In Western Medicine, drugs are created to treat symptoms as opposed to the root cause of the condition. If you only suppress your symptoms, instead of also addressing the cause, your body will often protest by developing so-called “side effects” to medication—or even by developing another dis-ease. This is how our bodies talk to us. But, there is nothing “side” about side effects—they are the direct result of the drugs.
Many of the most popular drugs being prescribed for millions have significant side effects that just don’t outweigh the risks. There are four drugs, which are frequently prescribed to women, that fall into this category—and which I personally would not take.
Statins for Heart Health
Statin drugs are prescribed to lower cholesterol. And the myth is that lowering cholesterol is the key to preventing heart disease. But the latest research has shown that things are far more complex than that. The truth is studies show that statins deplete the body’s CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10)—a vital nutrient for producing energy in the cells. Of all the organs, the heart requires the most energy and CoQ10 to function properly. So why take a medication for heart health that depletes a vital nutrient shown to support the heart—as well as every cell in your body?
Importance of CoQ10
Low levels of CoQ10 have also been linked to depression and dementia, as well as muscle weakness, fatigue, pain, and nerve damage—all of which are also known side effects of statins. And because your body makes less CoQ10 as you age, taking any medication that lowers CoQ10 is not advisable. Further, fat—and fat in the form of cholesterol—has been vilified as the enemy of a healthy heart. Actually, sugar is the real culprit, not fat, because sugar causes inflammation. And this inflammation taxes the cardiovascular system and the entire body.
How to Protect Your Heart
If you want to protect your heart, start by reducing inflammation. This means a healthy diet and supplements that are high in antioxidants. Taking vitamin E has been shown to keep blood platelets slippery (so fewer blood clots) and reduce inflammation.
Heart health also has an emotional component. If you want to truly heal your heart—or protect it at midlife—you need courage to look closely at any source of emotional pain, and then heal this brokenness with compassion, faith in the Divine, and emotional release. You were meant to have an open heart—to give and receive love and to live joyfully.
Bisphosphonate Drugs for Bone Loss
Your body is constantly renewing itself. Older or damaged cells are eliminated by the body so that newer, healthier cells can take their place. Your bones go through this cycle, too. If you have decreased bone mass, that means that your body is breaking down bone faster than it is creating new bone.
Treating Lower Bone Density with Bisphosphonates
The most popular treatment for lower bone density is a bisphosphonate, such as Actonel, Boniva, or Fosomax. These medications prevent bone breakdown and therefore bone loss. Although this sounds like a good idea, these drugs interfere with the natural cycle of breakdown and restoration. The result is older, porous, brittle bone—and brittle bone means an increased likelihood of fractures.
Side Effects of Bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates have significant side effects, too, including back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and constipation. And some women have suffered osteonecrosis of the jaw—death of bone tissue—a condition that is not treatable. We’re also seeing atypical fractures of the femur that don’t heal! All because of dense bone that doesn’t remodel and allow in a good blood supply. Many dentists are also seeing an increasing need for root canal surgery because of these drugs.
About 50 percent of women prescribed a biphosphonate will stop treatment because of these side effects.
Even with these side effects, bisphosphonates may offer some benefit for women over 70 who already have osteoporosis. But I want you to protect your bones much earlier than that! And that means promoting bone health naturally.
Promote Bone Health Naturally
Be sure to get plenty of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Studies suggest that to keep your vitamin D levels in the optimal range requires 5,000 IU/day!
I also suggest eating an alkaline diet, getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise, and considering bioidentical hormones or plant hormones (phytoestrogens) that have estrogenic effects.
Premarin, Prempro, and All Other Synthetic Hormones
I’ve been talking about bioidentical hormones for nearly three decades. And it still surprises me when women — and doctors — don’t know the difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic ones.
Bioidentical hormones are created to be an exact match in molecular structure to a woman’s body. That is what makes them “bioidentical.”
In contrast, non-bioidentical (synthetic) estrogen, such as the estrogen in Premarin, is bioidentical only if your native food is hay. That’s because it is made from the urine of pregnant horses. Hence the name Pre (pregnant) Mar (mares) in (urine).
Progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone that is derived from bioidentical progesterone. The reason for this is that you can’t patent a bioidentical hormone that naturally occurs in nature. And so—to make progesterone marketable—it was changed into a compound not native to the female human body.
For about two decades, Premarin (just estrogen) and Prempro (Premarin plus Provera, a synthetic form of progesterone) were the gold standards for many doctors. And the one-pill-fits-all-women approach was the only option women were given. Then, in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative Studies showed that women who supplemented with synthetic estrogen or progestin had more incidences of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots than those who were given a placebo.
