The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change, 2nd Edition Reviews

• Not What I Expected, But Still an Excellent Book

  
  By ABDU537LDPT92 on 2002-03-25
  I do understand why some people have rated this book only one star. The book gets into a lot of areas outside of mainstream medicine. However, I felt most of what she had to say was medically sound. If you are looking for a book that gives only AMA-approved advice, this is NOT the book for you.

  I think this book is actually quite valuable. Who would benefit from it most are people who want BOTH AMA-approved advice, AND who want to consider things like herbal remedies, acupuncture, and other natural treatments. These discussions are particularly valuable for anyone who cannot take traditional hormone treatments for various reasons--such as if you have deep vein thrombosis (which I do). She covers alternative therapies very well, in depth, and from the perspective of a physician who has had many years experience in trying these natural therapies with patients, and with herself. So, here you can get a POSITIVE physician's viewpoint on alternative therapies. Yes, it's true she discusses her personal life, and I personally enjoyed those parts. It's also true that she sometimes gets readings from Tarot cards, but if something comes out of them, she always checks into those areas which have come up in the readings with traditional medical tests and treatments. If you're not into "nurturing your fibroid," or tarot cards, just ignore those parts of the book. Ignoring these parts was not a problem for me. The important thing is, this book is NOT trying to convert people to new-age treatments. It is seriously discussing a number of alternative therapies, from a medical standpoint, that MANY people have already been using on their own for many years--but these people can't find any doctor who will seriously discuss the merits and demerits of any of these treatments. Furthermore, she DOESN'T concentrate ONLY on these alternative therapies--she discusses all the traditional therapies very well.

  Should you buy this book? If you are the type of person who is only comfortable with traditional medical advice, you will NOT like this book. Buy another one. If you are someone who is looking for a SERIOUS discussion of alternative therapies, you will think this book is wonderful. I fall primarily in the former camp, but am also open to the latter camp for consideration. I found the book very useful, and felt it was well worth the money I spent on it. The main reason being that it discussed SO MANY MORE aspects of menopause than I ever would have dreamed of thinking about!! It is not a book you can sit down and read cover-to-cover. It has to be read slowly, and digested. After reading this book and another one, I went to see my doctor with a list of pre-prepared questions, and he said I was the best-informed patient he had ever had (here in Morocco). I suggest that you DO buy this book, but you might want one or two other books which cover different aspects of the menopause transition. The other book I chose was a paperback called "The Silent Passage," and between the two books, I feel very satisfied.
  
  

• Menopause- a time for personal empowerment and breaking free

  
  By A1IU7S4HCK1XK0 on 2001-03-06
  I can't praise this book enough. I subscribed to Dr. Northrup's newsletter for years and got a lot of excellent women's health advice from it. Now she expands on the topic of menopause and perimenopause (the lesser understood, long preliminary phase leading to menopause or change of life.)

  The book contains valuable health information (are wild yam creams effective or not as an estrogen replacement substitute?), help for overcoming hot flashes (soy milk and tofu are amazingly effective) insomnia, weight gain and depression. There is a resource section for obtaining various helpful products. Most interesting is the explanation Northrup gives that "the lifting of the veil of hormones" liberates women and rewires their brains for what can be the most powerful, passionate and creative phase of life. I believe this, because I watched my mother reach the peak of her career at this stage, and now I am experiencing some of that myself. I love having an explanation of the changes and why I think and feel differently than I did ever before.

  Northrup is a medical doctor, but she is a proponent of alternative medicine and such ideas as feng shui. The alternative slant of this book may not please every reader, but there is plenty of scientifically-backed information with medical backing from the more conventional viewpoint.

  All cultures have universal archetypes (symbols) of women; the maiden (virgin, eternally youthful, non-sexual),the mother (nurturer, sexual, fertile) the matriarch (sexual, powerful, leader) and the crone (wise, aged, non-sexual) Northrup focuses on the biological changes that match with the matriarch stage of life. Understanding the brain changes, bodily changes, and most importantly the role change from mother to matriarch can help women achieve their full potential. Northrup explains how menopause can usher in the most creatively inspired, and professionally productive phase of life. Don't miss taking full advantage of what could be the most rewarding stage of life.
  
