Women's Health Update
by Tori Hudson, ND, Professor
National College of Naturaopthic Medicine
11231 SE Market Street Portland, Oregon 97216 USA
503-255-7355
Publications
in Women's Health: A Sampling of Resources
Textbooks for Practitioners
Novak's Textbook of Gynecology: Howard
Jones, MD, Anne Wentz MD, Connie Burnett, MD, Williams and Wilkins.
This is the classic gynecology textbook that I would expect to see
in any gynecologist's office or any other practitioner who delivers
gynecological health care. You can't beat this as a reference book with
comprehensive chapters on all the typical gynecological disorders. This
text is updated frequently which increases its value as an accurate
practical compendium of information on disease descriptions, diagnosis
and conventional treatments.
Comprehensive Gynecology: Arthur Herbst, MD, Daniel Mishell, MD, Morton
Stenchever, MD, William Drogemueller, MD. Mosby Year Book.
I often prefer this textbook as a comprehensive gynecology reference
book depending on the medical topic. I like the way it is written and
I can often find a more satisfactory answer to my questions than the
other two general gynecology reference books I use.
The Medical Care of Women: Phyllis Carr, MD, Karen Freund, MD, Sujata
Somani, MD. Saunders Company.
This textbook broadens the concept of what is usually included in a
women's health textbook. With chapters on cardiovascular disease, rheumatologic
disorders, irritable bowel, gallbladder disease and depression, this
text offers the advantage of including other disorders that are either
more common in women or that have special implications in women. With
additional chapters on HIV, domestic violence, sexual abuse, lesbian
health care, health care for homeless women, health care for the disabled
patient and care of the mentally retarded patient, this book is progressive
in its scope of what it means to deliver health care to women, as well
as its sensitivity to issues for a broader spectrum of patients. Augment
your gynecology reference library with this one.
Synopsis of Gyn Oncology: Paul Morrow, MD, John Curtin MD, Duane Townsend,
MD, Churchill Livingstone.
An excellent reference book that provides much more in-depth information
than a general gynecology text book on cancers such as cervical, vulvar,
ovarian, endometrial, etc. Includes pathology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic
studies, conventional management.
Breast Diseases: Jay Harris, MD, Samuel Hellman, MD, Craig Henderson,
MD, David Kinne MD. Lippincott.
If you can lift this heavy book, there is no better comprehensive medical
publication on everything you wanted to know about benign and malignant
breast diseases.
Benign Diseases of the Vulva and Vagina: Raymond Daufman, MD, Eduard
Friedrich, Jr., MD, Herman Garder, MD. Year Book Medical Publishers.
When you can't find what you need in the usual gynecology reference
books, this is where you'll find it when it comes to disorders of the
vulva and vagina.
Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility: Leon Speroff, MD,
Robert Glass, MD, Nathan Kase, MD. Williams and Wilkins Publishing.
This is my most favorite of reference books in gynecology because I
can find answers to some of my questions here that I can't find anywhere
else. Although it wrestles with some of the complex endocrinologicaI
issues, it is generally written in a style and format that renders it
manageable and even useable for a 5 minute exit from the exam room for
a quick review.
Comprehensive Management of Menopause: Jacques Lorrain, MD. Springer-Verlag
Publishers.
As our practices include more and more menopausal women, you will find
this book an important one in having a comprehensive understanding of
menopause. It incIudes physiology, diagnosis, epidemiology, medical
aspects of menopause, gynecological aspects of menopause and management
and conventional therapeutic guidelines.
Treatment of Postmenopausal Women: Editor Rogerio Lobo, MD. Raven Press.
This is a well-written, easy-to-use medical textbook that provides
expertise in all topical areas of menopause management. Includes the
obvious chapters like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease but also
includes some lesser understood areas such as sexuality.
Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology: Joseph San Filippo, MD, David Muram,
MD, John Denhurst, FRCOG, Peter Lee, MD. W.B. Saunders Company.
Gynecological problems in children often present differently and require
a different orientation on the part of the practitioner even for simple
things such as vaginitis. This text also gives the practitioner a good
education in the areas of child sex abuse, eating disorders, adolescent
pregnancy and STD's in children.
Menopause
Menopause: Naturally Preparing for the Second Half of Life: Sadja Greenwood,
MD.
This was one of the very first menopause books on the market when the
baby boomers began to deal with menopause issues. Dr. Greenwood was
also one of the early conventional medical physicians to embrace some
natural therapies in her discussion of menopause. I often recommend
this book as a patient's first introduction to menopause and is good
at assisting her in making decisions about what is right for her.