The best approach for hormone therapy is one that is unique to you. Women can have their levels of estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, and other hormones tested. Or simply pay attention to how you feel — which I find is a far more accurate way to assess hormone balance than testing your levels. The results (and how you feel) allow you and your doctor to customize a treatment plan that is right for you.
Start with the lowest dose possible and see how you do.
Better yet, change your diet to a low-sugar, organic food approach. Add a natural herbal remedy such as Pueraria mirifica, maca, black cohosh, ground golden flaxseed, or chasteberry. And if that doesn’t work, then try the bioidenticals.
Remember that hormone therapy can take a few trials and errors. It’s a work in progress — just like you are at menopause.
You aren’t destined to wind up on various preventative medications. My mom is in her 90s and she isn’t on any medication! Neither is my doctor friend Gladys who likes to say “93 and prescription free.” Before you take any medications regularly, make sure you are informed about all the risks and benefits. Does the drug cause nutritional deficiencies? Are you increasing your risk of cancer or heart disease? If so, seek out some alternatives that won’t put your health at risk.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
It is estimated that over 15 million Americans use proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, to treat heartburn, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or peptic ulcers. PPIs, including Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium, are often prescribed as the first line of treatment because they reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces.
PPIs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world – and some of the most dangerous because most people have no idea how many vital roles stomach acid plays in our bodies. And the Catch-22 of these drugs is that when you stop taking them, the amount of acid your stomach releases surges, causing your symptoms to worsen.
Here’s why I won’t take PPIs:
- Increases Your Risk of Bacterial Overgrowth. Your stomach acid is what keeps harmful bacteria, such as H Pylori and many others, in check.
- Impairs Your Ability to Absorb Nutrients. You need stomach acid to absorb nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin B12, from food.
- Causes Magnesium Deficiency. With a calcium imbalance, some people experience magnesium deficiency along with leg cramps and muscle weakness.
- Puts You at Risk for Osteoporosis. Some studies show that long-term PPI use can put you at risk for osteoporosis.
- Weakens Your Immune System. Your bowel wall contains nearly two-thirds of your body’s immune defenses. You need a healthy bowel with enough acid to keep harmful microorganism and toxins from reaching other organs in your body. If you constantly take PPIs, you are changing the ecology of your gut. This can ultimately affect your immunity, putting you at risk for diseases such as cancer and dementia.
My 5 Tips for Eliminating Heartburn, GERD and Other Acid-related Problems
Making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, and eliminating food triggers, can go a long way towards healing acid-related problems.
Here are my 5 tips:
- Try an Elimination Diet Food triggers – such as gluten, corn, soy, and others –may be the cause of your discomfort. Try eliminating suspected food triggers, as well as alcohol and caffeine, for 30 days. Be sure to eliminate all forms of sugar! Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and high-quality protein sources. Also, be sure to stay optimally hydrated. Add foods back one at a time to determine if a suspected food is the cause of your problem.
- Take a Hydrochloric Acid Supplement Most acid-related symptoms are caused by too little acid, not too much. Try adding a hydrochloric acid (HCL) supplement. You can get these in health food stores. You can also try digestive enzymes. Look for a ph-balanced full spectrum formula such as Wobenzym. Finally, try adding a good-quality sea salt.
- Add a Probiotic Probiotics can help restore your gut if you have been taking PPIs. Once your gut is restored, it will be able to destroy harmful bacteria, such as H Pylori.
- Get Off the Antacids I also do not recommend long term use of antacids such as TUMS, Mylanta or Pepto–Bismol or H2 receptor blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid, and Tagamet! If you need to take one, make sure it does not contain aluminum as these can cause constipation, and may reduce phosphate levels, which can result in fatigue and loss of appetite (not to mention that aluminum consumption may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.) Some antacids contain magnesium hydroxide, which can cause diarrhea. Antacids made from calcium carbonate (like Tums) can cause acid rebound over time and may also contribute to kidney problems.
- Listen to Your Gut Your gut health and your emotions are so closely linked. Listen and learn what your gut is trying to tell you. Butterflies or nausea are often your inner wisdom speaking to you. Keep a journal of your symptoms to help you determine what factors may be associated with your symptoms. And remember, while no drug is 100 percent safe, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take one if you need it. But you should continually weigh the risks and benefits.
What Your Need to Know About “Safe Drugs”—The Numbers!
Each drug that you are prescribed or can purchase over-the-counter goes through randomized controlled trials to determine its benefits. The measurement used to determine treatment benefits is called the number needed to treat, or NNT.
