Menstruation-and-Premenstrual-Syndrome Books

I received this book as a present from my mother. She knew I suffered from PMS severly (and I stress severly). I could not move off the couch for 2 days due to mygrain headaches,lower back pain and cramps. I read the book, started following what it prescribed and with in days I started feeling better, within 2 menstraul cycles I was able to function even on the first day! My acne cleared up and I have lost 10 pounds!!! I love this book and so does my family, considering now I can spend quality time with them. Thank you Linaya Hahn, for saving my life and giving me new meaning to move forward.

This book truly delivers what the title says. The reading is smooth and encouraging. It takes you through in a thoughtful and joyful journey to explore the PMS web of possible causes. Obviously, Ms. Hahn has "been there" as her words really hit home for me. I knew that this wasn't just another research project turned into a book. She truly knows how to explain the issues and uses a wonderful questionaire that allowed me to come to my own conclusions.

This book gave me hope and encouragement AND it WORKED! I recommend it to all my friends. You won't be lost or disappointed with this book! It surely saved me!

My mother in law gave me this book as a present. What a good present! I understand more every time I read it. As I gradually apply the book to my life, my health has definately improved. Although the book has a solid scientific basis, it is clearly written and upbeat. It gave me useful tools and information and encouraged me to more fully take charge of my own health. While many women endure PMS, it is not normal and does not have to be part of your life.

The light chapter directed me to full spectrum light, it is wonderful with so many health benefits that I can feel.

This is the second copy of this book I have bought. I loaned the first copy to a woman who thought she was in perimenopause and never got it back. This book is a practical guide to help women recognize and deal with difficult issues in their life--premenstrual symptoms and "the change." It is a useful read for all women.

If you need a book which suggests practical advice for your bloodtime, this is the one. You won't find long and boring theoritical texts here, but short and pratical tips on how to celebrate your menstruation.

Another book affirming menstruation ~ if you looking for something short and sweet, this is a good fit!

Thank you so much for this wonderful book. I am so glad to have been given a new way to working with the menstrual cycle. I now see it as a tool for helping to live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Every woman could benefit from reading this book. I only wish that I would have had this information when I was younger.

A wonderful gift to myself...an honoring of me as a woman...a support for my fifteen year old daughter becoming a woman. The recipes, cycle celebrations and concepts are easy and fun!

I absolutely love this book! I started researching different books to share with my daughter for her menarche and this book is by far the tops. It will definitely be a part of the Red Moon Box that I am creating for her in celebration of her menarche. It is a great gift to give a young girl, but it also celebrates every woman's cycle throughout her entire reproductive years. Any woman, and every woman could find something in here to celebrate their female essence and being.

One thing I really loved (and NEVER would have thought of on my own) was finding a 2 fisted size rock that can be heated by the sun (or in Winter, hot water) to place on the abdomen during menstruation. The heat stays longer than with a hot water bottle, and the weight of the rock is also soothing. I am painting important signs and symbols on mine to add to the sacred experience.

The book is separated into 3 different phases of a woman's moontime. First is "Preparation," where you take time beforehand to gather the foods, personal and sacred space, emotional clearing, and tools, to support your own moontime. Second is the "Giving To Yourself," where it offers ideas to nurture you during your bleeding phase. I particularly liked the idea of making a beaded belt that I could wear to remind myself of this sacred time, that connects me to all my female ancestors that have went on before me. I also liked the suggestion to sit in my sacred space and think about what has taken place since my last moontime. As women, it is easy to forget ourselves when we are nurturing others. This time is a signal for me, to reflect on the month before, and make important changes for myself. This section offers many ideas to support one's self in body, mind and spirit, and to honor the intuition within that is heightened at this time. The next section is "Emergence," and it is a part I have sometimes forgotten to honor. I, like many women, I am sure, hit the ground running again (if I ever remembered to stop in the first place). This section offers suggestions to slow down and reflect before returning to the "doing" of the rest of the cycle. My favorite thing in this section is the part to ask myself, "What pearl of wisdom am I re-emerging with?" Or, "What is my image of what is sacred, valuable, reverent and holy about being a woman?" The last section shares recipes for teas,herbal baths,footbaths,foot scrubs,tinctures,body oils, body powders,dream pillows, and foods.

This book is a life affirming, celebration of women and our ability to tap into our own feminine essence and power. As women we are connected throughout time, since the first women, and we will be ancestors for the ones that follow. Choose this book if you are finding a call within yourself to reclaim the wisdom and positive expression of your nature. Moms, share this with your daughters. In sisterhood.....

Not very impressed with the information this book provided me with.

Was expecting more on diet and supplements, but found there was a huge emphasis on exercise and specifically meditation and yoga. Lots of techniques and explanation as to how to meditate and use breathing exercises to relieve stress. The feeling from the authors is that stress is a key contributor to PMS symptoms, which I'm not sure is the case. I'm unclear as to whether stress aggrevates the symptoms or whether your experiencing these symptoms makes it less likely that you can deal with stress as you normally would. I haven't been practicing the techniques so I don't know if they are helpful although I do exercise 3-4 times a week and although it does help while I'm exercising, it does not help later when I'm not and I experience stess.

