of wand making. Harvest the lavender early in the day, and make sure that the flowers are not damp.

2. Line up the bottom of the flower heads and tie them gently together with the end of the 3 yards of ribbon.

3. Turn the bundle upside down and gently bend each stem down around the blossom heads. You can facilitate this step by scoring the underside of the stem section that is being bent with your fingernail. When all of the blossoms are “in the cage of stems”, the long end of the ribbon should be pulled out of the cage, the short end tucked inside.

4. Line up all of the stems evenly around the blossoms, making sure that they do not overlap.

5. Start to weave the ribbon under and over the stems. Gently pull on the ribbon to make sure the weave is tight. The most difficult part of this process is in the first two rows of the weaving. On the second row you should be going under the stems that you had gone over on the first row.

6. Continue weaving until you have covered all the flowers. You can use a stem of lavender to push any buds that stick out back into the weave or rub them off. Wrap the ribbon around the “neck” of the wand and tie a slip knot.

7. Trim the stems to the same length and continue to wrap the stems until you reach the end. Use a rubber band to secure the ribbon to the end of the stem. After the stem has dried and shrunk, you can rewrap the ribbon and glue the ends.

>> To learn more about lavender, or herbal medicine or aromatherapy classes, visit the American College of Healthcare Sciences website.

ABC’s Blumenthal Quoted in AP Article on Supplements for Pets

The Associated Press released an article yesterday regarding supplements for pets, which included quotes from ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal.1 The AP article, written by Marilynn Marchione, focuses primarily on concerns over the quality and effectiveness of supplements for pets—particularly those that are intended to offer nutritional and/or other support for arthritis and other joint conditions. The article has already been distributed through several major media outlets.

The article quotes Blumenthal as stating that quality problems have been associated with supplements, although many companies do a good job. Blumenthal is also quoted as stating that dogs and cats are unable to give their subjective assessments of a supplement’s efficacy, and that owners want to believe that the supplements they pay for are having beneficial effects on their pets.

These statements were pulled from an approximately 45-minute phone interview that Marchione conducted with Blumenthal on June 24, and many topics of that conversation and qualifications that Blumenthal provided were not included. For instance, Blumenthal discussed several companies that are conducting legitimate research on the benefits of supplements on companion animals (dogs, cats, horses), but these were not mentioned in the article.

The American Botanical Council published its own article on supplements for pets in HerbalGram issue 82, titled “The Expanding Market and Regulatory Challenges of Supplements for Pets in the United States,” written by HerbalGram Managing Editor Courtney Cavaliere.2 Marchione stated that she had read that article during her interview with Blumenthal, and she included a link to the HerbalGram article below her own AP story (found under the “On the Net” subhead).

In the HerbalGram article, Cavaliere pointed out that the nonprofit National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)—of which 90% of pet supplement manufacturers in the United States are members—has initiated many self-regulatory measures for the pet supplement industry. NASC created quality control guidelines and instituted risk monitoring procedures for the industry. Companies that manufacture supplements for pets that meet the NASC’s quality and safety protocols, and that have completed a facility audit, are able to use the NASC’s Quality Seal on their products. Although Marchione mentions the NASC and quotes its president Bill Bookout in her AP article, she fails to mention the NASC’s self-regulatory protocols or its Seal Program.

As noted previously, Marchione also fails to point out that some companies that manufacture supplements for pets are increasingly testing the effectiveness of their products. She quotes anonymous “veterinary experts” as saying that there is little evidence that joint-pain supplements for pets work, and she uses quotes from Blumenthal to support the idea that testing the efficacy of supplements for pets is particularly difficult. The HerbalGram article, however, includes information on a randomized, controlled clinical study to assess the efficacy of an herbal supplement called Pet Relief® (RZN Nutraceuticals, Orange Park, FL) for treating canine pain and lameness, which was initiated in October 2008 at Colorado State University. This study is testing a pet supplement for the very condition (arthritis) that Marchione focused on within her own article, yet she did not include any information about such trials, or quotes from researchers conducting such trials, within her own article.

The AP article on supplements for pets is the latest of a series of articles that Marchione has written about dietary supplements, beginning in June. These articles have been generally critical of complementary and alternative medicine and the supplement industry. Blumenthal provided some commentary on Marchione’s series, which was published in the July issue of ABC’s monthly electronic newsletter HerbalEGram and has also been posted on ABC’s homepage.3

>> To learn more about holistic nutrition classes, click here.

References

1. Marchione M. Tests reveal some pet supplements skimp on meds. Associated Press. July 9, 2009. Available at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iaIOY9TjrDQryHoiXy-FMcmfyrugD99B3A880

2. Cavaliere C. The expanding market and regulatory challenges of supplements for pets in the United States. HerbalGram. 2009;82:34-41.

3. Blumenthal M. AP publishes series on dietary supplements and CAM. HerbalEGram, July 2009;6(7). Available at: <http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/R?i=wJRkzsf4TV33qL56AOBr8Q..>http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume6/07%20July/AP_Commentary.html?t=1246541625. Accessed July 9, 2009.

Receive a free gift from the Apothecary Shoppe

You've been selected to receive a free gift! Discover the soothing properties of therapeutic grade rosemary essential oil with this special Free Gift with Purchase offer.

Receive a free vial of ACHS distilled rosemary essential oil with any purchase made June 23-29, 2009*. Click here to add this promotion to your cart!

Hand-harvested from the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden, this rosemary essential oil was distilled to maintain the highest quality of anti-inflammatory ester borneol acetate.

When used topically, rosemary essential oil also is attributed with antibacterial, antiseptic, and stimulant properties. When used as an aromatic--inhaled or diffused into the air--it is known for its nervine (sedative) properties.

You will receive this spray-free, undiluted, therapeutic grade essential oil with any purchase placed through the Apothecary Shoppe from June 23-29. Add this promotion to your cart.

*Offer good through Monday, June 29, 2009, or while supplies last. Additional student or graduate discounts do not apply. Cannot be combined with other offers. Available in-store, online, and orders by phone. Not available retroactively. No cash refunds.

To watch the rosemary harvest and distillation featuring ACHS President Dorene Petersen, check out ACHStv YouTube link here.