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New Menopausal Years: Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90 (3)
The best book on menopause is now better. Herbal solutions for osteoporosis, hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, flooding, fibroids, low libido, incontinence, anxiety, depression. Completely revised with 100 new pages. All the remedies women know and trust plus hundreds of new ones. New sections on thyroid health, fibromyalgia, hairy problems, male menopause, and herbs for women taking hormones. Recommended by Susan Love MD and Christiane Northrup MD. One of the world's best selling books on menopause still comes on strong. Called "indispensable," "incredible," and a "treasure trove of information," Menopausal Years is the "bible" for the 87% of American women over the age of fifty who want nothing to do with hormones. Includes information and remedies for problems with premenopause -- flooding, erratic periods, fibroids, spotting, water retention, muscle soreness -- as well as menopause -- hot flashes, sleeplessness, mood swings, headaches, palpitations, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and much more. Final chapters speak to post-menopausal women's including ways to maintain heart health, prevent and reverse osteoporosis, deal with dry vaginal tissues and incontinence, ease aching joints, and maintain healthy libido. The soothing, wise voice of Grandmother Growth guides each woman through the book and through her own menopause metamorphosis. Ritual interludes interweaves a spiritual dimension often lacking in other works. Includes superb resource lists for menopause information, index, glossary, directions for using (and preparing) herbal medicines, complete descriptions of the most-used menopausal herbs (including nettles, ginseng, dong quai, red clover, oatstraw, and motherwort), recipes for heart- and bone-healthy dishes, and lots of illustrations. Also Menopause Metamorphosis Video starring Susun S. Weed.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Susun S. Weed
21 books205 followersSusun S. Weed has no official diplomas of any kind; she left high school in her junior year to pursue studies in mathematics and artificial intelligence at UCLA and she left college in her junior year to pursue life.
Susun began studying herbal medicine in 1965 when she was living in Manhattan while pregnant with her daughter, Justine Adelaide Swede.
She wrote her first book -- Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (now in its 29th printing)-- in 1985 and published it as the first title of Ash Tree Publishing in 1986.
It was followed by Healing Wise (1989), New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way (1992 and revised in 2002), and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way (1996).
In addition to her writing, Ms Weed trains apprentices, oversees the work of more than 300 correspondence course students, coordinates the activities of the Wise Woman Center, and is a High Priestess of Dianic Wicca, a member of the Sisterhood of the Shields, and a Peace Elder.
Susun Weed is a contributor to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, peer- reviewed journals, and popular magazines, including a regular column in Sagewoman.
Her worldwide teaching schedule encompasses herbal medicine, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, psychology of healing, ecoherbalism, nutrition, and women's health issues and her venues include medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as many conferences.
Susun appears on many television and radio shows, including National Public Radio and NBC News.
from http://www.susunweed.com/SusunWeed.htm
Susun began studying herbal medicine in 1965 when she was living in Manhattan while pregnant with her daughter, Justine Adelaide Swede.
She wrote her first book -- Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (now in its 29th printing)-- in 1985 and published it as the first title of Ash Tree Publishing in 1986.
It was followed by Healing Wise (1989), New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way (1992 and revised in 2002), and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way (1996).
In addition to her writing, Ms Weed trains apprentices, oversees the work of more than 300 correspondence course students, coordinates the activities of the Wise Woman Center, and is a High Priestess of Dianic Wicca, a member of the Sisterhood of the Shields, and a Peace Elder.
Susun Weed is a contributor to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, peer- reviewed journals, and popular magazines, including a regular column in Sagewoman.
Her worldwide teaching schedule encompasses herbal medicine, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, psychology of healing, ecoherbalism, nutrition, and women's health issues and her venues include medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as many conferences.
Susun appears on many television and radio shows, including National Public Radio and NBC News.
from http://www.susunweed.com/SusunWeed.htm
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 23, 2009
"Hot flashes literally create enlightenment. I don't mean this in a hippies woo-woo way. Scientifically, if you compare the pulse and EKG and other data of a person meditating in or near a state of nirvana, you will find it is similar to the condition a woman is in during a hot flash.'', says Ms. Susun Weed and I believe her, because difficult as life may seem during this time, the menopausal years are not so unbearable, especially with the right attitude. Each time I think I do not need this little book anymore, I read a passage or two, and am struck by how it relates to me still. Her approach to menopause makes more sense to me than many other books out there on the subject, and her wisdom allows me to move through this change with a little less intensity.
June 23, 2020
I love the idea of being comfortable with my body and it’s changing patterns. This book is filled with dog eared pages and will be a keeper. Years ago I read the author’s book The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, and I loved it. My favorite thing about this author is her reassurance that our bodies are usually able to handle anything that they need to do. She has practical advice on how to support your body without medical intervention, or along with medical care if need be. I’m not into the goddess, and this author has strong stances. However, I enjoyed her writing and benefit from her vast knowledge.