So, if you feel that you can fit the exercise component into your life this is a good book, otherwise, look elsewhere.

PMS is a real problem for many women, and here's a real solution. The authors present a program with a mind-body approach, including what to eat, how to exercise, what pills to take, and how to think about it all. This is the first program to treat PMS that I have seen that looks like it will really work.

I can't believe it...my wish came true! I've been looking for a book like this FOREVER! A practical and easy to follow PMS bible, that works! It has helped me take control and balanced my lifestyle giving me a zest to go on! There are enough recommendations to have a clear idea of what to do and enough flexibility that allowed me to tailor it to my lifestyle.

While there's some good advice in this book, i was a little disappointed. Dalton clearly knows her subject, but in spite of her interesting chapter on the fight to get PMS recognized as a physical, not a psychological, problem, her book treats PMS mostly from a psychological and sociological point of view. Many many pages cover relationships, impact of PMS on the family and workplace, studies of girls' school examination performance at different times of their cycles, etc. etc.

Meanwhile, real medical advice is somewhat scanty. There's a good chapter about menopause, but its relevance is marginal. Exercise is barely mentioned, and the advice about insomnia (lie peacefully and "think happy thoughts"?! That's IT?!) set my teeth on edge.

Strengths of this book: the dietary advice, for maintaining an even blood sugar level, is rather good. Niels Lauersen, in his unfortunately out-of-print "PMS" book, took a different approach, that of combining carbohydrates with protein, but Dalton's "Three-Hourly Starch Diet" might be excellent for some women's metabolisms. And the symptom section covers headaches quite well.

In other words, it depends on what you're looking for. If you are interested in researching the topic of PMS, Dalton is undeniably "the foremost authority on PMS," and the book would rate 5 stars. On a practical level, i can't give it more than 3.

This is a very very important book for anyone who suffers or lives with someone who suffers from severe PMS. It saved my life. I have read the other books on the topic, (Lark etc...) written more recently and many of them offer sound advice. However, Dr. Dalton pioneered this area, and those works are informed by her research. In some ways she remains ahead of her time. She gives a thorough description of her research and her experience successfully treating this disease. After reading this you will find that you know more about this disease than some mainstream doctors who you would seek assistance from. Take Heart! Do not give up. Do not get discouraged by a doctor's rudeness, mysogyny or ignorance. I know how upsetting it can be. It's okay. Just find another doctor... keep trying. Look for someone with a "wholistic" attitude who is either more informed or open to being informed. Dr. Dalton stresses the importance of natural progesterone. This is widely misunderstood in mainstream medicine. They will tell you that, "studies show progesterone does not work." One such recently publicized study involved taking progesterone ORALLY. This is something Dr. Dalton explains is ineffective. And despite those studies, I finally found that taking progesterone... the right kind, an adequate dose, and in the right form has transformed my life. I had already tried special vitamins, exercise, wild yam cream, zoloft, and other natural progesterone creams to no avail. This transformation began after I read Dalton's book went to a wholistic M.D. who would LISTEN to me, and who knew a pharmacist who could formulate a cream with adequate levels. She than told me what brand to use when I was unable to see that pharmacist (not located in the town I live) So I began using Emerita Pro-Gest cream, and both really really helped. You have to be vigilant about using it every morning and every night, except a few days out of your cycle. I have experience a little spotting which I never experience without the cream. This is one of the creams side effects, and something I have decided I can live with. Diet, exercise, light therapy, supplements, or antidepressants can all be helpful but will not necessarily do the trick for you. Also, Dr. Northrup's book Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom is very helpful. She is an american M.D. who also discusses the protocol for treating PMS w/ natural progesterone. If you suffer from the low-blood sugar, Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde... severe depression/disabling type of PMS... PLEASE do yourself a favor and get your hands on these two books any way you can! Also, try to find a medical doctor who will listen to you and who is educated. If nothing else educate yourself. Good Luck, and don't give up hope! This book should be your starting point.

If you are curious if your period is "normal" and want a basic, informative guide to run symptoms and irregularities by-and advice on when to see a doctor-you'll really like this book. The writers are compassionate and have a quirky, enjoyable Australian sense of humor. It's a bit corny to us who live stateside, but endearing nonetheless.

Try to imagine the Crocodile Hunter explaining your period to you, and you'll get a good idea of how these girls sound. But more importantly they know what they're talking about. I've read a lot about women's health and they know their stuff. Plus, I learned some things, too. Overall it was just very reassuring. I think women have to get to know their bodies and what to expect and when to seek help.

I know I was comforted to know that there's no such thing as a "normal" period. I liked how they pointed out that no woman is like that textbook girl who gets her period every 28 days on the clock and has a flow that lasts 3-5 days. I think we all sort of expect that, but most women do NOT follow that pattern, so it's actually abnormal. I also appreciated their in-depth discussion of PMS symptoms and the best ways to deal with them, plus advice on vitamin suppliments to help you and so on.

A definite recommend.