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!

We've Updated Our List of Favorite Blogs and Links

Happy Wednesday!

We've updated our list of favorite blogs and links to share with you. Some of these updates are from suggestions made by ACHS students, the blogs they like to follow.

Elana's Pantry, for example, is a blog our holistic nutrition students like to follow. The blog features healthy recipes the whole family will love. Right now there's a recipe for honey mustard dressing over fresh greens featured. Looks delicious!

We also added a link to the Healthy Recipes Index from the Mayo Clinic and to Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, a fun blog by Amy Green that provides many flavorful options for people with Celiac disease (or those just seeking a healthier way of eating!).

For the eco- and organic-conscious we added links to The Oregon Tilth magazine, In Good Tilth, and the Mother Earth News blogs Grow It! and Healthy People, Healthy Planet, among others!

Be sure to check out our toolbar of favorites and if you have any suggestions for holistic health and wellness blogs our readers and ACHS students would find useful, please share!

September is Pain Awareness Month. Are You An Advocate?

September is Pain Awareness Month. This is an important awareness event for those suffering with chronic pain. Whether you are advocating for your own health, for family or friends, or for those suffering with chronic pain in general, Pain Awareness Month provides a good opportunity to get educated and get involved!

Pain Awareness Month is sponsored by the American Pain Foundation Action Network, self-described as "a grassroots network of people living with pain, caregivers and health care providers, working in collaboration with other advocates, professionals and organizations who share our belief that people in pain have a right to timely, appropriate and effective pain care."

Pain Awareness Month provides an opportunity to learn about the issues facing those who suffer with chronic pain, as well as to connect with other members of the community, and to share stories. You can find local ways to get involved in your community through the Foundation's list of events for Pain Awareness Month taking place in your community.

We'd also encourage those suffering with pain or pain-relief advocates to dedicate some time to researching natural, holistic approaches to pain relief*. There are many herbs that can be used to help support pain relief, such as ginger root (Zingiber officinale) and oregano (Origanum vulgare).

>> To jumpstart your research, check out this online article from The Herb Companion, "The Best Herbs for Pain Relief."

*Herbs can have more than one action in the body, as well as possible contraindications when used in combination or with prescription medications. It is always best to consult with your primary care physician before making any changes to your health routine. This information is intended for educational purposes only; it is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or prescribe.

Do You Have Your Beginner's Guide to Edible Herbs?

Do you have your Beginner's Guide to Edible Herbs? We now have this photo-rich, user-friendly book available through our Apothecary Shoppe college store!

The Beginner's Guide to Edible Herbs is full of beautiful full-color photographs and features 26 herbs that gardeners of all skill levels can grow and use. In addition to gardening information, the guide also includes basic medicinal information, food-pairing tips, and simple recipes for each herb.

We recommend this book to anyone who wants to build-up their green thumb and start integrating herbs into their everyday diet!

Check out the Beginner's Guide to Edible Herbs here: http://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/product_info.php?products_id=1803

Clove Essential Oil Support to Ease Pain, Kill Viruses

Clove essential oil is in the news ... again! A new article from Care2.com is a great addition to our post last week, New Study Finds Clove Essential Oil May Help with Rashes.

Here's a snippet of the article, "Essential Oil Eases Pain, Kills Viruses," featuring the analgesic and antifungal properties attributed to clove Syzygium aromaticum essential oil:

"Easing Pain: Clove essential oil’s is best known for its ability to alleviate toothaches, making it a common ingredient in natural toothpaste and mouthwash. Additionally, it is often added to liniment and massage oils since it component, eugenol, has anti-pain properties.

"Kills Viruses: This potent aromatherapy oil has also been shown in studies to halt reproduction of the herpes viruses including those linked to cold sores and shingles.

"Because it is a potent oil and can be irritating to mucous membranes and the skin, it should always be diluted in a carrier oil like sweet almond or extra virgin olive oil (about 3 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil). Also, be sure to do a test patch on the inside of your arm and wait for 24 or 48 hours to be sure you aren’t sensitive to the oil."

To read the full-length article, visit the Care2.com website here: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/aromatherapy-oil-eases-pain-kills-viruses.html

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

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!