The first in a series of fact sheets on complementary and alternative therapies, produced by the Society's Science Committee's working group on complementary medicine, was launched at the Conference by Professor William Dawson (chairman of the Science Committee and of the complementary medicine working group). All participants at the Conference received a copy of the fact sheet, which will be distributed to pharmacists with a future issue of The Pharmaceutical Journal.
The fact sheet, written by Ms Jo Barnes and Dr Elizabeth Williamson (centre for pharmacognosy and phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London), is intended to provide key information for pharmacists on various aspects of essential oils and aromatherapy preparations containing them. Sections on the use and administration of essential oils, and how essential oils should be packaged and stored, are included, together with a summary of clinical research involving essential oils, and aspects of quality and safety relating to their use.
Other fact sheets on complementary medicine in preparation cover such subjects as herbal medicine and homoeopathy; the Science Committee is also producing fact sheets on other areas relevant to pharmacists. Professor Dawson invited pharmacists to comment on the first fact sheet, and to provide suggestions for topics that could be addressed in the future.