Make a Lavender Wand!

The Lavender Distillation and Open House was a wonderful success! We had many turn out and watch the distillation demonstration by President Dorene Petersen as well as enjoy the Lavender Wand Making talk by Tracey Miller. It was a gorgeous sunny day here in Portland and many bunches of lavender were picked by all!

For those of you who missed it we'd love to share a portion of the day with you. Find below a link to the audio of Tracey's Lavender Wand Making Demonstration and the accompanying instructions. Enjoy!

Making a Lavender Wand Demonstration (.mp3)
Lavender Wand Instructions (.pdf)

For Love of Lavender … and the Land: La Paix Herb Farm

ACHS graduate Myra Bonhage Bonhage-Hale runs a successful organic farm in West Virginia.

Click here to read the full article.

For Love of Lavender … and the Land: La Paix Herb Farm

ACHS graduate Myra Bonhage Bonhage-Hale runs a successful organic farm in West Virginia.

Click here to read the full article.

ACHS Military Graduates Eric Rodriguez and Mark Dykowski Represent ACHS at Annual DETC Conference in Tucson, Arizona.

ACHS is an accredited member of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), the US Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation recognized agency that accredits distance learning institutions.

Each year, ACHS nominates an Outstanding Graduate and a Famous Alumni to represent the College at the DETC annual conference. This year's conference was held in April in Tucson, Arizona. ACHS graduates had an opportunity to share their experience as an ACHS student as well as their successes since graduation.

ACHS President Dorene Petersen interviewed each graduate. Both Mark Dykowski and Eric Rodgriguez had great tips to share with students about their experience with ACHS and their success since graduation. Below are links to MP3 files that are interviews recorded during the DETC Conference:

* Dorene interviewing Eric Rodriguez
* Dorene interviewing Mark Dykowski

Eric Rodriguez was awarded a 2007 Outstanding Graduate Award. Mark Dykowski was awarded a 2007 Famous Alumni Award. Dorene Petersen, the President of the ACHS, was there to see them receive their awards and interview them about their accomplishments.

From left to right: Famous Alumni Mark Dykowski, ACHS President Dorene Petersen, and Outstanding Graduate Eric Rodriguez.

Eric Rodriguez

Mr. Eric Rodriguez was at the end of serving a 10-year tenure with the U.S. Air Force as an Electronics major, when he decided to change careers. As a student who came from a traditional college background, he was skeptical of finding comparable distance education. He enrolled with the Australasian College of Health Sciences (ACHS), and after a few months, he was not only impressed with the inherent attributes of distance education, but he also was amazed at the rate of information he retained.

Eric graduated with Honors from ACHS's Master Herbalist program in August 2006. Eric found ACHS while searching for a quality education that would fit his lifestyle.

Since becoming a graduate of ACHS, Eric has started an apprenticeship with an established N.D. in preparation for opening his own private practice, Progressive Natural Health Solutions, LLC. Eric also has been asked by Edison State Community College to provide a 30-minute lecture on complementary medicine.

"Being able to command and control my own environment brought out the best in my learning abilities. The staff of ACHS was among the best in the business and not only guided me through my studies, but inspired me to pursue my chosen profession." - Eric Rodriguez, Master Herbalist

Mark Dykowski

Dr. Mark Dykowski is an allopathic physician and OBGYN in Michigan. He graduated with Honors from the Australasian College of Health Sciences Master Herbalist (M.H.) program in February 2006. Dr. Dykowski developed an interest in complementary and alternative medicine as a way of meeting his patients' and family's health and wellness needs and found the ACHS Master Herbalist course to give him training to incorporate an integrative approach to his practice of medicine and to promote health and wellness.

Dr. Dykowski served as a Major in the United States Air Force Medical Corps from 1987 to 1990 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Award.

Dr. Dykowski has been listed as one of his area's "Top Doctors" in the October 2006 issue of Metropolitan Detroit's HOUR Magazine. He has been asked to speak at a women's health day on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and to his hospital's Ovarian and Breast Cancer Survivors groups. The local TV doctor has also asked his advice on stories relating to the use of herbal therapies.

"The greatest thrill has been the look on patients' faces as they describe a supplement or herb they are using and they are shocked to know that their provider not only has heard about it, but can actually educate them about the product! This small door of insight often opens the door to greater patient comfort in discussing other areas of health concern or therapy."
- Mark Dykowski, Master Herbalist, OBGYN

In The News: ACHS Aroma 401 Student - Betty Chang

Herbalists' shop full of healing teas

By LINDA BLADHOLM

food@MiamiHerald.com



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

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

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

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

Businessman Enjoys Sweet Smell of Success

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

Thursday, April 26, 2007

POLLY CAMPBELL

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

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

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

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

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

ACHS Earth Day Volunteer Project

ACHS Earth Day Volunteer Project

SOLV Clean Up at Butterfly Park, Portland, OR

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


Apothecary Shoppe customer Ann McFarlane


Some friendly frogs to brighten up Butterfly Park


ACHS Shipping Manager Michelle Hammond adds character to the walkway.


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


ACHS Nat 401 Student Amy Lusson


Some new friends were made along the way!

Click here for more pictures!

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

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