Number Needed to Treat (NNT)
The number needed to treat refers to the number of patients who need to be treated in order to prevent one bad outcome, such as heart attack or stroke. So, if a drug has an NNT of 10, it means you have to treat 10 people with the drug to prevent one person from having a bad outcome. The ideal NNT is 1. This means that every patient who is treated will benefit. But, this is hardly ever the case with drugs. In fact, the NNT for many drugs is often very high.
Number Needed to Harm (NNH)
Another number you need to know is the NNH—or number needed to harm.This indicates how many patients need to be exposed to a risk factor for it to cause harm to one patient who would not otherwise have been harmed. The lower the NNH, the worse the risk factor.
Studies reported by TheNNT.com on statins given over a five-year period to people with no known heart disease is a good example of why you need to be aware of the NNT and NNH for any drug. Over 5 years, the NNT for statins showed that no patients had their lives saved. In addition, only one patient in 104 had a heart attack prevented, and only 1 in 154 had a stroke prevented. However, these same studies showed that 1 in 100 were harmed because they developed diabetes as a direct result of stains, and 1 in 10 developed muscle damage as a direct result!
The report on statins also summarizes that the risk of harm may still be underestimated and that diet and lifestyle interventions are substantially more powerful than medication in protecting your heart and preventing heart attacks and stokes—something I have been saying for decades!
You can also look to NNT for some popular non-drug therapies. For example, theNNT.com reports that 95% patients with infectious diarrhea who were given probiotics had the duration of their diarrhea decreased by 25 hours where the duration of the control group was between 2-7 days.Probiotics also decreased the proportion of patients with diarrhea lasting longer than 4 days from 45% to 19%. This means there is an NNT of 4. Finally, there were no adverse effects reported. So, a NNH of 0!
For more information on NNT, you can go to the NNT.com therapy review page and look up therapy reviews by specialty. Use this to help you determine whether a drug is right for you.
One More Drug I Won’t Take — Vyleesi
Vyleesi is an injectable drug that was recently approved by the FDA to treat premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), or low sexual desire, that “causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.” The label states that Vyleesi is not for low libido caused by a co-existing medical or psychiatric condition, problems with your relationship, or the effects of a medication or drug substance. It is targeted toward women who previously had no problems with sexual desire.
I can tell you that this is one drug that I would never take! For one thing, it is not likely to be effective because a healthy libido is directly related to your life! Your sexual desire doesn’t just disappear when everything else in your life is working. However, the common “side effects” of Vyleesi, which include nausea, flushing, injection site reactions (redness, bruising, itching, bleeding, and numbness), headache, and vomiting, certainly are enough to kill your libido!
There are many natural ways to keep your libido high for your entire life. In addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle, you need to find ways to increase your body’s levels of nitric oxide. And, if you feel you have hormone-related low libido, then, by all means, see your doctor and get your hormones checked.
And it’s very important to give yourself permission to explore your sexual energy on your own terms. Make time to connect with your partner and work together to rekindle your passion. Finally, be sure you are telling the truth about your sexuality. Remember, all humans are sexual by nature. How you choose to express your sexuality depends on many factors. A pill should be your last resort.
One Safe Drug I Would Take
While I believe in the body’s ability to heal itself in most instances, there are times when you absolutely need medication to treat bothersome symptoms or to decrease the chance of an illness progressing. When this is the case, I recommend choosing the safest medications with the fewest number of side effects whenever possible.
One medication that I would take if I needed it is hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Until recently this medication has been prescribed for prevention and treatment of many conditions because there are decades of data that prove its safety and efficacy. For example, HCQ has long been taken to prevent malaria. In fact, in most of the world it is sold over the counter. In the U.S. HCQ (Plaquenil) is most often prescribed by rheumatologists to treat symptoms and stop progression of conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Patients often take HCQ safely for years.
However, in March 2020, the AMA called for a ban on the off-label use of HCQ to treat COVID-19, and much of the data behind HCQ was removed from search engine results making it difficult to find online. This should never have happened. Finally, in November 2020—after The Lancet and The New England Journal were forced to retract falsified studies regarding HCQ safety—the AMA rescinded its position on the ban.
The truth is HCQ is considered one of the safest medications in the world. It is safe for adults and children, and it is even safe for pregnant and nursing women. It has been FDA-approved for 65 years. Millions of people have taken HCQ. Of course, as with any medication, proper dosage is key. At a normal dosage of 200-400 mg per day, side effects such as nausea are minimal, and serious side effects are extremely rare. In addition, drug interactions with HCQ are also rare. I would not hesitate to use this drug for the right reasons if necessary.