  

• Good Source -- if you don't already have the other books

  
  By A38F4T2GKJE1BP on 2001-03-30
  This book is highly readable and packed with information about menopause, and perimenopause. However, if you already own or have read Northrup's "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom", or if you subscribe to her newsletter, or if you've read Dr. John Lee's "What your Doctor may not tell you about Menopause", then you can save your money and skip this book. Most of the information contained in this book can be found in the other sources mentioned. Especially if you want more info natural progresterone -- read Dr Lee's books.
  
  Northrup takes a stronger "new-agey" tone in this book than in her previous one. The Tarot and astrology references, while not repugnant to me, got a little tiring. If this book had been my first encounter with Northrup, I think I might have been turned off to her message.
  
  

• No Horoscope Please

  
  By on 2001-03-15
  The author's pervasive interest in occult practices such as astrology and tarot card strained her credibility to the point that I returned this book. Inclusion of religious beliefs whether they are conventional or new age are incompatible with the standards of objectivity one would expect in publications involving personal medical matters.
  
  

• Read It Before You Need It!

  
  By A2ARN6A0FSI7WX on 2001-04-15
  I recommend that women read Dr. Northrup's book before they need it! That way, the reader can start at the beginning of the book, read it from cover to cover, and enjoy the book. Then it can be used as a reference when the signs and symptoms of menopause begin. If that's not possible, and you're dealing with perimenopause or full-blown menopause, then skip the first few chapters. Otherwise, you'll be ready to divorce your spouse, thinking that's the answer to your mulititude of problems. Bloated? Get a divorce. Night sweats? Get a divorce. No sexual drive? Get a divorce. Instead, look for the chapters that deal with your symptoms. The information on diet and diet supplements is extremely useful. It's also helpful to be able to "talk the talk" when going to an ob-gyn. You will with this book. You'll know what tests to request and what questions to ask. I now feel prepared and educated instead of defeated.
  
  
• The Wisdom of Menopause
  By on 2002-02-14
  As the husband of 26 years of a woman who has started menopause I thought this (book) would be the ideal means to better understand what my life partner was going thru and, most confusing to me, unexplainedly putting me thru. Was I wrong!
  I have a hard time putting credence to the words of an individual that uses tarot cards to guide her life (is this a " two thousand's" thing or something?) and who more or less blames her biology and gender for what went wrong in her life and why. For being a doctor I was amazed at the lack of educated insight or reasoned deduction in this woman's life. While she clearly describes what she is going thru and what changes it has made to her thinking I found it difficult to see how she saw 2+2 but swore it equalled 5 (and tries to make you the reader believe it too)! True there are many, many unjustices in the world today that still hold women back or regulate them to suffer undeserved indignities to say that it is because your brain was hard wired one way during the childbearing years and that was why you accepted such but, now that you have experienced menopause you should rewire, foresake all that you now feel hold you back or stiffle you, and go on the attack smacks of what women have complained of for years when their husband goes off the deep end having midlife crisis and buys a sports car and has a fling with his secretary (barmaid, trainer...whatever: younger woman). Hormonal changes change our drives and who we are but Dr. Northrup has to have the worst case of unrecognized hormone imbalance I have ever heard of. When she should have been listening to family, husband, and friends (and talking to her doctor) she instead sells the business, tells her husband to sleep in another room, and decides all that is wrong in her life was caused by society; with her being a pawn rather than a player. I know what her husband feels like as I have been accused of moving my wife's things (memory loss) to the point of being told I am a liar... to threatened with divorce as she thinks she "needs some space." For a man to have a loving partner one day and mere months later a woman he hardly knows because her hormones, or lack of, are now coursing thru her differently is a mind numbing confusing experience. For Dr. Northrup to say "do whatever you feel....it's natural' is to say that the husband has no say in what was a partnership in life and accept the chips as his wife sees fit to have them fall because she now has the "insight to truth". Rather Dr. Northrup should be telling men to get with their wife's doctor and ask her/him how to tactfully and lovingly handle the changes BEFORE menopause occurs so that he is aware and educated in what will be, in some cases, extreme changes in their wife's behavior.As an example: how do you tell your wife she is always angry without out making her angry? And do you have the right to ask the doctor if he/she is seeing the same.
  I was deeply disappointed in this book and wouldn't recommend it to any man hoping to gain insight into what his wife is going through.
  
