College nurse keeps students healthy

Columbia College campus nurse Laureen Campana offers traditional as well as herbal remedies for students who come to her for help. Amy Alonzo Rozak/Union Democrat, copyright 2009

But, while there, they may also learn that mixing clay, witch hazel and water can remedy poison oak, or that steeping marshmallow root and drinking it as a tea can help with a sore throat.
  

Campus nurse Laureen Campana is certified in herbal studies, and — when appropriate — offers herbal, or non-traditional, methods to help students feel better.   

“For minor illness, herbs are fantastic,” she said. “Herb medicine is not guesswork.”

Campana, who keeps several herbal remedy books under her desk, earned a certificate in herbal medicine making and plant identification from the Sierra Institute of Herbal Studies in Big Oak Flat.

To help combat flu, the college is offering free chicken soup to students from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Wednesday. Culinary students will prepare and serve the soup, which features astragalus — a herb that helps boost immunity.

“Food is healing,” Campana said, “that’s part of our message.”

With the soup comes free “flu kits,” paper bags filled with cherry eucalyptus cough drops, a small pack of tissues, a thermometer and two bags of organic herbal tea, among other items.

Stapled to the bags is information on both seasonal flu and swine flu along with recipes for chicken soup and miso soup. There’s also information on how to make a steam vapor and a tea recipe that suggests adding a dash of cayenne to increase blood flow and help clear a cough.

Campana said herbs can help treat minor ailments before they become expensive health problems.

As the campus nurse, she refers students, if need be, to free or low-cost health services in the community.    

Campana realizes that many Columbia students — like college students and young Americans across the country — are uninsured and strapped for cash.

“I think we all know health care is a complex issue right now,” she said.

Each Columbia College student pays a $17 health fee per semester. The only service the office charges for is $5 per seasonal flu vaccine.

“This is such a huge value,” she said.

When students enter the health services office they can pick up brochures and a variety of health-related items — condoms, hand sanitizer and ibuprofen, among them.

“The things I make available are what students ask for,” she said. 

Campana carries a radio and pager with her, and when an emergency strikes she responds along with campus security and firehouse staff.

When a culinary student recently cut his finger chopping green bell peppers, he was sent to Campana to get his finger cleaned and bandaged.

She treats minor illnesses and injuries, and offers health education, such as HIV and AIDS awareness. The college also offers one-on-one counseling sessions up to six times a semester to treat issues such as depression and relationship problems.

Sometimes a student may just be fatigued and need to rest.

“That’s a really healthful thing to do,” she said.