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You: John Lee, MD, Virginia Hopkins.
Warner Books.
This book essentially reveals the scientific as well as not-so-scientific
rationale for the use of progesterone in the treatment of PMS, perimenopause,
menopause, osteoporosis and more. Dr. Lee's commitment to and passionate
position on natural progesterone is evident and provides an important
perspective in women's health care. Many patients come into my office
already having read this book and it has given them a lot of reassurance
about their own instincts and what they themselves have been experiencing
with their own body.
Natural Woman, Natural Menopause: Marcus Laux, ND, and Christine Conrad.
Harper Collins Publishers.
This is the first book that I am aware of that has made a serious effort
in communicating the distinctions between conventional hormone replacement
therapy vs. natural hormone bio-identical plant-derived hormones. Dr.
Laux has taken great care to provide accurate information, references,
and resources that enables both the practitioner and consumer to extend
their scientific inquiry, where to go for products, and practical guidelines.
Dr. Susan Love's Hormone Book: Susan Love, MD, with Karen Lindsey.
Random House.
A breast surgeon, Dr. Love challenges the conventional medical establishment
by questioning the validity of increasing a woman's risk of breast cancer
while offering benefit in other areas. Although she has been criticized
for overstating the breast cancer argument, the book is an important
resource for women making informed decisions about using HRT or not.
The Hormone of Desire: Susan Rako, MD. Harmony Books.
This is the best and maybe only book that discusses the role of testosterone
in menopause. For women who have experienced fatigue, loss of vitality,
loss of libido and a diminishing of their sexual response, this is the
book you've been looking for. All physicians and health care practitioners
should be reading this book also; as a result, many more women would
have solutions to their often undetected and misunderstood symptoms.
Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman Way: Susan Weed. Ash Tree Publishing.
Women of the 14th Moon: Edited by Dena Taylor and Amber Coverdale Sumrall.
Crossing Publishing.
Menopause and Midlife Health: Morris Notelovitz, MD, PhD, Diana Tonnessen.
St. Martin's Press.
The Complete Book of Menopause: Carol Landou, PhD, Michele Cyr, MD,
Anne Moulter, MD. The Berkley Publishing Group.
The Pause: Lonnie Berbach, PhD. Signet Health.
Osteoporosis
Preventing and Reversing: Alan Gaby, MD. Prima Publishing.
Dr. Gaby does our homework for us by steering through the large amount
of scientific data on exercise and diet and nutritional supplementation
that has been amassed. Although he includes estrogen replacement therapy
and its role in osteoporosis, he clearly offers women the rationale
and basis for why a lifestyle and nutritional supplementation approach
is essential therapy and may make hormone replacement unnecessary.
Better Bones, Better Body: Susan Brown, PhD. Keats Publishing.
With a nice discussion on the nature and causes of osteoporosis, Dr.
Brown challenges the wisdom of looking at osteoporosis as merely a matter
of calcium and estrogen. Nutrition, lifestyle habits, and the health
of other glands in our endocrine system draw her attention as well as
rethinking the role of estrogen replacement therapy.
The Osteoporosis Handbook: Sydney Bonnick, MD. Taylor Publishing.
Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer, What You Should Know (but may not be told) About Prevention,
Diagnosis, and Treatment: Steve Austin, ND, and Cathy Hitchcock, MSW.
Prima Publishing.
This is an excellent resource for both practitioner and patient. Dr.
Austin's strength is in sorting out the scientific data and in helping
to determine the pros and cons of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
The patient can then use this to help them make very specific decisions
about primary and adjunct treatment choices. Ms. Hitchcock was diagnosed
with breast cancer and shares her very personal experience in her decision-making
process and in her emotional journey through her healing. As husband
and wife, the authors have taken a very serious and stressful event
in their lives and turned it into something valuable for the 180,000
women who are diagnosed yearly with breast cancer in the US.
My Healing from Breast Cancer: Barbara Joseph, MD. Keats Publishing.
I first became aware of this book at a women's herbal conference where
the author did readings from her book. I was very struck by the clarity
and strength from which she spoke. She especially offers the woman diagnosed
with breast cancer a hope and power and attitudinal perspective that
gives her renewed strength and will at turning her experience into a
healing process.
Estrogen and Breast Cancer: Carol Rinzler. Hunter House Publishers.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer: Jon Jichnovica, MD, PhD
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book: Susan Love, MD. Addison Wesley Publishers.
