The Wisdom of Menopause

Christiane Northrup beschreibt offen, klar und einfühlsam die Veränderungen, die Frauen zwischen 40 und 55 erwarten. Dabei räumt sie gründlich auf mit der gängigen Vorstellung, dass die Wechseljahre bloß eine Zeit des Verlusts, des Abschieds und der Krankheit sind. Stattdessen ermutigt sie die Frauen, die Botschaften ihres Körpers zu verstehen, die Wechseljahre als eine Zeit der positiven Energie zu begreifen und die wunderbare Kraft dieser Lebensphase für ihre persönliche Entwicklung zu nutzen.

Much of this book assumes that all women entering menopause have spent the past 30 years of their lives caring for husbands and children. (The title of Chapter 3 captures the whole approach: "Coming Home to Yourself: from Dependence to Healthy Autonomy") Doesn't describe my life AT ALL, so much of the "theorizing" she does about the whys and wherfores and solutions doesn't seem to apply to me at all. I also was put off by the heavy amount of "suggestive selling" of drugs, supplements, and self-help plans . . . $$$$$.

When I started the book I was experiencing hot flashes and night sweats and looking for possible solutions. By the time I finished the book (two months later; reading most, but skimming near the end), I was no longer having show more those symptoms (which I attribute to a yoga sequence designed for menopause symptoms . . . the herbal and OTC things I tried from the book didn't agree with me at all). Not sure the 750 pages were really worth my time and energy, but other women might find her approach useful. show less

I read the first, oh, hundred pages and then I started skimming for things to snort at. There were lots of things for my skeptical atheist self to snort at. Including gems like:

"The difference between the postpartum period and perimenopause is that during perimenopause you're giving birth to yourself."

"It has now been scientifically documented that specific patterns of emotional vulnerability affect specific organs or systems of the body." (No footnotes or citations here.)

"One of the first things you need to do in order to heal your digestive problems at midlife is to shore up your third emotional center.
The third emotional center is located in the solar plexus area, and the health of this area affects all our organs of digestion, show more including the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine and upper large intestine. Women with substantial weight problems usually have unresolved issues in the third emotional center."

And so forth. Lots of talk about one's soul.

To be scrupulously fair, there's plenty of good information in this book. I'm just not willing to wade through all the bullshit to get to it. show less

Dr. Christiane Northrup has become one of American women's most trusted medical advisers. In Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, she broke entirely new ground by demonstrating that women's most common medical problems are often rooted in the basic conditions of their lives -- and that they can return to health by learning to listen to their bodies. She also integrated advanced medical techniques with the best natural remedies, offering readers specific guidance on choosing the right approach for themselves. Now, in The Wisdom of Menopause, Dr. Northrup once again challenges convention. "The change" is not simply a collection of physical problems to be "fixed" -- whether with hormones or herbs -- but a mind-body revolution that brings the show more greatest opportunity for growth since adolescence. This vitally important new book examines the connection between menopause and a woman's emotional and spiritual life. And it stresses how the choices a woman makes now -- from the quality of her relationships to the quality of her diet--either secure her health and well-being for the rest of her life, or put her future at risk.Dr. Northrup draws on her own life-changing experiences -- as well as on many intimate case histories--to explore the transformative power of these years. Readers will learn: * how menopause literally rewires the brain, triggering a shift of priorities from nesting and caretaking to personal growth and equality * how to listen for the wake-up calls inherent in women's cyclic nature, from PMS to SAD to menopausal symptoms* how the body adjusts naturally to changing hormones, and how to make personalized decisions about HRT and alternative supplements* how to rebalance metabolism shifts and prevent middle-age spread* how to deal with the myths and realities of sexual changes and appearance issues* how to prevent long-term health problems such as heart disease, hormone-related cancers, and memory lossCandid and reassuring, The Wisdom of Menopause elucidates the changes women should expect from ages 40 to 55, and shows how these changes can be wonderfully life-affirming. Instead of dreading menopause as a time of loss, women will hear the real message their bodies are sending -- that this is a time of personal empowerment and positive energy ... and a time for women to break free and thrive. show less

One to dip in and out of.

This book contains lots of great advice and information.

Das ist wirklich ein grandioses Buch. Es erklärt sowohl die psychischen als auch die körperlichen Vorgänge während der Wechseljahre, bezieht sich auf Studien und medizinische Erkenntnisse, nimmt aber die Frauen ganzheitlich ernst. Ich konnte damit sehr viel anfangen und Vorgänge, die mir meine Frauenärztin falsch oder unzureichend erklärt hat, zum ersten Mal richtig verstehen.