  
• AVOID THIS BOOK AT ALL COSTS!
  By A2MDN0UD04RUED on 2003-01-19
  I opened this book with an open mind, but I'm afraid she lost me early on. I need straight forward informational help, not modern day witch craft. I'm not kidding! She casually refers to her reliance on psychics, tarot cards, etc., and expects the reader to continue to take her seriously. What I found even more objectional, however, was her premise that as women, from puberty to menopause we have a "hormonal veil" over our eyes, that causes us to nurture those around us, and subjugate our own desires and needs. As we reach peri-menopause, and our hormones are raging and spewing (yea- those of you who have experienced it know exactly what I mean!) these irrationally angry feelings, not our nurturing, kind and protective feelings reflect reality, and those other gentler, kinder notions were all a farce. Go ahead- act on the very worst urges within you. Don't you know? Its all about YOU- and how it feels to feel the way you feel. Forget how your choices may affect or even devastate those around you. This is by far the most selfish piece of rot I have ever read. Copernicus called- you're not the center of the universe. 'Nuf said.
  
  
• A Flawless Roadmap for Surviving the "Transition Years"
  By A2JNZPJ8UTL86X on 2002-01-04
  Dr. Northrup's book, The Wisdom of Menopause, provides women with a clearly marked roadmap for making the biologically scripted transition to menopause from an informed, confidant position. Her carefully considered discussions about hormone replacement--bioidentical or synthetic, foods & supplements, libido issues, osteoporosis, breast and heart health, as well as the "Resources" section brimming with detailed information on each major topic, help arm women with the understanding and tools needed to intelligently consult with their physicians about this perfectly natural process. The pharmaceutical industry tends to encourage the misguided view that menopause is a "disease" best treated with standarized doses of synthetic hormones; ones that bolster company profits--naturally! Yet, as Doctor Northrup makes clear, transition is not a "one size fits all" experience. Women's bodies and life experiences differ tremendously; hence the logic of individualized, holistic transition programs. Thanks to caring doctors like Christiane Northrup, gone are the days of blind deference to physicians who think that a pat on the head and a prescription for synthetic hormones will get you out of their hair! Bravo Doctor Northrup! Her book should be required reading for any woman (or man, for that matter) over the age of 35.
  
  
• The self deception of this book
  By on 2002-03-12
  I purchased this book because the reviews I had read made it sound as if it were full of sage advice from a medical professional. I was sadly mistaken. Ms. Northrup has used the stage of menopause to cover her needs to assert her self as a valuble human being. It was disapointing to me to hear someone who should command respect expound the use of things like Tarot cards ro decide her future. The most bizarre part of this book was her comparison of her fibroid tumor to an embryo... But instead of getting the appropriate help she 'nursed' her tumor and used it as a way to explain her need to release her inner self... She consistantly makes blanket statements concerning medication and herbs... Please don't use this book as an excuse to become self centered and please don't believe all you read!!!!!!
  
  
• All the things your mother DIDN'T tell you!
  By A3SN9EF7GTNEU2 on 2001-03-14
  Alright, your 50th birthday is just around the corner, your children are leaving the nest, you finally have time to do all the things you planned, and now you feel as if your mind and body are on overload and about to short-circuit! Your mother may have told you what to expect as you entered your teens, but how many mothers told you what to expect when you were fifty? Hot flashes, cold sweats, peculiar aches and pains you never had before - don't worry, you aren't going insane...it's the rest of the world that is going crazy!

  Throughout the pages of this book, you will find great comfort in knowing you are experiencing a perfect normal reaction (however, "unnatural" it may seem at the time)to a perfectly normal life process. A positive attitude can make a world of difference and this excellent book answers all the questions that your mother probably never told you. It is a great book and one every woman approaching menopause should read. A positive attitude and a healthy and active lifestyle can make all the difference in the world.
  