Premenstrual Syndrome
Self-Help for Premenstrual Syndrome: Michelle Harrison, MD. Random
House.
PMS Self Help Book: Susan Lark, MD. Celestial Arts Publishing.
Headache
Headache Relief for Women: How You Can Manage and Prevent Pain: Alan
Rapoport, MD, Fred Sheftell, MD. Little, Brown and Company.
The different types of headaches are defined with a special emphasis
on migraines and tension-type headaches. The connection between headaches
and pregnancy, menstrual cycles and menopause are discussed as well
as treatment approaches including conventional and alternative.
Eating Disorders/Body Image
Fat is a Feminist Issue: Susie Orbach. The Berkley Publishing Group.
The author explores our societal issues around "fat" and
discusses a feminist perspective on being overweight and more effective
solutions based on this perspective. She also explains the connection
between overeating, compulsive eating, self-image, stressors, and coping
ability.
Surviving an Eating Disorder: Strategies for Family and Friends: Michele
Siegel, PhD, Judith Brisman, PhD, Margot Weinshel, MSW. HarperPerennial
Publishers.
The Eating Disorder Sourcebook: Carolyn Costin, MA, MEd. RGA Publishing
Group.
The Secret Language of Eating Disorders: A Revolutionary New Approach
to Understanding and Curing Anorexia and Bulimia: Peggy Claude-Pierre.
Times Books, Random House.
Exercise
Strong Women Stay Young: Miriam Nelson, PhD, Sarah Wernick. Bantam
Books.
This is a great book for individualizing your workout plan. I can recommend
this book for women who need not only motivation but guidance in exercise
with an emphasis on the value of weight training in preserving muscle
strength, balance and bone health. This book is appropriate for women
of all ages and abilities.
Domestic Violence
The Physician's Guide to Domestic Violence: Patricia Salber, MD, Ellen
Taliaferro, MD.
This book is written for doctors, but its writing style is free of
medical jargon and offers important advice for lay readers and practical
important advice for women who are in danger.
Cookbooks and Nutrition
Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements: Michael Murray, ND. Prima
Publishing.
This is one of my favorite references; it seems to always enable me
to better answer my patients' questions and is a valuable resource for
both the lay reader and the practitioner. An easy reference for indications,
contraindications, toxicity, dosages, bio-available forms and more.
The Nutrition Desk Reference: Robert Garrison Jr., MA, RPh, Elizabeth
Somer, MA, RD. Keats Publishing, Inc.
Another favorite easy-to-use reference book on individual nutrients
and the use of nutritional supplements.
Nutritional Concerns of Women: Editors Ira Wolinsky, PhD, Dorothy Klimis-Tavantzix,
PhD. CRC Press.
Each chapter is written by different experts in nutrition and discusses
the effect of diet for many different illnesses such as osteoporosis,
cardiovascular disease, obesity, eating disorders, cancers, and anemia.
Estrogen The Natural Way: Nina Shandler. Villard Books.
This is the essential cookbook for menopausal women who are seeking
alternatives to conventional HRT. This is basically a book on how to
use phytoestrogens in the diet and includes 250 recipes ranging from
snacks, main courses to dessert and shows how to incorporate soy, flaxseed,
and other ingredients high in phytoestrogens into your diet.
Women's Nutrition for Healthy Living: Susan Calvert Finn, PhD. R.D.
Perigee Publishing.
Alternative Medicine Therapeutics
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Michael Murray, ND, Joe Pizzorno,
ND. Prima Publishing.
This is a problem-oriented treatment approach to 73 different medical
conditions. Treatments include the therapeutic use of diet and exercise,
nutritional supplements and herbal therapies. Most of the therapies
included can be supported by scientific research. This book is a good
reference for both the practitioner and the educated or eager-to-learn
consumer. For those who want more, scientific references are provided.
Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide: Burton Goldberg Group.
Future Medicine Publishing.
Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons. U.S. Government Printing
Office.
Five Steps to Selecting the Best Alternative Medicine: Mary and Michael
Morton. New World Library.
Healing Power of Herbs: Michael Murray, ND. Prima Publishing.
Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health: Don Brown, ND. Prima Publishing.
The Ultimate Consumer's Guide to Diets and Nutrition: James Marti.
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Miracle Cures: Jean Carper. Harper Collins.
The Holistic Herbal: David Hoffmann. Element Books.