New EUA Drugs Molnupiravir and Paxlovid
Molnupiravir (Merck) and Paxlovid (Pfizer) are new antiviral pills being recommended for people who test positive for COVID-19 and are high risk for severe disease. Both pills are being marketed as treatments that can stop SARS-CoV-2 from replicating in your body if taken within 5 days of experiencing symptoms. They are Emergency Use Authorized (not FDA approved). President Biden’s “test-to-treat” initiative would allow you to take a COVID test and immediately get these drugs directly from a pharmacist at places like CVS, Kroger, and Walgreens without consulting your doctor or getting a prescription. This sets dangerous precedent when patients are encouraged to circumvent their doctors and pharmacists are given authority to prescribe. Remember when pharmacists could refuse to fill prescriptions for safe and effective treatments such as ivermectin early in the pandemic?
So, here’s a little information about these two drugs and why I would not take them:
Molnupiravir works by incorporating itself into the virus RNA and then disrupting (or mutating) the virus RNA to disable it. There is no long-term data on this drug. Reports state that molnupiravir is only 30% effective in reducing hospitalization. It cannot be given to children under 18 because it can affect bone and cartilage growth. Molnupiravir is being compared to Tamiflu (which I also would not take!), but it works in a completely different way. Tamiflu stops the influenza virus before it enters your cells. It can be given after exposure to prevent infection. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Molnupiravir is not PEP tested. Many doctors have been reluctant to prescribe it as a first-line treatment. And I agree!
Paxlovid is a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets that need to be taken together. Both are protease inhibitors (antiviral drugs). Niramatrelvir is a modification of another earlier protease inhibitor, lufetrelvir. Ritonavir (Norvir) is an antiviral drug used to treat HIV/AIDS. There is a long list of drug interactions for Paxlovid. If you take this drug, you may need to change, reduce, or discontinue other medications you are taking. There are also many other contraindications, side effects, and warnings with Paxlovid including risk of jaundice, hepatitis, and HIV-1 drug resistance. It is not suitable for people with kidney disease.
It’s important to remember there is limited to no real study data on either of these drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, and there are proven therapeutics that have been around for a very long time that are very safe and effective, such as ivermectin, vitamin D, zinc, and quercetin. I would stick with these. If you consider taking one of the new EUA drugs, I would certainly recommend that you consult with your doctor first.
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Strong Bones Today and Tomorrow
Hi,
I have side effects to FQ antibiotics which lasted 8 years so far, so I would consider myself in a risk group for severe Covid symptoms.
Sadly three days ago I tested positive.
Can you please give me your opinion and help me out?
Is it too late to take Ivermectin after 3 days?
Should I even take it (so far I feel weak, sore throat, faster heartbeat, tired, and slight discharge from throat and nose)?
I have taken Vit D, Zinc, Magnesium, Quercetin & Vit C so far.
I also gargled with Octenisept, but I read that Peroxide could be used as well for nasal and mouth washes?
Would you agree? How diluted would it have to be for Nasal washes?
Should I fast while having Covid or eat normally?
Low carb? Anything to avoid?
Thank you!
what is your newest and latest book you have printed with up to date information? I want it ! I’ve always loved your insight and will always.
Great info, much appreciated.
Trouble for me is to get my MD to be willing to test my hormones. I am pretty sure she has written me off as a hypochondriac. I have a list of weird symptoms which align with the Small Fiber Neuropathy I was diagnosed with. The skin test did not show substantial diminishment of fibers but instead abnormal appearance of the fibers. Then I have also been diagnosed with moderate stenosis in the neck. Both of these could, and most likely, are connected to my symptoms. However I am pretty sure my hormones are off because I feel a cortisol dump each and every morning.
I would like to get my hormones checked but I find the Doctors (my PCP and specialists) in Central Florida dismiss my concerns because basic blood work comes back fine, I am not overweight, and my age is 42. How do we find medical doctors like you that will listen?
I wish there was a directory of like minded doctors who do more than prescribe the most common “safe drugs”.
Dr. Northrup,
Have you ever considered donating your library to a Home School network?
Home Schooling has exploded since I was home schooled by my father 40+ years ago. Our youth need all the roper resources they can get. I imagine yours is a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom.
This is article is very much appreciated. Thank you for sharing this information. I could not agree with you more!
You are a truth warrior! I have been following you for at least 25 years. I consider your books a woman’s bible and reference them often. I swallowed the redpill just over 4 years ago and knowing you are right there with us is confirmation of being on the right side of history. I tell everyone who seeks the truth…follow those who are being censored. With my deepest gratitude and respect, Kathleen
Doctor Christiane,
Request to know what was again the alternative for Hydroxychloroquine or HCQ?