  

• JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!
  By A3J4FAZXOYVZMI on 2001-05-10
  This book is FILLED with pearls of wisdom and I'm SO glad I got it! Feeling overwhelmed by the emotional and physical changes I've been experiencing lately, I chose to read this book cover-to-cover, which is probably not what the author intended, as there IS a bit of repetition in her Rx for menopausal complaints. However, it was STILL a very helpful way for me to access Dr. Northrup's sound advice - and there's plenty to be had within!

  It's heartening to learn that you're not alone when apparently "little" things like your tastes in entertainment change: for example, I used to enjoy the ROCKY movies, but for a while now I've noticed that I recoil from any violence I see portrayed on the screen (fortunately, I don't have to contend with much in-person violence in my life!) To have this psycho-emotional change explained as a "rewiring of the brain" is encouraging and supportive, and Dr. Northrup is hopeful in her advice and helpful in all the additional resources she lists at the end of the book. I understand a LOT more now what's going on in my body and mind and I've a growing appreciation for the changes yet to come. What's more, I'm inspired to be a LOT more pro-active in taking care of myself through better nutrition and exercise.

  When you consider how LITTLE most women learn about menopause from their mothers and other women in the lives, it becomes evident how essential this book is! My own mother (who's 72) to this day claims that she "sailed right through" menopause with nary a flash or problem. This has NOT been MY experience, however, and I really needed the information in this book to reassure me I'm not going nuts! Dr. Northrup has provided a tremendous service to women of the Baby Boom and THE WISDOM OF MENOPAUSE is a GIFT to our health and sanity!
  
  

• 2 Extraordinary Books For Mid-Lifers
  By ANWH1TS4RAH9U on 2001-06-14
  As I hit my late 30's I began to notice changes in my life, my mood, my sex drive and even my spending habits. By themselves I didn't think it was a big deal but then I saw Dr. Northrup and Nancy Lloyd on television talking about menopause and finances, respectively. What each said really hit home.

  Like a lot of women my age I was coasting through what I considered a normal life. It's not that I was unhappy but I knew that I could have felt more satisfied. This book by Dr. Northrup and "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS" by Nancy Lloyd have shown me how to take charge of my life, resolve unfinished family business and start to realize some life-long dreams.

  I have started taking some estrogen replacement per Dr. Northrup and have finally dealt with my finances per Nancy Lloyd.

  The difference in my life and relationships is astounding. I feel like a different person. With the fear of menopause and credit card debt no longer hanging over my head I'm told I even look younger.

  "THE WISDOM OF MENOPAUSE" and "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS" are life changing books. I can't recommend them too highly!
  
  

• Some helpful information, but this book is NOT for everyone!
  By A3SO3DWO9A6KBT on 2005-03-07
  Some of the medical information is very helpful. My recommendation is that this is not a book for someone under 35, it is not a book for someone who has already had a hysterectomy, nor is it for someone who has young children at home. Her hormonal theory, that menopause is the time in life when we look beyond nurturing our families, and look to nurturing ourselves instead is slightly flawed. Many women have hysterectomies or other forms of induced menopause at a very early age. Do I think that my total hysterectomy at 34 (and the obvious onset of menopause) changed my ability or desire to nurture my children? Of course not. That's ridiculous, and if I think about it too much, it's actually offensive.
  
  Her comments about marriage are questionable, as well. Marriages sustain many changes, and menopause is just one of them. Open lines of communication, deep love and commitment are certainly enough to weather the "hormonal storm." How sad that it seems as if one point of the book is that menopause is the time to assess your marriage. Shouldn't we be doing that every day, and re-committing ourselves to growing together?
  
  Many reviewers have commented on some of her more non-traditional methods. I am not a fan of tarot cards, and I'm not sure how I feel about taking medical advice from someone who diagnosed herself on several occassions, by using them. That's just my own opinion. I tried to look beyond that.
  
  I just think this is another book written for people older than I am. That's okay, but it still leaves me looking for something I can truly relate to.
  
