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Last Updated: Nov 5th, 2008 - 21:40:16 |
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Erin Voll, left, and Kelsey Asplin mix all-natural ingredients to make energy balls during class Oct. 14. The balls are intended to naturally revitalize energy levels. They are made with pumpkin seeds, Siberian ginseng, ginko or gotu kola powder, spirulina or super green algae, sesame butter, honey, crushed almonds, cocoa powder, raisings, chocolate chips, carob powder and coconut shavings.
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Auraria students and faculty who have a curiosity in herbal remedies, medicines and holistic healing will have the opportunity to enhance their interests in these topics this coming month.
Throughout November, Auraria's Healthy Moves program will be sponsoring various holistic healing classes, from aromatherapy to music healing to herbal medicine making.
The classes are free of charge to students, faculty and staff at Auraria.
Sponsored by the Health Center at Auraria, Healthy Moves aims to provide students and staff with opportunities to maintain a healthy mind and body through the stress that school and work can bring. Registration is not required. Those who want to attend just have to show up.
Coordinator of the program Linda Wilkins-Pierce said that these presentations give students a good foundation on using herbs for pain and health "and to incorporate them into their lives."
There will be different speakers for each class, all drawn from the community and experts in their field.
One of those presenting is former Metro student Catherine Perry.
Perry will be teaching the class on herbal body care Nov. 12. The class will cover integrating oils and herbs into everyday life. Perry will give a few demonstrations on preparations of body oils, focusing on those that are hydrating and protective against dry weather.
Perry graduated from Metro in 2006 with an independent degree in holistic health healing. She now works at Apothecary Tinctura, a retail store and clinic specializing in women's health care. She is the store manager and teaches classes on aromatherapy and natural skin products.
Aromatherapy is Perry's longtime passion. She said she feels naturally drawn to healing with plants and enjoys teaching others about it whenever possible.
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Some of Dr. White's students measure and add water to make energy balls.
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There are many uses for essential oils for particular health issues, according to Perry. Lavender may be used to calm a headache or as a healing oil for sunburns. Mandarin can be a calming agent for anxiety and stress or can serve as a sedative for sleepless nights.
Perry believes that the traditional wisdom of natural healing can be a beacon of hope for those seeking preventive medicines that will work with the body, rather than against it.
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Dr. Linda B. White, Metro professor, presents her Herbal Medicine for Beginners class with an Oregon grape root. The root is especially helpful to ensure health throughout the male reproductive system.
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"I hope that those who attend my class will learn how easy it can be to make completely natural body care and how rewarding it can be," Perry said.
Other classes include Green Pharmacy, a hands-on class allowing students to take home medicines they make. Several other classes will teach students about using herbs for pain and relaxation.
Linda White, a professor in the integrative therapeutic practices program at Metro and an expert in herbs, helped pull together the speakers for the classes.
White, who has written several articles and co-authored books on herbs and health, said a good place to start is to use herbs with medical effects that are used commonly with food, such as garlic and shiitake mushrooms.
Shiitake mushrooms are immune boosters and garlic is beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
White is teaching a new class this fall called Herbal Medicines for Beginners. She said she started the class for students who want to learn about herbal healing but don't have the proper scientific background or prerequisites for the advanced classes.
Anyone of any major can take the class and use it as an elective.
White said in this beginner class, students could expect to learn many things about using safe and effective herbs.
For example, Hawthorne is an herb that can be used to treat congestive heart failure, and ginger can be used to treat nausea, White said, adding that many natural remedies can prevent illnesses.
However, sleep deprivation is the root of many health conditions, she said. Students tend to get sick when there is stress overload and not enough sleep.
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Herbal Medicine for Beginners students improve the flavor of all-natural energy balls by rolling them in coconut shavings during class Oct. 14 at Auraria.
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"So many Metro students do way too much," White said. "They work and take care of kids outside of school. The use of herbs can help achieve more sleep and manage stress."
Aside from the herbal classes offered this month, it will provide a variety of ongoing body awareness and movement classes such as dance, yoga and Pilates.
"The Healthy Moves program is fantastic," White said. "I don't know of any other college that offers classes like this for free."
For more information on all of Healthy Move's available programs go to www.mscd.edu/student/resources/health/healthymoves
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