Grapefruit’s what?
And lemons”s what?
then simmer in a water 3 inches above these ingredients.
Then the 2 tablespoons of it per day was the same dosage of HCQ per day.
Thank you very much.
3 lemon skins, 3 grapefruit skins cover with 3 inches of good water (filtered) simmer with a lid on for 3 hours , don’t take the lid off during this process. Once 3 hours is up leave the lid on and allow it to cool down. strain the peel from the liquid and decant into a couple of bottles and refrigerate . Take one tablespoon twice daily. You can freeze half the mixture too
Hi there,
Just concerned that fruit is largely sprayed with all manner of chemicals and the soils fruit are grown in commercially would be FULL of artifical fertilisers etc. etc. etc. Unless you know where your food comes from and exactly how it’s grown and treated, I’d be hesitant to boil the skins of anything and then drink it.
Buy organic pesticide free
What is your opinion on ivermectin for treatment of covid as well as its use as a prevention of getting covid?
Take ivermectin for treatment of Covid 19 .. if you have a trusted Chiropractoc dr in your stream they may be able to give to dosage instructions. Do not take as a prevention – only utilize if experiencing covid symptoms along with taking at early stages is importance too!
Shocked Dr. N didn’t include beta blockers in the drugs she wouldn’t take category.
I would also really appreciate it if Dr Northrop would give us her opinion of using Beta Blockers. My pcp has prescribed it for me! My intuition tells me not to take it! I had an Echocardiogram with normal results. Also a Holter monitor worn 48 hours. While wearing the Holter monitor I accidentally stepped on a fire ant hill! By the time I realized it my shoe was covered with fire ants! I ended up with 14 bites on my left foot! Needless to say my heart rate went up to over 135! I received a basic report for results of the Holter monitor that stated my heart rate showed between 64-135bpm. No mention of Afib detected or how many times my heart rate fluctuated.
Hello
I’ve been using Intrarosa consistently for a few months. I’ve gained at least 10 lbs, on a small frame. I’ve eliminated 2 prescription meds and the weight gain continues. Could it be the Intrarosa? It IS a hormone steroid, and a few people on some forums have mentioned weight gain. And I’ve scoured the internet to see how long it takes for prasterone to leave your system. I think I may take months for my body to get back to normal. Thoughts?
Thank you
Susan
Thank you for the tips .
Very much respect your shares & refreshing perspective Dr.Northrup, have 1 of your books as well.
Sharing my own experience – I went thru a hellish 10yrs of Perimenopause starting age 37, was not properly diagnosed & tried all kinds of expensive natural treatments & healing modalities to no avail. Felt severely anxious, puffy, exhausted, angry, depressed & even suicidal at times – I hit rock bottom.
Hormonal Imbalance is quite complex, as we all know – I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism, undiagnosed estrogen dominance & chronic anemia / low iron which was finally diagnosed thru bloodwork. Left me in quite a mess, with autoimmune disease (chronic fatigue) etc as things kept getting worse.
Nothing I tried helped me & I spent a ton of time & money trying to heal. Finally a wonderful caring attentive OB GYN prescribed Visanne 2mg (synthetic Progesterone/Progestin) daily – it’s been 5mo & I am 100% better, my husband fully agrees (we both went thru Hell these past 10yrs due to my severe hormonal imbalance).
Visanne stopped my periods after 1-2mo (I had spotting for the 1st cpl months) & other than some minor skin issues – I have not noticed any of the documented side effects. I am 48 now.
Not sure how long I will stay on it, will be reassessing with my OB/GYN soon, at 6mo.
All I can say is, when nothing else works & you have suffered much too long, there can be a role for medication. I tried my darndest to avoid it, but grateful for the option.
I looked into Bio-identical Progesterone but was too difficult in Canada to get it + it’s not strong enough to address my severe, longstanding imbalance.
We are all SO different, I have learned the hard way that what works for others so well, rarely works for me. DO YOUR OWN Research & Deep Dive, you’re worth it!
I found this UBC study fyi:
https://news.ubc.ca/2014/01/15/using-progesterone-for-hot-flashes-shown-safe-for-womens-cardiovascular-health/
I am 70 total hysterectomy 13 years ago. Which product do I take?
What is your opinion of Prolia, a drug that is injected daily and builds new bone. I was told by the doctor that it is the drug with the least amount of side effects and is a parathyroid hormone.