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March 3, 2019Cheesy 70s style, but has some good information.
December 5, 2020
I thought this was quite good, and focused on the topic clearly. I was reassured that all the herbs I've been taking are mentioned. I wish there had been more on the connection between migraines and perimenopause since that's something I've been dealing with. I have been working out my own herbal remedies for it, which have been working. This book is a valuable addition to my herbal library, and I'm glad I picked it up.
June 21, 2007
An excellent, highly recommended book. I use it already, even though I am not yet experiencing menopause.
July 21, 2018
I picked this book up because I was having spotting, longer periods, constant breast tenderness, and it felt like I was PMSing all the time. I wanted answers. I went to the doctor and they ran a hormone test (probably baseline) and did a probing (not fun at all) to look for fibroids. Everything came back negative. The result of the blood test was that I wasn’t in menopause. I could have told them that!!
There’s no test for perimenopause (that I’m aware of) and even if there was, Weed would advise against it. And I agree with her.
The best part of this book was the validation I received from it. Practically the first chapter says “If you think you are in menopause, you are.” This doesn’t mean that your period will end tomorrow as the state of perimenopause (a word Weed doesn’t like) can last from 10-20 years. But what I found so comforting is that I have likely started the descent from mother to crone. TBH: I didn’t do the whole maiden or mother thing well so cronehood (cronedom?) has always felt like an awesome stage to relish in!
I was taking Chasteberry on the recommendation of my doctor when all these issues cropped up. I’ve since stopped it on the advice of the local wellness center. We’ll see what happens but I’m so glad I found this book! I read it cover to cover to get an idea of the contents so I can use it as a reference tool when problems arise. I’m also interested in making my own infusions and tinctures but I think I’ll wait on those as well. There are already plans to expand the current herb garden to grow some favorites like motherwort.
Again: so glad I have this in my Well Woman Toolbox. I love Weed’s advice of doing nothing and accepting the changes. My own mother gave that advice (in a sterner tone) and it’s by far the best. I will look for herbal allies along the way but embracing this change seems far healthier than trying to fight time, age, Mother Nature, and THE CHANGE!! :)
There’s no test for perimenopause (that I’m aware of) and even if there was, Weed would advise against it. And I agree with her.
The best part of this book was the validation I received from it. Practically the first chapter says “If you think you are in menopause, you are.” This doesn’t mean that your period will end tomorrow as the state of perimenopause (a word Weed doesn’t like) can last from 10-20 years. But what I found so comforting is that I have likely started the descent from mother to crone. TBH: I didn’t do the whole maiden or mother thing well so cronehood (cronedom?) has always felt like an awesome stage to relish in!
I was taking Chasteberry on the recommendation of my doctor when all these issues cropped up. I’ve since stopped it on the advice of the local wellness center. We’ll see what happens but I’m so glad I found this book! I read it cover to cover to get an idea of the contents so I can use it as a reference tool when problems arise. I’m also interested in making my own infusions and tinctures but I think I’ll wait on those as well. There are already plans to expand the current herb garden to grow some favorites like motherwort.
Again: so glad I have this in my Well Woman Toolbox. I love Weed’s advice of doing nothing and accepting the changes. My own mother gave that advice (in a sterner tone) and it’s by far the best. I will look for herbal allies along the way but embracing this change seems far healthier than trying to fight time, age, Mother Nature, and THE CHANGE!! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2020
Common sense and compassionate and actually helpful.
August 9, 2010
Susan Weed's Menopausal Years is by far the best book of its kind!
It is organized in 3 chapters, the years before, during and after menopause; what symptoms women might experience. Each symptom is orderly detailed in seven steps the wise woman can take, from least invasive to most invasive, including 1) collect information, 2) engage the energy, 3) nourish and tonify, 4) stimulate and sedate, 5) use drugs, and 6) break and enter. Susan Weed is brilliant and her books are a tremendously valuable resource!
It is organized in 3 chapters, the years before, during and after menopause; what symptoms women might experience. Each symptom is orderly detailed in seven steps the wise woman can take, from least invasive to most invasive, including 1) collect information, 2) engage the energy, 3) nourish and tonify, 4) stimulate and sedate, 5) use drugs, and 6) break and enter. Susan Weed is brilliant and her books are a tremendously valuable resource!
February 5, 2013
Most helpful natural menopause book I have found. Love it!
May 17, 2020
I read the first edition fyi. I'm starting with the Cons because they're straightforward, I have a lot of detailed Pros to ruminate on.
Cons:
- if you've had a hysterectomy, this book is not for you.
- if you experience body dysphoria, this book is not for you.
- suicide is mentioned several times throughout the book.
- Weed equates having a uterus to being a woman, female reproductive organs & womanhood are one and the same to her.
