American College of Healthcare Sciences, USA

Dr. Arianna Staruch, ND, Academic Dean of the American College, led a talk called "Diet and Lifestyle Choices for Health" at the ACHS campus on Monday, July 13. From 6-7 p.m., Dr. Staruch talked about important holistic nutrition concepts, including food as fuel, and answered questions from the audience about how to incorporate holistic nutrition into our everyday lifestyle.

The complete lecture will be available on the ACHS YouTube channel soon, ACHStv. In the meantime, here are some highlights from Dr. Staruch's lecture:

Live your life as if your health depends on it…because it does! Making healthy lifestyle choices is a conscious act. That means, everyone is responsible for the choices they make: health does not happen automatically or because someone else wants you to make changes. We make healthy choices when good health is something we want and value.

How, then, do we promote good health once we recognize it as a priority?

1. Food provides energy for performing the activities of life.

Eating is not just something you do when you're hungry. Food fuels out bodies, because within the food itself (protein, carbohydrate, and fat) are the components our bodies use to generate energy, to grow and repair, and to fight invaders like toxins.

2. Balance your plate.

Finding a healthy balance of food (protein, carbohydrate, and fat) may be easier than you think. Split your plate into three sections. Then, fill half your plate with vegetables and salad; fill one-quarter of your plate with your protein (poultry, fish, beans, etc.); and fill the rest of your plate with whole grains (barley, pasta, etc.). Limit how much oil or salad dressing you use, which will help keep calories within limit.

3. Eat frequently.

Skipping meals can lead to increased production of hormones that cause muscle loss. Eat frequently. Three small meals and 2-3 snacks daily are recommended. To maintain stable blood sugar, which helps your body to regularly burn fuel throughout the day, you add a quality protein powder to your diet to achieve your "eat frequently" goal and to increase quality nutrient intake while decreasing calorie intake.

4. Know your calories.

Less activity means less calories burned. Excess calories are stored as fat. So remember, weight loss is the result of consuming less calories than you use.

5. Healthy tips for snacks.

• Tofu pate available pre-made
• Hummus
• Home-made salsa or pesto
• Healthy dippers: rye crackers, pita bread cut into four slices, and raw vegetables
• Rye crackers with nut butter
• Whole fruit
• Protein shake or bar
• 1 1/2c berries with 4 oz plain yogurt
• One slice of baked tofu
• Two string cheeses

6. Healthy tips for breakfast.

• The most important meal of the day
• Eat protein within one hour of waking
• Breakfast sets up your blood sugar control or lack of control for the day!
• Eat half your protein for breakfast, and eat one-quarter with lunch and one-quarter with dinner (daily requirements of protein are 50-70 g)

7. Healthy tips for lunch (beyond the sandwich).

• Vegetables at every meal in order to get your daily serving
• Don’t forget the protein
• Small amount of grains as crackers or cooked grains
• One-bowl meals like soups and stews

8. Healthy tips for dinner.

• Eating a large meal late at night is not good
• It is better to have a larger lunch and then a light dinner
• Reverse your typical lunch and dinner recipes
• Consider a tofu or egg scramble for dinner with a salad

9. Exercise prolongs life. How?

• Exercise improves mood
• Achieves calorie balance
• Promotes sustainable weight loss
• Strengthens heart and blood vessels
• Increases bone density
• Decreases risk for chronic conditions

>> For more information about the American College of Healthcare Sciences, and holistic health and nutrition classes, visit www.achs.edu

>> Click here to request more information from the American College

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.

On June 30 ACHS held a public distillation of lavender from the botanical teaching garden. About a dozen community members helped College President Dorene Petersen with the distillation, including harvesting the lavender from the garden.

Historically, lavender Lavandula angustifolia has been used to relieve stress and its effects, including insomnia and anxiety, and to generally aid relaxation. It can also be used around the home as an effective deodorizer and air freshener, in closets and drawers as a natural insecticide, and as a perfume.

Lavender oil is colorless, pale-yellow or yellowish-green oil. It must be stored at cool temperatures in well-filled, airtight containers, and protected from light.

>>To sample the lavender essential oil from the ACHS distillation, check out the Apothecary Shoppe College Store for your free sample.

>>To see more pictures from the ACHS lavender distillation, friend us on Facebook.

>>To watch the ACHS lavender harvest and distillation, visit our Youtube channel, ACHStv.