Be careful. They wanted to give me Prolia for osteoporosis in the fall of 2020. From the Prolia documentation, the absolute risk reduction of new spinal fractures is very small, around 5%. They don’t even mention other types of fractures. They play with the numbers and boast of the relative risk reduction of high 60%, maybe 68%, for new spinal fractures. In my humble opinion, I care about the absolute risk reduction of 5% not the statistical number. That is only for new spinal fractures. There are a myriad of potential side effects including UTIs, and since the medication is suppose to last for 6 months… I wouldn’t want to be dealing with UTIs or other potential side effects for six months for a mere 5% absolute risk reduction of new spinal fractures. I had a rare bad reaction to Cipro with potentially permanent side effects causing disability after another antibiotic Macrobid for 10 days didn’t kick the UTI. Cipro can save lives. Unfortunately it devastated my life. I was also told if I were to stop Prolia, like $1000+ per injection, if I lost insurance, that after stopping Prolia, I would be guaranteed to have rapid bone loss unless I took something else, like some injection that would last one year and that would definitely make me sick for a week. Be careful. Do your own research, weigh the pros and cons for yourself. The osteoporosis clinic specialist had nothing else to recommend. She said other osteoporosis meds could have even more side effects than Prolia… It simply seems insane to me. Some medications save lives, and many medications injure people, who often trust their practitioner. Good luck.
Thank you Dr. Northrup! I am on your team and have been for many years. Your intelligent, but simple presentation of the important facts about medication, aging, making good choices for your own self, soul wellness and so much more inspire me and reassure me that my approach to my own wellness is on target. Please keep preaching!!! With gratitude and admiration! Victoria
Any thoughts on biologics, like Humira?
I hear what use are saying about statins and CoQ 10. But what if you told you have a very high level of calcium in your arteries. What can you take to clear them Keep them from getting worse
Look into K2 to go along with magnesium and D3. And getting from diet is best if possible. There is is supporting research on K2 for osteoporosis and healthy arteries in post menopausal women. Some women love the product bone up for osteoporosis.
Thank you for this information! I recently went off PPI’s. and changed my eating habits to eating smaller meals, staying away from my triggers, incorporating colourful veggies, and my skin is clear, and my clothes fit nicely! Thank you Dr. Northrup!
I am 74 years old. After four months I’m still in therapy treating extreme tendonitis in both Achilles. This occurred after TWO doses of ciprofloxin!
I am so sorry to hear this Maureen. May you heal and recover fully and completely from the extreme tendonitis in both your Achilles!
Sometimes topical T-Relief Arnica +14 Extra Strength cream helps my Achilles. I am currently taking the homeopathic tablets as I have more pain throughout my body. I can’t tell for sure, but I think they may be helping.
It’s been almost 3 years since I had rare reaction to Cipro, heading towards FDA black box warning of spontaneous achilles tendon rupture, after 5 doses, 2.5 days for a UTI that didn’t clear with 10 days of Macrobid and 4-5 days in between… I continue to have achilles and other nerve and other issues. The FDA has detailed documentation on Cipro. Some of the potential side effects of Cipro can be permanent. I was fortunate that my achilles tendons did not rupture. I was in my late 50s.
For me it started mild and continued up the back of my legs. Even after stopping the Cipro, I had burning pain go up into my entire back and neck and wrist… and I continue to have recurrences and issues.
It was sometime before 2019 that the FDA put a black box warning for Cipro of potential spontaneous achilles tendon issues.
I had taken Cipro in the 90s for sinus infection. In the late 90s, I had achilles tendon issues. A highly regarded orthopedic surgeon sports medicine doctor told me to be careful with my achilles, not to push it. Over time, over a year, my achilles were better and I did daily stretches… Until things went ballistic in 2019 with Cipro.
And by the way, the medical office in May 2019 told me to continue taking the Cipro despite my symptoms. I stopped it as the pain was too bad. I talked with a pharmacist and she said it was very rare, but sounded like exactly what I was experiencing and to stop taking Cipro immediately even though the medical office said to continue it. She said doctors do that. I was fortunate that I did not have my achilles tendons rupture.
Everything has side effects. Breathing, eating, drinking, medications, nutritional and herbal supplements. The best we can do is to be informed and make wise decisions to the best of our ability.
An acquaintance told me that Cipro saved her husband’s life…
There are pros and cons.
I discovered others who had been injured by Cipro on some site, maybe floxiehope. Not just achilles, but other issues as well.
I am so sorry about your experience! May you heal and recover fully and completely!
I have familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. I eat a whole food plant based diet and very little sugar. I drink Hawthorne Tea and take Red Yeast Rice supplements and my cholesterol is still at 288. Any advice? Thanks, Carol.
