UNIVERSITY RESEARCH NEWS

The Department of Health has recognised Thames Valley University (TVU) as a higher education institution interested in and able to host research into Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). As a result, the university recently committed to support the Centre for Complementary Healthcare and Integrated Medicine by providing two full-time PhD studentships/tutorial assistantships.

One of these posts was awarded to Jola Pawlikowski. Jola qualified in Aromatherapy and Therapeutic Massage and has a BSc (Hons) Health and Third World Development Studies (Middlesex University). Previously a research aromatherapist with the Exeter Drugs Project she has been managing complementary therapies provision at a homeless project in London. Jola is interested in equitable provision of CAM, the use of indigenous medicine and the treatment of addiction using CAM.

Those of you who were fascinated by Klaus Durbeck’s presentation at the Bristol conference will be interested to know that Jola has contacted Klaus and the Balkan Herbs project to collaborate on her thesis, which will be looking at the role of vitex agnus castus essential oil and its use for menopausal symptoms.

Napier University has run a degree course in complementary therapies, which includes an IFPA accredited diploma, for several years. They now wish to develop their research interests and their first project proposes to investigate the use of essential oils to reduce blood pressure.

Useful contacts

Thames Valley University www.cchim.com

Napier University www.napier.ac.uk

Research Forum

By Judith Howie (Chair of Research and Scientific Matters, IFPA Council)

This new column, bringing you news on research in aromatherapy, aims to be a contact point for IFPA members interested in research matters and colleges/universities carrying out studies in this area.

If you have any research news or requests for information to post on this Forum please contact Judy Howie, via the IFPA office or email