The Wisdom of Menopause
Page 78
The Wisdom of Menopause Journal (Hay House, 2007)
The second half of your life offers an unparalleled opportunity to turn things around and create a firm foundation for the most fulfilling, healthy, joy-filled years of your life. The Wisdom of Menopause Journal—a companion to Dr. Christiane Northrup’s newly revised and bestselling book The Wisdom of Menopause—helps you focus on the “me” in menopause. Designed to help you both navigate and document this important transitional time, the journal is packed with action-oriented, practical advice for your mind and body—from recommended supplements and medication options to how to explore the emotional issues behind your physical symptoms.
This journal gives you everything you need to create vibrant health in midlife on all levels—not just in your heart, bones, pelvic organs, breasts, and brain, but also in your sex life, your relationships, and even your beauty regimen! It enables you to record your current health and concerns, as well as the steps you want to take to achieve your goals in each area. You’ll also find powerful affirmations, inspiring quotes, and plenty of blank pages for journaling, so you can create a record of your thoughts and feelings during this important time.
AUDIO/VIDEO PROGRAMS
Dr. Northrup’s CD and DVD programs are all available through www.drnorthrup.com or through Hay House (800-654-5126 or 760-431-7695; www.hayhouse.com).
Inside-Out Wellness, four-CD set by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Dr. Northrup and Dr. Dyer team up for this inspirational and informative program that discusses how to transform the old habits, traditional beliefs, and everyday thoughts that keep you from becoming all that you can be. Topics include how to rewire your thought patterns and let go of your past so you can cultivate pleasure instead of stress, reawaken your passions, follow your bliss, and create the life you want.
Menopause and Beyond, DVD
With cutting-edge medical information and guidance, Dr. Northrup invites midlife women to embrace their inner wisdom and transform the second half of their lives in this DVD program, based on her bestselling book The Wisdom of Menopause. The program focuses on heart health, hormone therapy, diet, and sexuality. Dr. Northrup also presents a five-step program that guarantees weight loss.
The Power of Joy, CD
Life is meant to be joyous! We are pleasure-seeking creatures by nature. Joy makes you younger, smarter, more intuitive, and healthier … with better hormonal balance and immune-system functioning. Joy even positively affects your metabolism. On this CD program, Dr. Northrup prescribes a ten step process for overcoming habitual patterns of negative thinking, guilt, and pain in order to bring the power of joy into your life every day.
The Secret Pleasures of Menopause, three-CD set
Dr. Northrup narrates her latest groundbreaking book, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause, a candid guide for stepping forward and learning to enjoy the best years of your life! Rather than holding to the long-held misconception that menopause signals “the beginning of the end,” Dr. Northrup candidly shares with listeners how they can experience life after fifty as the most pleasurable time ever!
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, two-CD set
Taped at a live lecture, Dr. Northrup explores the unity of mind and body and the crucial role of the human spirit in creating health in this CD set. She discusses how thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can have organspecific consequences and which ones can promote health and well-being; why a woman’s own intuitive understanding of her body is as important as her doctor’s assessment; why prescribing medicine or recommending surgery for a health concern is only one of many possible options; and much more.
Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional
Health, five-CD set
Dr. Northrup narrates an abridged version of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, discussing the bonds passed from generation to generation that shape our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Mother-Daughter Wisdom, DVD
In the course of this journey to self-realization, Dr. Northrup covers a rich range of topics that are designed to bring mothers and daughters to greater consciousness, including the five facets of feminine power, how to end the mother/daughter “chain of pain,” the power of forgiveness, and how to deal with a difficult mother or daughter.
The Empowering Women Gift Collection, four-CD set
This CD set includes inspiration and knowledge for women of all ages from Dr. Northrup, Louise L. Hay, Caroline Myss, and Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Intuitive Listening: How Intuition Talks Through Your Body, six-CD audio program by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D.
Drs. Northrup and Schulz help you tune in to your inner guidance by understanding the language your body talks. The program covers immune-system health, endocrine-system and hormonal health, digestive health, the structural system, and the brain and mind.
Igniting Intuition: Unearthing Body Genius—Six Ways to Create Health, Happiness, and Almost Everything Else in Your Life, six-CD set by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Northrup and Dr. Schulz teach you powerful, energizing, and lifechanging tools for personal growth—how to use your body’s own unique intuitive language to help you heal body, mind, and soul. With over thirty years of combined medical practice between them, Drs. Northrup and Schulz describe the seven emotional centers that are associated with the major organ systems in the body, and show how both good health and illness communicate information you can use to change your life. With wit and wisdom, they teach you how to recognize the patterns associated with disease so that you can change the conditions of the cells themselves by changing your thoughts, your relationships, and your activities.
CALENDAR
Women’s Wisdom Perpetual Flip Calendar and Perpetual Flip Calendar App
Dr. Northrup shares her warm and witty wisdom on creating vibrant health within your mind and body in this perpetual flip calendar that you can use year after year. The calendar includes inspirational quotes, empowering affirmations, enlightening exercises, and even bits of scientific research. Also available as an app for the iPhone, the iPod Touch, and the iPad at www.hayhouse.com, at www.drnorthrup.com, or through iTunes.