  
• A dismal disappointment
  By A24ZW92FP25FSP on 2005-08-16
  I was shocked by the level of neediness and desire to blame others expressed by Christiane Northrup in this jumble of a book. At a time when I needed medical advice to decipher the overwhelming physical changes happening to my body; I turned to Christian Northrup as a wise healer who has had the privilege of medical training and a mature woman with the actual experience of menopause. A wonderful combination if Northrup had chosen to focus on menopause. Instead she is all over the map, taking swipes at everyone who has disappointed her in her life. If I wanted to hear my gal pals whine about the mothers, husbands, and daughters I could have shared a meal with any group of women struggling through the ups and downs of life. Instead, I sought the help of a respected physician and got quite a shock, as she rehashes all the real and imagined slights of her life. If you are a middle aged woman who has "stuffed your feelings" all your life, and need help speaking up for your youself; this book may be a big help to you in finding your voice. But if you are a woman who has stood up for herself while you matured, this book will shock you with its pettiness. I am quite New Age and believe in all the woo-woo stuff mentioned in this book; but when I turn to a physician for medical advice on a medical issue; that's what I expect. I can only hope that Northrup will re-read this book as some point in her life and decide to take it out of publication. I was embarrassed for her and returned it. I just don't buy it in more ways then one.
  
  
• Warning!
  By A2AGS4CZUYT0TD on 2003-01-24
  I had to comment, because our magazine, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine, has received several "heads ups" about some advice Christiane gave... she suggested taking the Chinese patent herb remedy "Yunnan Baiyao" before surgery. I and other Chinese Medical experts believe this is an extremely risky idea.

  #1- Yunnan Baiyao stops bleeding... it affects wound-healing. Herbs of this type can have life-threatening interactions with some drugs.

  #2- Because of #1, Yunnan Baiyao could alter your response to procedures or drugs, placing your surgeon in an unfamiliar medical landscape, especially if he/she doesn't know you've taken the herbs. Even if they did, not enough is known about how it might interact with the drugs administered before and during surgery.

  Don't risk it!

  Christian says that the patent "has been used successfully" in this way. There is no reference or source for this. I have no idea what made her think this was a good idea, and she doesn't tell us.
  
  

• Not What I Expected, But Still and Excellent Book
  By ABDU537LDPT92 on 2002-06-23
  I do understand why some people have rated this book only one star. The book gets into a lot of areas outside of mainstream medicine. However, I felt most of what she had to say was medically sound. If you are looking for a book that gives only AMA-approved advice, this is NOT the book for you.

  I think this book is actually quite valuable. Who would benefit from it most are people who want BOTH AMA-approved advice, AND who want to consider things like herbal remedies, acupuncture, and other natural treatments. These discussions are particularly valuable for anyone who cannot take traditional hormone treatments for various reasons--such as if you have deep vein thrombosis (which I do). She covers alternative therapies very well, in depth, and from the perspective of a physician who has had many years experience in trying these natural therapies with patients, and with herself. So, here you can get a POSITIVE physician's viewpoint on alternative therapies. Yes, it's true she discusses her personal life, and I personally enjoyed those parts. It's also true that she sometimes gets readings from Tarot cards, but if something comes out of them, she always checks into those areas which have come up in the readings with traditional medical tests and treatments. If you're not into "nurturing your fibroid," or tarot cards, just ignore those parts of the book. Ignoring these parts was not a problem for me. The important thing is, this book is NOT trying to convert people to new-age treatments. It is seriously discussing a number of alternative therapies, from a medical standpoint, that MANY people have already been using on their own for many years--but these people can't find any doctor who will seriously discuss the merits and demerits of any of these treatments. Furthermore, she DOESN'T concentrate ONLY on these alternative therapies--she discusses all the traditional therapies very well.

  Should you buy this book? If you are the type of person who is only comfortable with traditional medical advice, you will NOT like this book. Buy another one. If you are someone who is looking for a SERIOUS discussion of alternative therapies, you will think this book is wonderful. I fall primarily in the former camp, but am also open to the latter camp for consideration. I found the book very useful, and felt it was well worth the money I spent on it. The main reason being that it discussed SO MANY MORE aspects of menopause than I ever would have dreamed of thinking about!! It is not a book you can sit down and read cover-to-cover. It has to be read slowly, and digested. After reading this book and another one, I went to see my doctor with a list of pre-prepared questions, and he said I was the best-informed patient he had ever had (here in Morocco). I suggest that you DO buy this book, but you might want one or two other books which cover different aspects of the menopause transition. The other book I chose was a paperback called "The Silent Passage," and between the two books, I feel very satisfied.
  