The CNN video "Alternative medicine mainstream?" explores the growing number of American adults turning to alternative medicine.

According to the report, about 40% of American adults are using alternative medicine alone or in conjunction with traditional therapies. One reason... people are looking for something they can do for themselves. "Alternative medicine," CNN reports, "is becoming mainstream" through the common use of modalities like yoga, acupuncture, and massage as part of the healing protocol for health challenges like breast cancer.

Watch the video here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2009/07/06/gupta.alt.medicine.mainstream.cnn

The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) will host two educational events in July to raise awareness about the benefits of growing lavender and its applications.

Lavender Distillation on Sunday, July 12, 2009, will take place at Sherwood Lavender Farm, owned by ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw. Participants will learn about the benefits of lavender for small agriculture and its many by-products. Master Distiller Robert Seidel from The Essential Oil Company and ACHS President Dorene Petersen will also lead a class about lavender distillation, including an introduction to essential oil and aromatherapy, the art and science of using volatile plant oils to promote health and relaxation. Lavender Distillation runs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call (503) 244-0726 for directions.

U-Pick Lavender on Friday, July 17, 2009, is an opportunity for the community to explore the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden and to learn more about urban gardens. Visitors will also learn about the properties and holistic health applications of lavender while they harvest fresh lavender from the Garden ($6 per lavender bunch or 2 bunches for $10). U-Pick Lavender runs 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the ACHS campus in John’s Landing, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland.

The Lavender Distillation at Sherwood Lavender Farm on July 12 has a materials fee of $35. U-Pick Lavender on July 17 is free to attend. Both events require RSVP. Call (503) 244-0726 or email admissions@achs.edu to reserve your space.

For a complete list of community education events sponsored by ACHS, visit ww.achs.edu and click on Community Wellness Classes. The American College of Healthcare Sciences is the only DETC accredited, fully online college offering degrees, professional diplomas, and career-training certificates in Complementary Alternative Medicine.

ACHS President Dorene Petersen led a rosemary distillation on the American College campus Wednesday, June 17. From the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden, Dorene and ACHS student participants harvested about 10 lbs. of fresh rosemary.

The distillation was a terrific success and led to a great yield. From the 10 lbs. of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, which was stripped from its woody stems to ensure the highest quantity of anti-inflammatory ester borneol acetate, nearly 45 mls of essential oil was extracted, and nearly 1,000 mls of hydrosol.

As a thank you to the attendees who volunteered their time to help with the harvest and distillation, everyone took home a vial of rosemary essential oil and some hydrosol.

Hydrosols, also known as flower water, are steam distilled from plant material. Hydrosol is similar to essential oil, but less concentrated. They are often used externally in skin care, and work well as a simple mist.

For more information about harvesting rosemary for distillation, check out ACHS on YouTube. A video of President Dorene Petersen explaining the process of harvesting and distillation of essential oil will be available for download on ACHStv soon.

To participate in a future ACHS distillation, check out the College community wellness classes calendar. On July 17 ACHS is hosting a U-Pick Lavender Open House on the ACHS campus. Then, on July 18, ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw will lead a lavender distillation at Sherwood Lavender Farms.

Natural medicine works with the body's ability to heal itself, according to Dr. Arianna Staruch, ND, who spoke about using natural medicine with children at the American College of Healthcare Sciencs on June 8. Natural medicine, Dr. Staruch further explained, helps removed obstacles to health, such as an unhealthy diet or stress, and then supports the body's ability to return to balance.

So, why use natural medicine with children? Teaching children to use natural medicine at a young age helps to establish healthy lifestyle choices through adulthood. In addition, natural medicine remedies are safe, natural supports for everyday problems like the common cold, ear infections, and bumps and bruises.

According to Dr. Staruch, a kid's job is to get sick. Infection is how the immune system learns what is good and bad, and how to respond. Natural medicine works with the body's natural processes to help build a strong immune system.

What does natural medicine include? When working with children, some of the primary natural medicine remedies include use of mild herbs, which can be made into teas, and homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy is based on the principle of "like cures like." A homeopathic remedy is an "extremely dilute form; normally one part of the remedy to around 1,000,000,000,000 parts of water" (http://abchomeopathy.com/homeopathy.htm). For kids, homeopathics are easy to administer, safe, effective, and non-toxic, Dr. Staruch says. Here are some common homeopathics and their associated uses:

Arnica > for falls, bumps, and bruises
Aconite > First onset of cold
Arsenicum > Digestive upset and diarrhea; chilly; restless
Belladonna > Ear aches and fevers that come on suddenly

Recipe for Calming Tea for Kids
Cat Straw--4 tbs
Chamomile--2 tbs
Peppermint--1 tbs
Catnip--1 tbs

Cover the herbs with 2 cups of boiling water and steep for 15 minutes. Give one or more tablespoons as needed.