- Weed is very anti-western medicine. If I had followed her instructions obediently, the pre-cancerous cells in my cervix would never have been found. It seems like she's reacting to how the medical field treated women in 1992 and things were very different then, I'm curious to see if the "New" edition has been softened around this.
- DO NOT INGEST BELLADONNA!!!!!
Pros:
- I wish menopause was spoken about in this way everywhere. Weed cherishes it as a complicated, painful, confusing, joyful, liberating Change. I'm about to turn 35 and parts of this book had me thinking "I can't wait for menopause!"
- several suggestions for rituals are scattered throughout the book. Weed notes that menopause happens roughly halfway through life, not at the end like it's so often derided. I wish there was a societal tradition to celebrate this powerful transformation. Weed's writing also made me realize that I've recently passed the halfway point of my menses: I've had more than half the moontimes of my life. I'm already planning to celebrate my 35th birthday with a No Baby party, as I've never wanted to reproduce & I've accomplished that goal, and now I want to mark that halfway point too.
- Weed strongly encourages getting to know your own body & what it's trying to tell you, and she does explain many ways to do that.
- herbal remedies make up the bulk of the book, a lot of them I was already familiar with and some were new (I didn't know vitex has berries!). I'd really recommend doing more research about some of these plants before ingesting them, but everything she wrote about dandelion, comfrey, ginseng, ginger, cinnamon, and other common plants was spot-on.
- Menopause is anthropomorphized as Grandmother Growth throughout the book, She's loving and funny and wise. I really enjoyed all the sections including Her.
- partway through the book I made the mistake of looking up #menopause on Instagram and I really wish I hadn't. It's all dieting, obsession with looking under 30, and "I'm thinner than I was before I had kids blah blah blah." Weed states explicitly that she wrote this book so that those going through menopause can embrace their age & bodies.
Cons:
- if you've had a hysterectomy, this book is not for you.
- if you experience body dysphoria, this book is not for you.
- suicide is mentioned several times throughout the book.
- Weed equates having a uterus to being a woman, female reproductive organs & womanhood are one and the same to her.
- Weed is very anti-western medicine. If I had followed her instructions obediently, the pre-cancerous cells in my cervix would never have been found. It seems like she's reacting to how the medical field treated women in 1992 and things were very different then, I'm curious to see if the "New" edition has been softened around this.
- DO NOT INGEST BELLADONNA!!!!!
Pros:
- I wish menopause was spoken about in this way everywhere. Weed cherishes it as a complicated, painful, confusing, joyful, liberating Change. I'm about to turn 35 and parts of this book had me thinking "I can't wait for menopause!"
- several suggestions for rituals are scattered throughout the book. Weed notes that menopause happens roughly halfway through life, not at the end like it's so often derided. I wish there was a societal tradition to celebrate this powerful transformation. Weed's writing also made me realize that I've recently passed the halfway point of my menses: I've had more than half the moontimes of my life. I'm already planning to celebrate my 35th birthday with a No Baby party, as I've never wanted to reproduce & I've accomplished that goal, and now I want to mark that halfway point too.
- Weed strongly encourages getting to know your own body & what it's trying to tell you, and she does explain many ways to do that.
- herbal remedies make up the bulk of the book, a lot of them I was already familiar with and some were new (I didn't know vitex has berries!). I'd really recommend doing more research about some of these plants before ingesting them, but everything she wrote about dandelion, comfrey, ginseng, ginger, cinnamon, and other common plants was spot-on.
- Menopause is anthropomorphized as Grandmother Growth throughout the book, She's loving and funny and wise. I really enjoyed all the sections including Her.
- partway through the book I made the mistake of looking up #menopause on Instagram and I really wish I hadn't. It's all dieting, obsession with looking under 30, and "I'm thinner than I was before I had kids blah blah blah." Weed states explicitly that she wrote this book so that those going through menopause can embrace their age & bodies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2019
I absolutely treasure this gem of a book! It is so relevant to my life right now, and I find myself reaching for it time and again to peruse a specific section, look up a certain herb, or read about a newly relevant symptom. I feel like a baby crone sitting in Grandmother Weed's lap learning of sacred hints, solid tools, magical potions, alchemical approaches, and age-old methods for traversing the rocky path toward cronehood. Susun has undergone the same journey, and she knows. It is a comfort to me having so much wisdom and support bound within those pages on the ready for me to consult whenever I need direction and guidance. Somehow Susun conveys to me that this transformation is indeed imbued with the power of a spiraling cascade of women who walked these shoes before us. I hold her book, and I feel connected with sisters and mothers stretching back to the very beginning. I recommend this book to any and every woman out there who is a crone in the making.
March 24, 2017
Overall, this is a great book. I learned more about Menopause from this book than any other I have read. It is hard to know what is normal and what isn't. I made a decision this past fall to end birth control pills. I wasn't sure what to expect and this book really helps. I will keep it close by for reference.