Thank you Dr. Northrup for all the great information and being a pioneer in health and wellness. Thank you for telling us the truth and guiding us to health.
Any new research on dry mouth and burning mouth syndromes? Or Sgogrens?
I would love to do without vagifem low dose twice a week pessaries, but I have severe atrophic vaginitis which is really distressing. Many uti symptoms pain , extreme discomfort. Just to name a few. I just hope it’s safe. Because I really need it.
I took hormones for a year for vaginitis. Then developed lichen sclerosus (partly from the hormones?) I threw the hormones out and use coconut oil several times a day. It has worked, no more hormones. Try it, it cannot hurt.
PLease try the Pueraria mirifica vaginal moisturizer that I developed precisely for this problem. It’s non prescription and very effective. http://www.amatalife.com
Wise advice for Dr Northrup here, so many people are ‘groomed’ into believing the myth that medication has all the answers to our aches and pains. There is little or no attention given to the deeper root of our physical manifestation of illness. How I long for a day when the real truth of deliberate creation is taught from nursery school upwards. How different the world and our physical bodies can be when society truly embraces this truth.
I just came across this article and had to comment… even though I’m not sure anyone will see it. As I started reading the comments, I remembered something I seen on a popular Dr. show. It was something I will never forget. He had 2 guest doctors on and the one said that EVERY person over 40 should be on a statin! All I thought was …what drug company does she own? I was floored. So was the host. That is just so wrong for a doctor to say. How can you just lump everyone together like that. So whether you need it or not, take it anyway. Frightening!!!
Well the current medical system is set up to create consumers.
You know, I had given up on doctors altogether until I found your website, you are the ONLY doctor that will admit these things you have, and it gave me at least a glimmer of hope that there ARE possibly doctors out there that DON’T want to kill us! Becase to tell you the truth, in the past 30 years, that’s what my doctors have done to me –
RUINED MY LIFE! I mean if you can’t trust your doctor, who can you trust? And honestly, I haven’t been able to even come close to finding a doctor that I feel even CARES about me as as person. ALL the meds ive been given for the past 30 years has ruined my body – and the exact meds you discuss above. And they are STILL prescribing me the same meds. Who is a 49 year old damaged woman to trust now?
Please do an article about intercystial cystitis! Women are suffering from this mystery illness and most doctors are clueless that it exists let alone what causes it. There are networks out there abd multiple Facebook support groups trying to find solutions. There is inly one doctor, Dr. Malone Lee from London, that may have a long term solution. There are a few others that go outside the box of standard medical protocol and are treating people with a blenf of allopathic medicine and natural medicine. We need awareness and we need answers.
Thsnk you.
Veronica Smith
Flint, Texas
Look into Pelvic PT. I was diagnosed with IC and am finding that my pelvic floor is way too tight and causing the bladder issues we thought were IC.
Ugh! Does anyone else have a high liproprotein (a)? My Doctor want’s me to take a stain to bump down my LDL so the liproprotein has nothing to bind to. Such a hard decision.
Knowing what I know about statins, that wouldn’t be a hard decision for me to refuse them. Doctors don’t seem to take into account non-Rx solutions. That’s not their specialty. How can they ignore the horrible effects of their Rx? I’m guessing peer pressure ad mandates by their employers, as most MD’s are now employees.
Hi Dr. Christine,
I don’t know if you’ll see this. I’m 49 and on SO much medication.
Warfarin (for mechanical valve)
Atorvastatin
Aspirin
Lisinopril
Nexplanon
Metformin
Basaglar
Suboxone
Trintellix
Rexulti
And more
I WANT to be on the psychiatric meds. My tubes were tied at 26, I’m also widowed and abstinent. Nexplanon is for extreme mood shifts due to menopause. The suboxone I am coming slowly off.
I’m concerned about the statin and nexplanon. I’ve been on statins for 7+ years.
I am not sure, because I do have CHF (and a stent for a 98% blockage) and heart disease, that I am not a candidate for going off statins.
I’ll talk with my doctor—and try to go off them.
Thank you!
I’ve wondered about this– and many many other aspects of my profession– for the last 30 plus years. Bottom line: we all need to OWN OURSELVES!!
Dr Northrup
I have been thinking about you and wondered what your thoughts on Aromatase Inhibitor’s. 3 years ago I had stage 2-B Breast Cancer. It spread to one lymph node. I had surgery, chemo, and radiation. I did not want to take the inhibitors because I had horrible side effects. Everything from hot flashes to mood swings, pain in my joints. I went to an Oncologist that I had never seen before. She said if I didn’t take them I might regret it because an Estrogen tumor is one of the worst and if it comes back it could come to a part of my body that they would’nt be able to treat.
