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Cooking with Fall Greens: The Health Benefits of Kale

Fall is here and with it rich greens like kale, spinach, arugula, and spicy mustard greens -- all of which can be grown in your fall garden! Greens add flavor and color to meals, as well as necessary nutrients to support optimal health.

Kale, for example, is a rich source of antioxidants, including carotenoids and flavonoids, which may help protect the body from the effects of oxidative stress*. Dr. Weil includes a useful definition of oxidative stress on his website here.

Welcome to the First Day of ACHS Fall Term 2011

Hey there-

Just a quick note welcoming you to the first day of fall term 2011. We hope you enjoyed your summer and are ready to start a brand new school year. We're looking forward to working with you and are honored you have chosen to study with us.

Thanks Suzanne Monroe for Yesterday's Fantastic Teleconference, Client Attraction Secrets

A special thank you to Suzanne Monroe, founder of the of the International Association of Wellness Professionals, for leading a fantastic American College teleconference yesterday: Client Attraction Secrets - The Holistic Professional’s 5 Step Formula to Find the Right Clients.

Suzanne not only covered her five steps for how to attract clients (including building a community and the importance of speaking on your subject), she also shared a few extra pieces of wisdom for holistic health practitioners establishing their business (download the Mp3 below to listen). One of Suzanne's suggestions we really like is free speaking. Free speaking provides practice talking to clients, which also builds confidence and helps to refine your expertise and consulting goals.

You're Invited to the First Annual ACHS On Campus Graduation Ceremony October 8, 2011

Hey there -

Just want to make sure you know about the historic ACHS event coming up ... our first annual on campus ACHS Graduation Ceremony taking place October 8, 2011, at the ACHS campus in Portland, Oregon. We hope you can make it!

Friends, family, and the local community are welcome to attend in celebration of ACHS graduates’ accomplishments. This is a relaxed, open-house style celebration and free to attend. So, if you're a recent ACHS graduate, current ACHS student, or a holistic health supporter in the Portland area, we'd love to see you on campus for this event honoring ACHS graduates.

The Details
Name: ACHS Graduation Ceremony
Date: October 8, 2011
Time: 5-8 pm, PST
Place: American College of Healthcare Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239
RSVP: Contact Tracey Miller at (800) 487-8839 or via email at traceymiller@achs.edu

Introduction to Aromatherapy Distillation and ACHS Distillation Manual for Download

Distillation is the most widely used method for producing essential oils, and while the basic principle of distillation remains the same, the process of distillation is carried out in different ways depending on the plant material being distilled.

In general, the process of distillation requires steam to be passed through the plant material. The basic process is:

You're Invited: Free Dynamic Phytotherapy Lecture Wednesday at 11 am

Dynamic Phytotherapy has the power to enhance the healing abilities of even the most experienced holistic health practitioner.

Join ACHS President Dorene Petersen for a Brown Bag Lunch talk about Dynamic Phytotherapy remedies and uses this Wednesday, August 31, from 11am-12pm.

ACHS President Dorene Petersen Chats with Aromatherapy Student Cheryl Narron About Benefits of Studying Online

Dorene Petersen, president of the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), chats with Aroma 203 student Cheryl Narron about the benefits of the online learning at the College's August 26 lavender distillation. Cheryl shares how much she loves the flexibility.

What is your favorite thing about getting your degree or diploma online?

You're Invited: ACHS Lavender Distillation and Sidewalk Sale August 26

In celebration of the end of the summer season, we're distilling the lavender from the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden this Friday, August 26, and you're invited!

Join ACHS President Dorene Petersen for this unique hands-on workshop and learn:

Hang Out with ACHS at Spaw Day, A Fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society

Don't have plans for tomorrow evening? Come hang out with us! American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) is participating in Spaw Day, a fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society, hosted at Sniff Dog Hotel (1828 NW Raleigh St. Portland, OR 97209), Thursday, August 25th, from 6-8pm.

