Mastering Menopause with Grace & Dignity

A Book Review on Beyond Menopause:  New Pathways to Holistic Health by Carolyn Torkelson, MD and Catherine Marienau, PhD

Last spring, I was hostessing a girls’ weekend with college friends and during one of our saunas I asked the group for ideas on hormone related topics for the weekly blogs I write for my website.  One of my friends suggested an article focusing on health concerns for postmenopausal women.  Lo and behold, this book was just published and fits that request perfectly!

This book is a fantastic resource for any female age 40 or over who is interested in prevention and holistic health; even though the average menopausal age is 51, many women begin to notice hormonal fluctuations in their early to mid-40s.  In the past I have always recommended Dr. Tori Hudson’s Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine which continues to be a treasure trove for any female from puberty through menopause.

Beyond Menopause is divided into 3 sections.  Part I is entitled “Speak Up for Yourself” and focuses on becoming a self-advocate and building a health support network; this portion of the book also addresses the principles of holistic and integrative health.  Part II is entitled “Expand Your Options” and does not need to be read sequentially; this section is truly a reference which you can pick up when you have specific health concerns on your mind.  Topics in this part include:

·        Menopause (includes discussion on hormone replacement therapy and supplements)

·        Sexual health

·        Sleep

·        Anxiety

·        Fatigue

·        Weight

·        Bone health

·        Brain health

Part III is entitled “Harmonize Your Body, Mind, and Spirit”; this section is very brief but valuable and encourages a focus on nurturing:

·        Body-spirit

·        Self-compassion

·        Loss

·        Purpose

Both Minnesota-native authors have written and designed an informative yet concise (188 pages) book primarily for the lay-person although I do think any medical professional would find value in perusing the authors’ collective knowledge.  The book includes many case studies from Dr. Torkelson’s clinical practice and both doctors also disclose some personal insights as well which always seem to make non-fiction books more interesting.

Rachel Oppitz, ND

P.S. This book review was published in the Park Rapids Enterprise December 2022