Rating: 
Summary: The Wisdom of Menopause
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A wealth of information presented in a positive way
Review: I have been educating myself about menopause since I hit 40. Ths book covers everything I discovered plus gives a spiritual side that medical literature never covers. Written by a doctor who has been there-I keep this book within reach to discuss it with my friends.
Rating:
Summary: pseudoscientific nonsense greatly decreases credibility
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Useful Reading for Menopausal Women
Review: The first few chapters of this book seem to be used to justify/rationalize the author's divorce and to push the practice of mysticism. However, the remainder of the book is full of excellent, practical advice regarding menopause. Dr. Northrup combines traditional medicine with other "medicines" in a nice balance.
Rating: 
Summary: The Wisdom of Menopause
Review: I would give this book 50 stars if I could! At first I only "spot read" portions that I felt would give me quick answers to my most pressing problem - hot flashes. Not only did Dr. Northrup tell me what causes them, but gave me several viable options on how to alleviate them! I immediately got on one of the web sites she recommended and ordered soy. Then I began to read the book from the beginning. I could feel the empathy of Dr. Northrup as I read page after page and said to myself, more times than I can count, "YES, THAT'S ME, THAT'S ME!" I found that the symptoms I was having and the feelings of anger, frustration, resentment and pending doom were NORMAL, and were an inner sign that I needed to make some changes. This book is informative, educational, enlightening and intuitive. It's an easy read and a MUST READ. I have begun keeping a journal, and am much more at peace as I read more and more of this fascinating book and discover that this truly is the beginning of a new and wonderful second half of my life. Thank you, Dr. Northrup, for saving my life.
Rating:
Summary: These 2 Books Have Changed My Life--And Can Help You Too
Review: NO ONE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WOMEN GO THROUGH PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. THANK GOODNESS FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND THEIR FORESIGHT IN AIRING THE ADVICE OF TWO EXCEPTIONALLY HELPFUL WOMEN: DR. NORTHRUP AND NANCY LLOYD, WHO WROTE "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS." THESE TWO BOOKS HAVE SHOWN ME HOW TO DECIDE WHAT I REALLY WANT OUT OF LIFE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW TO CHANGE THE THINGS WERE NOT WORKING FOR ME ANYMORE. WITH DR. NORTHRUP'S BOOKS I NOW HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MY PHYSICAL CHANGES AND HOW I CAN MAKE MYSELF HEALTHIER AS I GET OLDER. AND NANCY LLOYD HAS SHOWN ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY FINANCES AS I GET OLDER SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO RELY ON MY FAMILY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. I AM FINALLY IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE. I HAVE NEVER FELT HEALTHIER. MY FINANCES HAVE ALSO NEVER BEEN IN BETTER SHAPE. THANK YOU DR. NORTHRUP AND NANCY LLOYD FOR MAKING VITAL CHANGES SO UNDERSTANDABLE AND LAYING OUT EASY TO FOLLOW STEPS FOR ACHIEVING THEM.
Rating:
Summary: One of THE best guides to menopause
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Finally someone understands Physical and Emotional Changes
Review: I have heard about Dr. Northrup and also had an ad that spoke to alternative medicines for menopause. I would like to say that the excerpt I read was on point for me and I hope for others who have or are undergoing this transformation. I am in that group...I have been undergoing the "rewiring" process since the age of 33. I could not figure out what had happened and of course I thought I was having some kind psychological break down....Going to my OB-GYN did not help me any, (no pun intended), male doctors and the male population in general think we are crazy and in need of medication....They prescribe things for us that I feel they would not take themselves....The more I began to read and the more I began to dig deeper inside of me and look at the whole package...Spiritually and emotionally and where I had landed in life, I began to understand more about what changes were occuring. I did not give up on the medical profession, because I knew there was someone out there who could explain those changes on a more deeper level....We as a society want spiritual awakenings, but sometimes we don't stop to look at where that begins and it is within you...The you who looks back at you everyday when you look in the mirror....Well take it for what it is worth.....I feel much better and had drawn the same conclusions, that everything I knew of my life, is now beginning to change....Life is never going to be what you imagined it, but it is nice when you have a firm foothold on what it is....I appreciate Dr. Northrups poignent observations about how she felt with those associated in her life, co-workers and family alike. Yes I am irrated as well and wonder why is it that I am the only one who has to do everything and no one else can think for themseleves....Or their brains all seem to have vacated and they are left with vaccums....It was great reading and look forward to getting the book to read more....Thank you for this opportunity....Sheila Crew
Rating:
Summary: Illumination!
Review: This book should be required reading for any woman over the age of 40 and any man who is truly interested in knowing about what women go through at this time of their lives. Dr. Northrup clearly covers every aspect of menopause. Please don't stop at the first couple of chapters, read it from cover to cover, even if there are sections that don't apply. There is a wealth of knowledge contained therein! Three cheers for a woman trained by the male dominated medical field as she broke the mold and combined the wisdom of a multitude of healing professions! Never does Dr. Northrup give you just one path to follow, she gives you options and allows you to choose what feels right to you. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!
Review: 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!
|
