Woman's Body, Woman's Wisdom

A few months ago I got my hands on this beautiful book "Woman's Body, Woman's Wisdom" written by the American gynecologist Christiane Northoup.

Definitely the author manages to give a holistic vision on the feminine health, considering the woman in her totality, including diverse ambits of her person and of the context in which she develops.

This book offers complete and detailed information on everything related to women's health, and combines the latest advances in medicine with alternative therapies that involve both the body and the mind. From a holistic perspective that takes into account emotions, personal development and spiritual life, it exposes the patriarchalism of the medical profession and shows the dark side of some widespread beliefs.

Christiane Northrup brings a revolutionary vision of health as a whole from which feelings, intimate convictions and human relationships cannot be separated. In this edition we will find the most current information about each and every one of the health issues that concern women, whatever their age.

This book is an invitation for every woman to feel responsible for her physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

For me it is a book that contains very valuable information about the feminine universe. It is one of those books that are on the bedside for working with women in different spaces.

Here you can see the index of the book:

INDEX Introduction to the revised edition: Telling our truth Introduction to the first edition: Physician, heal thyself The personal is political From women for women Creating health

PART ONE: FROM EXTERNAL CONTROL TO INNER GUIDANCE 1. The patriarchal myth and the addictive system **1.

• Our cultural heritage
• Patriarchy produces addiction
• Fundamental beliefs of the addictive system
• Reclaiming our authority

2. Feminine intelligence and a new healing modality.

• Energy fields and energy systems
• Understanding the "bodymind
• Feminine intelligence: How thoughts are "embodied".
• Beliefs are physical Healing vs. curing

3. Inner guidance.

• Listening to the body and its needs
• Emotional cleansing: Healing from the past
• Dreams: A door to the unconscious
• Intuition and intuitive guidance
• How inner guidance works

4. The feminine energetic system

• The matter-energy continuum
• The energy of the Earth
• The chakras
• The lower feminine centers: From the first chakra to the fourth chakra
• The other chakras

**PART TWO: ANATOMY OF FEMININE WISDOM ** 5. The menstrual cycle

• Our cyclic nature
• Our cultural heritage
• Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Irregular periods
• Excessive thickening of the uterine lining (endometrial hyperplasia, cystic hyperplasia and adenomatous hyperplasia)
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
• Excessively heavy periods (menorrhagia)
• Healing our menstrual history: Preparing our daughters

6. The uterus.

• Our cultural heritage
• Anatomy of energy
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Endometriosis
• Fibrous tumors or myofibromas

7. Ovaries

• Anatomy.
• Ovarian cysts
• Polycystic ovaries
• Ovarian cancer

8. The recovery of eroticism.

• We are sexual beings
• Discovering our true sexuality
• Female sexuality and nature

9. Vulva, vagina, cervix and lower urinary tract.

• Our cultural heritage
• Anatomy
• Human papillomavirus
• Herpes
• Cervicitis
• Cervical dysplasia (abnormal cells detected on Pap smear)
• Cancer of the cervix or cervical cancer
• Vaginal infection (vaginitis)
• Note on sexually transmitted diseases
• Chronic vulvar pain (vulvadynia)
• Interstitial cystitis
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Stress urinary incontinence

10. Breasts

• Our cultural heritage
• Anatomy
• Breast self-examination
• Benign breast symptoms: pain, lumps, cysts and nipple discharge.
• Treatment of benign breast symptoms
• Mammography
• Breast cancer
• Breast plastic surgery
• Breast care

11. Our fertility

• Abortion
• Emergency Contraception: Preventing Abortion
• Conscious conception and contraception
• The transformation of infertility
• Pregnancy losses
• Adoption
• Fertility as a metaphor

12. Pregnancy and childbirth.

• Our cultural heritage: Pregnancy
• Prevention of preterm labor, gravid toxemia and breech presentation.
• The transformative power of pregnancy
• Our Cultural Heritage: Childbirth
• Technology in childbirth
• Maternity care for the mother: A solution whose time has come
• How to reduce the risk of cesarean section
• My personal story
• Turning labor into personal power

13. Motherhood: Bonding with your baby.

• The first caresses
• Postpartum: The fourth trimester
• Circumcision
• Formula vs. Breast Milk
• Parenting in the addictive system: The hardest job in the world

14. Menopause

• Our cultural heritage
• Creating health during menopause
• The function of the adrenal glands: What every woman needs to know
• Types of menopause
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Hormone Basics
• Symptoms of menopause
• Hot flashes
• Dryness, irritation and thinning of the vagina
• Osteoporosis
• Sexuality during menopause
• Hair loss
• Mood swings and depression
• Confused thinking
• Concern about future health
• Alzheimer's disease
• Menopause treatment decision
• Self-care during menopause
• Menopause as a new beginning

PART THREE: OPTIONS FOR HEALING: MAKING A PERSONAL PLAN 15. Steps to healing **15.

• Envisioning the future: Change of consciousness, change of cells
• Step 1: Get clear on one's history
• Step 2: Review beliefs
• Step 3: Respecting and releasing emotions
• Step 4: Learn to listen to the body
• Step 5: Learn to respect the body
• Step 6: Recognizing a Higher Power or Inner Wisdom
• Step 7: Reclaiming the totality of the mind
• Step 8: Seek help
• Step 9: Work with the body
• Step 10: Gather information
• Step 11: Forgive
• Step 12: Actively participate in one's own life

16. Making the most of medical care.

• Choice of physician
• Healing the pelvic exam
• Choice of Treatment: From Surgery to Acupuncture
• Creating health through surgery

17. Nourishing ourselves with food

• Discovering personal dietary truth: Achieving total nutrition.
• Sugar cravings, alcoholism and brain chemistry .
• Other common questions
• A word about tobacco
• Helping the family eat right
• Living in process with nutrition

18. The power of movement

• Our cultural heritage
• Benefits of exercise
• Ways to move your body
• Exercise and addiction
• Exercise, amenorrhea and bone loss
• My exercise story: Making peace
• Getting started

19. Healing ourselves, healing our world

• Our mother, our cells
• Rite of recovery
• Overcoming the fear of our shamanic past
• Our dreams, the dreams of the Earth
• Making the world safe for women: starting with oneself

Appendix: Options in Hormone Replacement Therapy

My idea is that many women can read it and we can spread it among our circles of women, friends and counselors.