  

• Soy Is NOT Safe and Natural HRT
  By A14F9UBZRP874F on 2007-03-11
  Dr. Northrup offers a powerful and positive message for midlife women but betrays our trust with dangerously misguided dietary advice. Of particular concern is her recommendation of soy as a safe, all-natural hormone replacement therapy. The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality concluded that the studies on soy and menopause are inconsistent,contradictory, of poor quality & too short duration. POSSIBLE benefits are far outweighed by PROVEN risks, including thyroid damage -- already a weak point for midlife women. Dr. Northrup herself has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which is not surprising given her endorsement and avowed consumption of the very high-isoflavone product Revival. Soy also can increase breast cancer risk. I am not alone in this concern. The Israeli Health Ministry has warned that women should exercise caution because of increased breast cancer risk and the French Food Agency will soon require warning labels to this effect. Cornell University's Center for Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors has also warned women at risk for breast cancer to take it easy on soy. Clearly, a good policy is "better safe than sorry."
  
  
• One of THE best guides to menopause
  By A16S0CNPC88RXH on 2001-06-26
  I feel this book is head and shoulders above most of the other menopause guides on the market, for two reasons: (1) Northrup is a practicing physician as well as an author and teacher, and she has years of experience working with women going through menopause. So her recommendations about what works, what doesn't, and where conventional wisdom may be wrong are based on considerable experience with REAL, LIVE women. Her ample use of stories drawn from her practice, and those sent in by readers of her newsletter, helps to give weight to her opinions. (2) She makes the vitally important point that every woman's menopause is different -- your menopause is YOURS, not your mother's, or your sister's, or your best friend's. The medical profession, in general, has tended to apply "one size fits all" remedies, e.g., prescribing Premarin to every woman whose hormones seemed to need tweaking. Northrup, by contrast, points out that hormones are a delicately balanced system that may take several years to stabilize after "the change," so it's best to determine as precisely as possible WHICH hormone(s) need tweaking, and do the minimum to prevent problems and increase comfort.
  I found her discussion of other menopause-related conditions (e.g., osteoporosis) thorough and helpful too. My doctor has been pressuring me to take a synthetic hormone to prevent bone loss; my instinct has been to say no and address my (slight) problem by other means, and Northrup gave me some very useful information that supports my decision. I questioned some of her suggestions -- e.g., while soy helps many women, it's more problematic if one is hypothyroid. And I think she goes overboard where dietary supplements are concerned. Still, she doesn't present herself as the all-knowing physician but as a woman who's addressing many of these same issues herself (and who sometimes makes mistakes), and I felt that that gave her much more credibility.
  I didn't have a problem with the occasional "new age" references: she talks about using the Tarot (for example) as a means of self-knowledge, and it's as good a tool as any for stimulating reflection. I felt, too, that her frankness about her assumptions and beliefs was a courtesy to the reader: I've had highly infuriating experiences with doctors who were NOT aware of, or honest about, how their beliefs affected the way they treated their patients (e.g., "once a woman is past childbearing, she's useless")! In general, I felt Northrup had her feet firmly on the ground, and she's compiled a wealth of information into an easy-to-read and comprehensible volume.
  
  
• Author Needs Therapy-Reality Check
  By on 2002-03-05
  Clearly this is a pop culture read..and it is a bore! As a peri- menopausal woman I was hoping for a bit more scientific approach to this middle age malady. However, the reader gets a dose of new age tripe. Furthermore, you can tell the author is from the ME generation..Her favorite subject, as she rambles on about her crumbling relationship with her husband. Who cares???
  We want sound medical advice, not voo-doo!! Maybe she should uncover that mirror and look at herself.
  