Chapter 2: The Brain Catches Fire at Menopause
Toxic Emotions/Forgiveness
SUGGESTED READING
Cohen, D. (2008). Repetition: Past Lives, Life and Rebirth. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. (Also see Dr. Cohen’s website at www.healing repetition.com)
Hay, L. L. (1998). Heal Your Body A-Z: The Mental Causes for Physical Illness and the Metaphysical Way to Overcome Them. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc.
Holden, R. (2009). Be Happy: Release the Power of Happiness in You. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc.
Levine, S. (1989). Healing into Life and Death. New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc.
Luskin, F. (2002). Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.
Mellin, L. (2010). Wired for Joy: A Revolutionary Method for Creating Happiness from Within. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc.
Northrup, C. (2010). Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. New York: Bantam Books.
Chapter 3: Coming Home to Yourself
Deliberate Creating
Esther and Jerry Hicks
(830-755-2299; www.abraham-hicks.com)
Jerry and Esther Hicks publish books, CDs, and DVDs containing spiritual messages on everything from how to create deliberate intent and how to discover your life purpose to the value of your relationships with others. I have enjoyed their material for many years.
Feng Shui
SUGGESTED READING
Collins, T. K. (1996). The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Creating Balance, Harmony, and Prosperity in Your Environment. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
Collins, T. K. (1999). The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Room by Room. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
Kingston, K. (1999). Clear Your Clutter w
ith Feng Shui. New York: Broadway Books.
Proprioceptive Writing
Proprioceptive Writing Center
(510-350-8799; www.pwriting.org)
Proprioceptive writing (PW) is a practice that uses writing to explore the psyche, using the intellect, intuition, and imagination simultaneously. PW was developed twenty years ago by Linda Trichter Metcalf, Ph.D., and Tobin Simon, Ph.D., after a decade of teaching writing to college students. I personally worked with them privately and in group settings for seven years. In addition to workshops at the center in San Francisco, online courses (both private and group) are also available.
Chapter 4: This Can’t Be Menopause, Can It?
Holistically Oriented Physicians
American Holistic Medical Association
(216-292-6644; www.holisticmedicine.org)
The AHMA (founded in 1978) is an organization of licensed medical doctors (M.D.s), doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s), and medical students studying for those degrees. Physicians from every specialty are represented. The AHMA website contains both an online physician referral directory as well as a guide to choosing a holistic practitioner.
Other online resources you can use to find a holistic-minded doctor in your area include:
Alliance for Natural Health (recently incorporating the American Association for Health Freedom) (800-230-2762; www.anh-usa.org)
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (301-968-4100; www.aacom.org)
American Association of Integrative Medicine (417-881-9995; www.aaimedicine.com/fap)
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (202-237-8150; www.naturopathic.org)
American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (218-525-5651; www.integrativeholisticdoctors.org)
American College for Advancement in Medicine (800-532-3688; www.acamnet.org)
Bravewell Collaborative (612-377-8400; www.bravewell.org)
Citizens for Health (www.citizens.org)
HealthWorld Online, Professional Referral Network(www.healthreferral.com)
Institute for Functional Medicine (253-858-4724; www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp)
Institute for Health and Healing, California Pacific Medical Center (415-600-4325; www.cpmc.org/services/ihh)
International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (800-927-4227; www.iacprx.org)
Life Extension Foundation’s directory of innovative doctors and health practitioners (www.lef.org/Health-Wellness/InnovativeDoctors)
Planetree (203-732-1365; www.planetree.org)
Women in Balance (888-820-5295; www.womeninbalance.org)
Hormone Testing for Adrenal and Ovarian Function
Genova Diagnostics
(800-522-4762 or 828-253-0621; www.genovadiagnostics.com)
Genova offers salivary hormone testing, as well as a wide range of other functional testing for bowel health, cardiovascular health, and more. Collection kits, articles, abstracts, and other publications regarding test methodology, clinical applications, and patient aids are available.
My Med Lab
(888-696-3352; www.mymedlab.com)
My Med Lab is a direct-to-consumer lab service that allows you to order any of various medical tests (including salivary hormone testing) without having to see your doctor just to get the test ordered. After you order your test online or over the phone, an in-house physician in your state reviews and approves the order. Then the company uploads a digital lab order to your My Med Lab account and notifies you via email. You log on to your account, print the order, and take it to any of two thousand patient service centers (the website includes a directory, so you can see which are closest to you). At the service center, you’ll have your samples taken—and you don’t need a prior appointment. Usually within a day or two, you will receive an email notifying you that your results have been posted to your online My Med Lab account.
The results include a brief explanation and a direct link to the National Library of Medicine for more detailed result information. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss any abnormal findings. (Note: Your test results are kept private and will not show up on your permanent medical record unless you share them with your doctor.) Health insurance usually doesn’t cover this service, although prices are extremely reasonable.
Formulary Pharmacies
See Chapter 5 Resources.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
Pharmaceutical-grade DHEA is available from formulary pharmacies or Emerson Ecologics (800-654-4432 or 603-656-9778; www.emersonecologics.com).
