Island Lošinj

Preserved natural environment is a unique feature of the island of Lošinj; clean sea and air, mild climate, vegetation with 1018 plant species, aromatic scents with relaxation and rest, have a beneficial effect on the body and make it healthier and happier. The island of vitality is home to 230 medicinal plants, and the magnificent Aloe Vera found its place among them.

From 10 to 30 June, the area of Cres and Lošinj archipelago will host 33 events, including various workshops, lectures and training on the application of Aloe vera in everyday life, cosmetics and diet. The opening of the Aromatherapy festival ‘Apsyrtides’ will be held on the Organic family farm Kučić in Martinšćica on the island of Cres on 10 June 2015, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Aloe Vera has been in the service of medicine and beauty since ancient times thanks to its hydrating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and the fact that is slows skin aging and prevents sunburn, explained Ana Turk, mag.pharm, univ.mag.admin.sanit. Donatella Verbanac, PhD, described Aloe Vera as a specific plant of special appearance, the first in the list of effective medicinal plants and Nina Bašić Marković, MD, PhD, underlined its scientifically proven medical efficacy in the treatment of various diseases as well as its oral administration helps regulate blood glucose levels and lower cholesterol levels which has potential beneficial effects on disorders associated with metabolic syndrome which is becoming more and more prevalent in modern times. It is believed that Aloe Vera has been reported to have antitumor effect which is assumed to be a result of the drainage effect. This has a beneficial effect on the function of gallbladder and liver, may help in treating irritable bowel syndrome and has detox properties.

The Town of Mali Lošinj and the Tourist Board of the Town of Mali Lošinj began the project of Aromatherapy festival in 2013 educating the first aromatherapists in the area of Lošinj, and a year later aromatherapy workshops were held in educational institutions. The events of this year's Aromatherapy festival ‘Apsyrtides’ are spread across the Cres and Lošinj archipelago, which was the inspiration for the name of the year's project ‘Apsyrtides’.

Cres and Lošinj tourism workers have already proven their cooperative spirit by participating in the pilot project Hrvatska 365 (Croatia 365) which aims at attracting more and more guests outside the summer season by presenting appealing offers which include over 380 kilometres of thematic promenades in the vitality and health destination: Lošinj, Ilovik, Susak, Unije and Cres, pleasant fragrance of specific plant species, healing natural cosmetics, aromatherapy, and culinary delights.

This year's festival involves 23 participants from the area of the Cres and Lošinj archipelago, including the Organic family farm Kučić that will take the participants of the Open Day on a tour of the estate and distillery, and the next day, after the lectures on the basics of aromatherapy, the fans of natural cosmetics will have the opportunity to make their own cosmetics. With the special offer of balms and macerates of the trade Isabel and the aroma packages prepared by Susajda d.o.o. and Meus-Vital d.o.o., beauty salons Studio Bella, Iuvena - Face & Body Care Studio, Studio Vita, Laurus Slow Spa and Royal Bellarmaris and an aromatherapist, Marina Jurkota Rebrović, offer different workshops, breathing exercises and facial and body treatments and a combination of relaxing and medical massage and body scrub based on Aloe Vera combined with aromatic oils of the island of Lošinj. The lecture on the medical use of Aloe Vera in daily practice, as part of the Aromatherapy festival ‘Apsyrtides’, will be held by Nina Bašić Markovic, MD, PhD.

Creative people will enjoy the workshops where they will make decorative bags, relax in a field of lavender at the family farm Velčić, make cream with essential oils at the family farm Kuljanić and candles from beeswax with essential oils at the family farm of Dragoslavić Mladen or try out felting in a lavender hydrolat at the workshop of the Ruta Cres. The full experience of fragrances of the island of Lošinj will be unlocked at the workshop of making Aloe Vera moisturizer surrounded by various island plants in the Fragrant Island Garden.

The educational approach is also important, thus the kindergarten ‘Cvrčak’ (Cricket) will provide aromatherapy workshops for children, and the elementary school ‘Mario Martinolić’ will help students in dealing with puberty problems by using natural resources through a workshop of making anti-acne Aloe Vera tonic. At the workshop of the high school ‘Ambroz Haračić’ the participants will learn all about the medicinal properties, the use and consumption of Aloe Vera.

Although there are about 240 species of Aloe Vera, only few are edible. The specialties based on the preparation of Aloe Vera will be presented by the cake shop ‘Moby Dick’ and the restaurant ‘Eki’, which will also present the processing and milling of olives in an old mill ‘Torać’. The restaurants of Jadranka hotels d.o.o. - Vitality Hotel Punta and Hotel Bellevue – will offer special cocktails, the Bellevue Spa clinic will treat your entire body with mint and lavender oil, and finally, a scalp and acupressure facial massage will round up the entire experience.

We hope that the residents and guests of the Cres and Lošinj archipelago will enjoy in the Aromatherapy festival ‘Apsyrtides’ and her majesty Aloe vera.