  
• pseudoscientific nonsense greatly decreases credibility
  By on 2001-07-27
  If she accepts and advocates any and all new age mumbo-jumbo that sounds good, how can I put confidence in her ability to critically filter through all of the research about hormonal therapy, etc.? Just because she cites medical references doesn't mean that they are high-quality studies published in respected medical journals, or that they are studies that are applicable to a wide range of women. And given her level of accepting completely ridiculous things such as "tarot", etc., it is my guess that the scientific advice she gives is just her take on whatever random studies fit with her theories, and probably does not reflect a good grasp of current research. Truly knowledgeable clinicians know how to filter the good from the bad. What could have been a promising book touching on an important topic was undermined by her kooky beliefs.
  
  
• Menopause is more than hot flashes, night sweats and HRT
  By A8RNHS6QB4U6B on 2004-05-27
  This book was recommended to me by a holistic therapist when I was talking about all the chaos that has decended into my life. She said that "its part of menopause" and refered this book. She was so right. From the moment I started reading it, I started identifying with a lot of the things that she was saying.

  In reading many of the other reviews, I feel that most the one star people never got beyond the first few chapters. They never saw the indepth discussions on building bones, the discussions on why you start gaining weight even though you haven't changed your diet or excercise, or the discussion of heart health. They were turned off by her discussions of her personal life and experience...everyone of which mentioned the tarot card references which were such a small part and only mentioned in the beginning! I thought it made her more human. Nor did I feel she was telling us to ditch everyone in our lives. What I picked up and what I really do feel is important is that we need to constantly reevaluate our live, keep what IS working and change (not neccessarily discard)what isn't and unfortunately, most of us don't do that till our lives go haywire. Menopause is a major haywire occurances.

  One of the things that drew me to the book and her attitude is that she approaches everything from an 'understand what is happaning, understand your options, decide what is best for you' point of view. In particular, in this 'here take a pill for that' world we live in, her change your lifestyle first and if that doesn't work, then let's look at the medication and surgical answers was very refreshing.

  Menopause is so much more than hot flashes and night sweats and to have one book that goes into all the health issues (physical, mental, and emotional) that we face in this stage of our lives was extremely helpful to me. I highly recommend this book...and if you don't want to hear about her personal experiences, skip Chapter 1, and only want to deal with the medical part, start with Chapter 4.
  
  

• Stick to the facts, not your personal opinion
  By A8HNXDJO3RSC9 on 2002-11-28
  Although I found this book informative and helpful when it came to the facts concerning menopause, I was quite concerned regarding Dr. Northrup's methods of gaining her wisdom regarding her personal opinions about life, and she mentions her personal opinions many times. She states on page 25 to using mysticism, astrology and angels, as well as tarot cards. She again mentions using tarot cards on page 27. Then when discussing something valid like prayer on page 31, she "sends it(her prayers) down the river to its source". I always thought God was in Heaven? Then on page 32, she mentions using animal medicine cards for guidance. What kind of craziness is this? She also continually mentions throughout the book for us to examine the relationships in our lives, especially our bad marriages, as the root cause of many menopausal systems. She then goes on many times to encourage us to end any bad relationships, including your marriage. The sheer number of times this is mentioned made me dislike this book.
  
  
• Written by an MD?
  By on 2002-04-08
  The book starts out with her poor marriage to a "cold" husband and "cold" mother which I thought was a little strange for a book written by a doctor. Then she starts talking about fibroids being caused by stress, which made me wonder so I started skipping through the book and quit reading after her claim that thyroid problems are caused by "swallowing one's words", i.e. anger. Then I wondered where was she a doctor- some small town in Maine.
  
  
• The Wisdom of Menopause
  By A1JY3X4J4MD8GW on 2001-03-15
  I am 52 and going through this transition myself. I found Dr. Northrup's book to be just want I needed to validate the issues and provide help for the symptoms I've been dealing with. I love her writing style--it's just like have a conversation with a very wise friend. I think this book is a "must read" for every woman in perimenopause--and maybe even sections for the significant people in her life too!
  