I recommend 5 mg DHEA sublingual manufactured by Douglas Laboratories. Suggested dose: one-half to one tablet daily, or as directed.
Migraines/Headaches
Bioidentical progesterone
A few drops of concentrated bioidentical progesterone (6,000 mg/30ml propylene glycol) applied to the skin can sometimes halt a migraine. This concentrated preparation can be obtained by prescription from any formulary pharmacy. (See also Chapter 5 Resources.) Two percent progesterone cream is also effective if used daily one to two weeks prior to one’s menstrual period.
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium works like aspirin to inhibit prostoglandins, preventing the blood vessel spasms that trigger migraines. Mygrafew, manufactured by Nature’s Way, contains dried feverfew extract (leaf) 12 mg, delivering 600 mcg parthenolides (standardized to 5 percent parthenolides). Recommended dose is one tablet daily. Available from Emerson Ecologics (800-654-4432 or 603-656-9778; www.emersonecologics.com).
Treximet
This effective prescription medication for migraines is a combination of the ingredients in Anaprox (prescription-strength naproxen sodium, an NSAID) and Imitrex (sumatriptan).
Chapter 5: Hormone Therapy
See Chapter 4 Resources for information on hormone testing.
Individualized Hormone Therapy
Many physicians and formulary pharmacists work in partnership with their patients to provide individualized hormone-replacement solutions. Ask your physician about this kind of customized care; he or she can call a local formulary pharmacy to consult with a knowledgeable pharmacist. To locate a pharmacy that provides individualized prescriptions, contact:
International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP)
(800-927-4227 or 281-933-8400; www.iacprx.org)
IACP (formerly known as Professionals and Patients for Customized Care, or P2C2) is a nonprofit organization made up of more than two-thousand compounding pharmacists nationwide. The IACP website has a locator feature that can help you find a compounding pharmacy in your area.
For additional information on individualized hormone therapy, contact:
Natural Woman Institute
(www.naturalwoman.org)
The Natural Woman Institute was founded by Christine Conrad, author of A Woman’s Guide to Natural Hormones (New York: Perigee, 2000). NWI maintains a database of physicians and health practitioners nationwide who prescribe natural, bioidentical hormones.
BodyLogicMD
(www.bodylogicmd.com)
Body Logic offers a network of physicians who specialize in bioidentical hormones, fitness, and nutrition. These doctors design a personalized program for each patient, including customized compounded bioidentical hormones, other pharmacy-grade supplements, and fitness and nutrition advice. The Body Logic website offers a directory so you can find a Body Logic physician in your area.
Progesterone Cream
Progesterone cream (2 percent strength) is available from a number of different sources. I have personally used the following preparations and find them comparable in quality and effectiveness.
Pro-Gest Cream, by Emerita. This is the first brand I ever used or recommended. Available from Emerson Ecologics (800-654-4432 or 603-656-9778; www.emersonecologics.com).
Bioidentical progesterone in capsule, suppository, or transdermal form is available through any formulary pharmacy. It is also available in regular pharmacies und
er the brand name Prometrium or Crinone vaginal gel.
Chapter 6: Foods and Supplements to Support the Change
Herbs
SUPPLIERS
Avena Botanicals
(866-282-8362 or 207-594-0694; www.avenabotanicals.com)
For a variety of herbal products, including dried organic herbs, liquid extracts, oils, creams, and teas.
Blessed Herbs
(800-489-4372; www.blessedherbs.com)
For bulk herbs, liquid extracts, and wellness products.
Emerson Ecologics
(800-654-4432 or 603-656-9778; www.emersonecologics.com)
Emerson Ecologics provides high-quality nutritional supplements, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, herbs, standardized herbal extracts, green foods, and essential fatty acids from the world’s leading manufacturers of professional supplements.
SPECIFIC HERBAL PRODUCTS
Pueraria mirifica (PM). I recommend PM with standardized miroestrol (approximately 20 mg of miroestrol per 100 grams), including H.R.T. Plus from Longevity Plus (www.longevityplus.com) and PM PhytoGen Complex from Solgar.
PhytoEstrin. This all-natural botanical formulation contains phytoestrogens from five different sources. Ingredients include soy isoflavones, black cohosh, vitex (or chasteberry), licorice root, and dong quai. Available through USANA (888-950-9595 or 905-264-9863; www.usana.com).
Black cohosh. The rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa has been used by Native Americans for centuries in much the same way as the Chinese have used dong quai. It is used for the treatment of menopausal ailments due to increasing ovarian insufficiency, mild postoperative functional deficits after ovariectomy or hysterectomy, PMS, and adolescent menstrual disorders. Many different preparations are available. I recommend Menopret (formerly known as Klimadynon) and Menofem, both of which contain a new form of black cohosh called BNO 1055 that has been shown to be very effective. I also recommend Black Cohosh Standardized Extract from Nature’s Way (40 mg twice a day), which is available from Emerson Ecologics (800-654-4432 or 603-656-9778; www.emersonecologics.com). Remifemin is another widely used brand available in many natural food stores and pharmacies, as well as from Emerson Ecologics. Start with one tablet (20 mg per tablet) twice per day, or take as directed.