The Wisdom of Menopause

Natural Health, August, 2001 by Francesca Forrest

THE DAYS OF SUFFERING THE "change of life" silently, like our grandmothers did, are long gone. Everywhere we turn we see articles, books, medicines, herbs, and seminars designed to help perimenopausal baby boomers enter this new phase of life. The subject of a recent art exhibit at my local library, menopause is no longer confined to the madwoman in the attic.

Christiane Northrup's approach to the subject is warm and even intimate. "Menopause is a pause from men," she quips, quick to add that really it's a time to pause from everyone, male and female, to work on fulfilling yourself. Along with advice for your mind and spirit, she offers valuable information on hormone testing and replacement, including a discussion of synthetic and natural hormones and how different hormones can be used either alone or in combination.

Her book also covers other helpful topics, such as diet and exercise regimens, hysterectomies, female cancers, and aging. She takes a fresh look at many common concerns--she offers evidence, for instance, that American women may be overly worried about breast cancer but perhaps not concerned enough about heart disease.

Where for me Northrup veered farthest away from her usual common sense was in her criticism of men. A number of her menopause case studies feature self-sacrificing women who narrowly escape the tyranny of their husbands. Blame for their unhappiness is placed squarely on everyone but themselves (usually parents are at the root of it, but husbands are pretty evil, siblings no help, and children out for themselves).

Despite this shortcoming, the book is finely written. In one of my favorite chapters, on aging and beauty, Northrup uses the lovely analogy of moving from the rosebud stage to the full-blown rose and, finally, to the shiny red fruit of the rose. If you've ever admired bright red rose hips on a frosty fall morning, you'll appreciate the image. Northrup never suggests that aging is easy or fun, but she does try to persuade you that it is enriching and very interesting. With the rose-hip image, she persuaded me.