The Power of Essential Oils – Soulfully Connecting

Maggie first became interested in alternative medicine back in the early 1970s when it was called ‘fringe medicine’. Her involvement with essential oils began shortly afterwards and became the mainstay of her medicine chest during pregnancy, childbirth and the rearing of three children with all the usual childhood diseases.

She was one of the first UK published writers on the subject of aromatherapy. Her first book, Aromatherapy for Women, published in 1985, went on to become an international bestseller, selling in excess of 700,000 copies worldwide. Four other books followed, commissioned by mainstream publishing houses.

With the publication of Aromatherapy for Women in Japan, her partners there successfully introduced aromatherapy to the Japanese market. In 1989, Maggie was the first to speak on the subject, returning many times to lecture in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. Her essential oil and herbal essence products created and led the market in Japan for more than 10 years. She was also instrumental in setting up the company which sells Tisserand oils but has not been involved since the late 80’s.

Maggie travelled extensively in pursuit of the best quality essential oils: working with growers on three continents. Based on practical experience of using essential oils to overcome serious chest infections picked up in India, Maggie began investigating the possibility that a combination of essential oils might be effective in combating multi-drug resistant infections. This led to working with the British MRSA Support group and successful trials with volunteers.

Maggie was inspired to continue the research and worked with the University of Brighton, having been awarded research grants to investigate the antimicrobial effects of essential oils against MRSA. In 2009 the University of Brighton published a research paper about the ability of Benchmark Thyme and thyme linalool to kill MRSA bacteria in vitro. Benchmark Thyme is a blend of four different thyme plants that when combined, have a powerful bactericidal effect against MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. An unpublished paper demonstrated that tea oil was marginally slower than Benchmark thyme at killing the MRSA superbug.

Following the publication of university trial results Maggie decided to write a book about MRSA and the scientifically validated, natural products capable of halting the growth of the superbug. Maggie’s book addresses the problem of MRSA and details some well known essential oils with antimicrobial properties – as well as some lesser known oils.

Aromatherapy vs MRSA: Antimicrobial Essential Oils to Combat the Superbug. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers – London & Philadelphia.

Maggie lives in Dorset, South West England. She has three children (one in spirit) and three grandchildren.

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Maggie’s earlier writing history

Aromatherapy for Women. Harper Collins/Thorsons was published in 1985. It has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide, continuing to sell in North America and South Korea. The UK book has also been updated and republished under four different covers.

The Magic & Power of Lavender. First published in 1989, by the German publisher of Aromatherapy for Women – Shneelowe/Windferd – co-written with Monika Junneman. Published in English by Lotus Light – Shangri-La, USA in 1995.

Essential Oils for Lovers. Harper Collins. Originally entitled Aromatherapy for Lovers. The book was translated into German & Japanese. In the USA it was published by Harper Collins San Francisco, in 1994, under the title Essence of Love: Fragrance, Aphrodisiacs, and Aromatherapy for Lovers.