  
• Does she want me to morph into someone I'm not?
  By ADLQQ20JTEWO8 on 2002-04-16
  As Boomers, many of my friends and I are in varying stages of peri or actual menopause. I've read Dr. Northrup's book and thought she had a great attitude toward the whole process. However, she doesn't seem to realize that most women will not accept their menopause as an opportunity to tell everyone to kiss off and go their own way as she seems to have done. She says she took a fake hormone pill due to fibroids and it "kick started" her brain and told her she needed to become someone else, someone who would use menopause as an opportunity to be selfish and aggressive. Well, honey, if you aren't that way to begin with, stopping the monthlies ain't the magic that's gonna make you that way! If you've never watched your diet, exercised, told your husband exactly what you thought, and/or struck out on your own and did exactly as you pleased, you're not going to suddenly do it now. I can't imagine anything more stressful at that time of a woman's life than doing what Dr. Northrup asks us to do and becoming a completely different person!!! No thanks, I'll take MY doctor's advice over her's.
  
  
• The Wisdom of Menopause
  By A11BAUSXNL4ANB on 2001-09-10
  I would have given this a 5, based on the medical information. I was disappointed that there was no indication on the book jacket, or anywhere else for that matter, that Dr. Northrup chooses to use tarot cards and other such media to determine paths for her life's journey. I think that would be a significant topic to address in a review of such a book, especially by a medical professional. THe medical information is quite good, and I will use it for such. However, I will not recommend this book to anyone else.
  
  
• The Spiritism of Christiane Northrup
  By AGSJ7GSUCUJCK on 2002-04-05
  How very disappointing that Dr. Northrup is all caught up in "New Age" Spiritualism. She calls it "Wisdom"; I'd call it Superstition. I had hoped for a good scientific reference work. Instead, it was very hard to read: difficult to get past her absurd analyses of the "causes" of various health problems. She continually "blames the victim"--i.e. If a woman has a hormone related health problem, she needs to look within and change her life (Therefore, it must be her fault?!) Spend your money on a better book.
  
  
• Women, don't be fooled!
  By on 2001-03-17
  This books is a load of hype. Northrup is a new-agey. unorthodox practitioner in my humble opinion.

  I bought it innocently, thinking she would have tons of information regarding menopause and its symptoms and treatments, only to find to my dismay that there is just to much "questionable advice" and unsubstantiated dictates. For example, taking CoEnzyme Q10, which she highly recommends, may be fine after it is proven to be effective for menopausal women in clinical trials, but where is the backup? Where is the proof?

  I am sorry I spent the money for this book. It is going in the trash, where it belongs.
  
  

• Nurse Dorie
  By on 2002-02-27
  The fact that this poorly written jumble of medical fact, witchcraft, and embarrassingly personal autobiography could ever make it to the bestseller list demonstrates the desperate need that exists for a well written but easy to understand book explaining menopause. Tarot cards for stress...drapes over mirrors for insomnia...unspoken words cause hypothyroidism???? The good doctor could use a refresher course in medicine and some good counselling for her unresolved emotional problems. With all the loot this rambling tome brings in, these will be affordable.
  
  
• The first 2 chapters scared me...
  By A28H6IZREXU7EE on 2002-06-25
  so that's as far as I've gotten.

  At 41, with 2 young children at home, I needed something calming, reassuring, upbeat and informative. Being hit so fast and so hard with a message that sounded a lot like "Your husband is probably a jerk who won't support your inner self or personal needs, so you might as well get a divorce right now because that's the only way you'll survive menopause" really stressed me out and upset me badly. It seems very extreme and negative. My husband has encouraged my individuality and my need to be myself, rather than just a "Wife and Mom", since I became a Mom!

  I'm sure the book has plenty to offer, it just didn't start out on a good note for me.

  I also need more information and insight regarding how to handle this crazy, stressful, scary time while I DO still have 2 young kids to raise while working full-time! The "empty nest" issue is important, but what about the rest of us?

  I may return to this book later (I borrowed it from a friend) but right now I'm finding books like "A Woman's Midlife Companion" to be a gentler, lighter, less intense approach which I'm hoping will give me the bits of information and insight that I need without the fear-inducing negativity and intensity. And I really DON'T want a "medical journal" type of book. There is more being impacted here than my body chemistry and I would like to approach it from as holistic an approach as possible.
  
  

• Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing
• The Wisdom of Menopause Journal: Your Guide to Creating Vibrant Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Your Life
• Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Understanding the Crucial Link Between Mothers, Daughters, and Health
• You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty
• Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food