Dr DennG M Pe@ey

University of Health Sciences

Defiartment of Biachemistry

1750 Indepndence Avenue

Kansas City

MI 64106-1453

USA

Dr Mohnm,ed Iduomar Universite’ Abdelmalek Bsacidi

T 0 many people

Lithuania, and the

Baltic States as a

whole, conjures up little in

the imagination as far as

aromathcrapy is concerned.

However, as 1 discovered at

the First Baltic Congress on

Aromatherapy, held in the

little Lithuanian seaside town

of Palanga in November

2000, the area has a deep-

rooted history in the art

of both massage and fra-

granting.

Generally speaking x0-

matherapy as wc see it today

is new within this part of

Europe - new al !eas~ in the

sense of the modern F&ion

or interest. It was argued in

the conference that this part

of the world actually holds

the keys and origics of much

of what is called aromather-

apy by Western Europe.

Whilst lhere are some who

have practiced or organized

l?B. 2121 M’Hannech II

Morroco

Ill, Tom Mammone

Esst2e Lzuder

125 I’iselawn Road

Melville

NY11747

USA

Christophe Chesr~e

BIOPREDIC

14-18 rue Jean Pecker

35000 Rennes

France

Ko Ichi Shiozawa

Aveda

4000 Pheheustlnt Rzdge Drive

Blnine

AST MEETS WEsT ON “I-HE

AMBERSHORE-THEFIRSTBALTE CONGRESS ONAROMATHERAPV

JAY BUNYAN

aromatherapy over some

years, the consensus view is

that aromatherapy did not

really begin to have any gen-

eral impact here until the

mid 1990s 50 it is still really

new. There does, however,

seem to be a natural flair or

interest in this part of the

world in aromatherapy and

perfuming.

‘l’his was the first time

that an international confer-

ence on aromatherapy had

been held in what could

loosely be called Eastern

Europe. Delegates had

come‘ from ail the Baltic

States as well as from

Moldova, Poland, the Czech

Republic and Denmark.

Fraternal greetings were

received from the USA.

I‘here was a small contin-

gent from the British Isles,

which included representa-

tives from both the IFA and

the AOC. The Press, both

national and international,

gave great coverage to the

conference, TV cameras

were evident many times

and the enthusiasm and

goodwill generated was

immense.

Sponsored by Fuagran’

Iiarth, and organised by

Dalia Braziulyte (Lithuania)

and Monta Niedola (Latvia)

the conference programme

itself was very wide ranging.

‘lbpics covered included the

history of the Baltic and

Slavic peoples in aromather-

spy, issues of pregnancy and

childbirth, respiratory dis-

eases, commercial realities,

the psychotherapeutic use of

essential oils and massage

workshops. Key speakers

included Jan Kusmirek, who

demonstrated Slavic mas-

sage, which is gaining in

popularity worldwide. Ann

Thorpe gave an interesting

insight into the commercial

Minneaplois MN 55449

USA

Domznryue Duvenne

Lao2loratoire Davenn,e

3 avenue Sainte-Lorette

06130 Grasse

France

realities of starting an aro-

matherapy practice whilst

Rima Balaisiene covered the

science ofaromatherapy. Jay

Bunyan guided delegates

towards hnding the correct

path in education, Angela

Lihurd outlined the safe use

of esxntial oils in preg-

nancy and Dr Barbora

Novakova of the Czech

republic presented a case

study of the psychothcra-

peutic use of essential oils.

I‘he conference ended

with an overwhelming vote

in f&our of Llie tiirmation of

a BalGc Federation 01

Aromatherapists, LO whom

WC wish every success in the

fuurure. The Federation has

now become a nlember of

N&IA, which bodes well for

the fbture, and is committed

to establishing cohesive

training standards, allied

with those in the UK, USA

and Japan.