AHPA Congress on NDIs - September 8, 2011

We received this event notification from the American Herbal Products Association, which we thought you may be interested in attending. Please refer to the links within the post for further questions and information about how to register.

AHPA Congress on NDIs: Crafting an Industry Response & Filing Successful Notifications

When:

Thursday, September 8, 2011

8:30am - 5:30pm

Where:

Mesirow Financial Services Auditorium

353 North Clark St.

Chicago, IL 60654

First Annual ACHS Graduation Ceremony October 8

The 1st Annual ACHS Graduation Ceremony is October 8, 2011 and you're invited!

Wind Down at Night with Bergamot Essential Oil

After busy summer days at work or at play, it's important to wind down. Stress comes in many forms, even fun. Support your body's optimal health and wellness and make daily relaxation a top priority.

Wondering how? Try an aromatherapy Relaxing Bedtime Blend with bergamot (Citrus aurantium var. bergamia) essential oil. The oil's fresh, citrus fragrance is a great mood support and can be soothing in a bath or massage blend.*

New Page Urban Herb Botanical Teaching Garden Launches

Hey there! ACHS has a launched a new page, Urban Herb Botanical Teaching Garden, dedicated to ... you guessed it ... our campus herb garden! Visit us here.

And be sure to check back frequently for new photos, botanical events, and garden tips.

Learn How to Make Healthy Herbal Sun Teas with ACHS

This summer, ACHS has partnered with the Beaverton Farmers Market to offer community education regarding holistic health and wellness.

American College of Healthcare Sciences Raises Lavender Awareness Through Community Wellness Events and U-Pick

On July 20 we hosted our annual Lavender Open House community wellness event at the College campus. More than forty people attended the event to raise awareness about the benefits of growing and harvesting lavender for personal health and as a garden aid!!

Our ACHS Chief Institutional Officer and Master Gardener, Erika Yigzaw, led participants through a series of hands-on workshops highlighting the holistic health applications of lavender, including a lecture about the aromatherapeutic properties, a demonstration of how to use lavender in personal care items, and a demonstration of how to grow, harvest, and pot lavender and other herbs for culinary and herbal medicine use.

Do You Use Cananga Oil As An Alternative to Ylang Ylang: ACHStv Gathering Canaga Flowers for Distillation

ACHS College President Dorene Petersen recently traveled to East Java. Here's an ACHStv video from her trip about how cananga flowers are gathered for distillation.

Lavender U-Pick at ACHS and Lavender Open House Pictures

Our Lavender Open House July 20 was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who participated.

If you're in the Portland area but were unable to attend in-person, stop by the ACHS campus @ 5940 SW Hood Ave, Portland for U-PICK LAVENDER from our Botanical Teaching Garden. It's just $6/bunch! Call (503) 244-0726 for more info. We look forward to seeing you!

How to Use Your Essential Oil Travel Kit

ACHS Annual Lavender Open House, Distillation, and U Pick July 20

We are soooooo excited about our Lavender Open House tomorrow. If you're in the Portland area, make sure to stop by the ACHS campus from 11 am-2 pm for a workshop about the health benefits of lavender, growing lavender, and how to distill and harvest lavender. It's going to be lots of fun!

If you're able to attend, make sure to RSVP to (503) 244-0726 or email achs@achs.edu. The event will be at the ACHS campus at 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland Oregon 97239. You can find directions to our campus online here: http://www.achs.edu/about/campus-tour.aspx?id=15

If you're not able to attend in person, not to worry--we'll post lots of pictures and video from the day's events to ACHS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ACHSedu AND our YouTube channel, ACHStv here

Cananga Flowers (Ylang Ylang) Being Sorted and Gathered From the Ground

Cananga flowers (ylang ylang) being sorted and gathered from the ground. The flowers drop to the ground after they are cut from a very tall tree. The harvester, in this case a man, was perilously perched 40 feet above the ground in the branches executing the cut with a hooked blade tied to a 15 foot stick. His wife is on the ground sorting and gathering with amazing speed. Unfortunately they are paid only .45 cents per kilo of flowers.