Click here to see a complete list of the American College's upcoming community workshops.

Portland, OR — On May 27, 2009, the American College of Healthcare Sciences pledged to sponsor 30 memberships to the American Herb Association (AHA) for the first 30 new students who enroll at ACHS in a degree or diploma program.

ACHS is committed to the American herb industry and supports the goals of the AHA, to promote the use, understanding, acceptance, and ecological use of herbs. In the winter edition of the American Herb Association Quarterly Newsletter, editor Kathy Keville told readers that the AHA is “feeling the [economic] crunch,” and needs 30 more members to cover operation costs for the Quarterly Newsletter.

So ACHS is stepping in. The first 30 new students who enroll at ACHS in a degree or diploma program will receive an AHA membership, including a one-year subscription to the Quarterly Newsletter packed with industry and research news, book reviews, an herbal calendar, and many other tips from a wide range of contributors like: David Hoffman, ACHS Governing Advisory Board Member Mindy Green, James Duke, Christopher Hobbs, and Jeanne Rose.

The American Herb Association “reviews over 60 medical journals, 40 international herb related newspapers/magazines, and 28 major magazines and newspapers to bring you the latest reliable and factual herb information. That amounts to more than 100 hours of research all bought to your door four times a year.”

Foraging for wild food is not a "I just happened to see it" activity anymore. More and more websites are sprouting up with tips about what and how to forage native plants in your local neighborhood. So, what does "forage" mean? Generally, to forage for wild food is to search for and identify natural food sources safe for eating.

Whether in the country or an urban setting, wild foraging is a good way to incorporate local foods, including medicinal plants and herbs, into your everyday diet. For example, dandelion is a common weed found in many backyards. Medicinally, dandelion has a long history of use as a diuretic, tonic, and aperient. The tops can be eaten fresh in salads and the root, when dried, makes an excellent coffee substitute. (Before eating from the wild, make sure you have correctly identified the plant. For this, you may want to go foraging with a local expert or reference a reputable guidebook. Also, avoid plants that may have absorbed harmful toxins, such as plants growing by the roadside.)

In Portland, Oregon, where ACHS is based, some of the most commonly foraged foods include, pears, berries, walnuts, lavender, mint, and rosemary. (The ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden, for example, invites locals to cut fresh herbs. such as rosemary and chives, for personal use, and will host a U-Pick Lavender event in July.)

For information about wild foraging in Portland, check out the Urban Edibles website, and for foraging wild and edible plants in your area, check out foraging.com.

Click here for more information about upcoming ACHS community classes and to download free information about growing, harvesting, and using medicinal plants to support your health.

You don't have to have a big garden to grow your own fresh herbs. For those who live in apartments, don't have a backyard, or only like to garden small-scale, most herbs can be grown in ceramic planters.

If that's good news, you'll like what Master Gardener and ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw had to say Saturday, May 9, at the ACHS From Your Garden to Your Kitchen Open House.

Although each herb is different, most are fairly easy to grow and use at home. There are just a few key things to remember. 1. Unless otherwise specified, herbs like full sun. 2. Herbs potted into planters should be watered about once a day. 3. Don't over water. As a general rule, water herbs so that the soil remains moist approx. one inch from the top.

Once your herbs are potted, what can you use them for? Most easily, herbs can be used on a meal-by-meal basis and either cooked into hot foods or eaten raw in salads. You also use fresh herbs to make your own herbal teas and infused oils for cooking and/or body care, as well as herbal medicine infusions and tinctures.

Click here to download free information about making your own herbal remedies, herbal teas, and organic gardening.

Additional tips for growing your own herbs include:

• When planting in peet pots, break up the peet and roots before planting.
• Do not plant above the base of the plant. Adding a top layer of soil can cause fungus.
• To keep bugs from your plants, include a decoy plant in your garden like artichoke.
• Before harvesting, find out the best method for that herb (for example, rosemary likes to be plucked, but peppermint can be snipped).

Click here for more information about dried herbs and herbal medicine classes.