November 20, 2017
Overall good reference book for pre and postmenopausal women. Lists of useful herbs...not too sure about the recommendations of soy and dairy although I understand calcium is important. Also the book is anti-hormone replacement therapy and anti-birth control pill after the age of 40 with not much explanation.
May 12, 2019
Mmmm some good bits and some not so good bits..... she goes on about diary in places and which I don't agree with her - diary contains lots of antibiotics and hormones , especially animal oestrogen which I don't particularly want to put into my body...... although I suppose organic would be a better alternative.
July 22, 2019
An interesting read so far, Susun S. Weed knows her stuff and shares a fantastic amount of knowledge and wisdom from a long life. But it’s not the kind of book that you read from A to Z. I personally use it as a reference work I come back to again and again, or whenever there is a specific topic I need to know more about.
January 14, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up. I can't help but love the 70s style hippie-ness of this book. Although it might be a little woo in places, Susun knows her stuff and is a fantastic herbalist. I love the Grandmother character, who personifies the Wise Woman whom I truly wish to grow into as I age. This book is much better than most herbalism books in content and charm.
April 7, 2023
Susun weed is a transphobe and appropriates from indigenous practices. (And abuses and assaults students! You can look it up). If you’re interested in holistic healing and herbalism, this book is not it. For herbalism specific to people with uteruses, I’d recommend Aviva Romm.
Sincerely,
A Queer Indigenous Herbalist
Sincerely,
A Queer Indigenous Herbalist
July 2, 2023
Coming from a whole different place than I usually think, but completely new outlook (to me) with a wholistic mindset was refreshing. Thinking that an irritable mood is a reason to be alone is a refreshing insight, giving women permission to take care of themselves without apologies.
Grateful for the learning about holistic solutions. Will read it again.
Grateful for the learning about holistic solutions. Will read it again.
July 4, 2017
This is a quirky book. Outside my box for sure. Repellant and intriguing. Perhaps a couple of worthy take-aways.
August 25, 2019
Good general and practical advice for women over 40.
December 3, 2019
Very informative and compassionate. I love the format.
March 25, 2021
An excellent resource for The Change.
April 21, 2021
This is a well-written treasure trove of natural remedies I will refer to for the rest of my days. I most enjoy the way the author provides several different suggestions for each topic addressed.
July 10, 2021
This feels like a throwback to the 1960s and 1970s hippie movement. It's heavy on all kinds of natural herbs and tinctures. Just remember, there are all kinds of natural things that can kill you.
January 2, 2022
Full of both deep wisdom and immediately usable tips for managing specific symptoms. I read this five times within a period of a few months because it was just so deep and comforting.
January 23, 2022
A favorite for middle-age women - like having a wise grandmother to consult.
September 15, 2023
Excellent, every woman should read this.
January 29, 2024
A- Excellent look at herbalism and healing from the wise woman perspective. Includes recipes, ways to heal. Love this. Think of "Women who Run with the Wolves" for health.
April 15, 2008
A couple months ago, I was having a conversation with my mother. I mentioned some of the health issues I was having. She looked at me, leaned over, and then in a hushed voiced said that she hated to break it to me but I was having pre-menopausal symptoms.
How could this be happening to me? I'm not old. I'm not ready to get facial hair, brittle bones, and happily retire with my cats.
It was then that I remembered Susun and her Wise Woman series of books. I have read several of her books and absolutely adored them. Susun has a way of making sense of disease, as a normal part of our spiritual and psychological growth.
Without a doubt New Menopausal Years has armed me with information and a whole new perspective. My life doesn't have to include hormone injections, crazy mood swings, or adverse signs of aging. I now see this new phase of my life as an opportunity to take better care of myself and focus on the things I want to do with my life.
How could this be happening to me? I'm not old. I'm not ready to get facial hair, brittle bones, and happily retire with my cats.
It was then that I remembered Susun and her Wise Woman series of books. I have read several of her books and absolutely adored them. Susun has a way of making sense of disease, as a normal part of our spiritual and psychological growth.
Without a doubt New Menopausal Years has armed me with information and a whole new perspective. My life doesn't have to include hormone injections, crazy mood swings, or adverse signs of aging. I now see this new phase of my life as an opportunity to take better care of myself and focus on the things I want to do with my life.
October 9, 2009
Shirley recommended this book to me about a year ago. After I got it from the library, I quickly scanned it and found it's layout effective for good reference on how to approach all the different and oh so lovely attributes of peri-menopause. However, I didn't want to put any more ideas into my head/body about other tricks it could be trying out so, I just found Susun's text on thyroids that reinforced what I had already been telling myself and closed the book. That was all I needed to give me strength to carry on. The book went back to the library and I've recommended it to other friends my age when they start to sound like they could benefit from reading about alternative approaches to keeping one's good health.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews