M
aggie 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 has 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 MRSA Support group and successful trials with volunteers. Maggie was inspired to continue the research and worked with the University of Brighton to investigate the antimicrobial effects of essential oils against MRSA. Maggie established Benchmark Oils Ltd to raise investments for the longterm research and to help bring important laboratory discoveries into the public realm.
Maggie lives in Dorset, South West England. She has three children and three grandchildren.
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