I’m hoping you can help me with this situation as I am in a real quandary about all of this. Please help me.
Thanks so much
Is there really any “safe” drug?! NOPE. Doctors are legal drug dealers.
Hi! You are right! Blessings and Love to you!
Let’s add Duloxetine and Amytryptaline to the list. Was put on Duloxetine for fibromyalgia pain. My cholesterol went up. I was prescribed statistins for that. My leg pain was almost unbearable. My GP never told me that the cholesterol was a side effect of the duloxetine… Along with menopausal symptoms, etc. I was eventually weaned off that and told to replace it with Amytryptaline… I almost lost my mind! The pain and insomnia was unbearable! Between withdrawal from duloxetine and adjustment to Amytryp I almost died! I was never depressed, only prescribed this for pain… My GP told me that the duloxetine was out of my system in 24 hours and I didn’t have side effects. Upped the dose of Amytryptalin and the pain was worse! Be warned! Be very careful!
I am so sorry to hear that! Cymbalta takes far far longer than 24 hours, as you know, as I am in cymbalta withdrawal hell right now.
HI Christiane,
I have your book and have read to cover to cover- I also love your radio show! I am 46 years old and have not had a period for 7 months. Previous to this, I had only 1 skipped period. At this time, (actually about 9 months ago )- I started to feel the “dark” mood you describe in the book- I used progesterone cream, and it helped a bit- but I still suffer from “not feeling myself”; forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, fuzziness, mood irritability, darker moods but some anxiety at times. Of course, all classic depression and anxiety sx’s, but remarkable since I have not had period. I do yoga, meditate, generally healthy diet, juice, walk on beach, vitamin D, et al! But this does not appear to keep up with the sx’s.
Due to the pressure of loved ones, I broke down and made an apt with my OBGYN. I wanted to due to the more holistic route- I had a feeling in the town I live in, I wouldn’t have results commiserate with your rec. in your book. First, the OBGYN (she) stated she does “not test for hormones” period. Second, she does not (“they” do not) in this practices Bio-identical, not enough research to support, and she just labeled the limitations of the research, but did not talk any of the other argument of the bioidentical pros or cons for the matter (I have a Ph.D., I know a bit about deciphering research). Third, she prescribed Fyavolv? and or suggested the following as this may be too expensive: gintelli, activella, prempro, combipatch and others I cannot spell (all synthetic). When I told her I was using progesterone cream, she URGED that I should be using both estrogen and progesterone, not just one. I asked her for hormone levels again, and she said they base it off sx’s, not tests. I asked her about testosterone levels as your book described, same answer. She offered no other solutions or blood tests, I know I currently live in a small town with an traditional way of looking at women’s health. Not the metro areas I have lived in previous.
Can you provide me any suggestions? Honestly, at the end of the appointment, as she hurried out and I still continued to have many questions, I felt helpless and wanted to cry. I am not used to asking for help for feeling “not to par”, and I just want to know what possibly could help or if I should just “muddle through it”. Doing progesterone cream as mentioned in your book and P- Mirifuica, ( that only for about 1 month on and off). I don’t feel I should have to suffer, but at the same time, do not want to just take meds that are handed to me with no real regard if they are of any use! She told me the pharmacist could discuss other options?
Anyway, thank you so very much for being such a wonderful resource on women’s health! :). I thought I would try on a whim to reach out to you and see what you said. My intuition says you would say “get a new OBGYN”- ! Can I get a bio identical from someone other than a Dr (like the progesterone cream)? How long does it take Mirifica to work? Do you think I could really get my period again, and should not even think about going on hormones yet?
I trust your judgment, experience, and knowledge (Experiential, spiritual, and otherwise)! Implicitly and your book is like a lit review, unlike the current Physicians recommendations.
With Gratitude,
Long Winded but confused,
Tracy
Tracy I hope you got some answers from someone! You may never see this but I wish I had Seen this 7 months ago. So much of what you wrote could have been my exact words and experience! There is absolute NO excuse for your Obgyn or any of our doctors to treat a patient so carelessly! We go to them for help, many of us desperate(I know I was and still am!) and they are to “first do no harm” right? Yet they conveniently do just that when they ignore, dimiss and belittle the things we are trying so hard to get them to atleast listen to! Im so disgusted and hurt after 20 years of the same thing with almost every single Doctor I’ve been to, which is many! It started when I was 16 years old and now at 36 I’m worse than ever. The sad thing is that it all could have been easily prevented if just ONE of them had cared enough to look into it further than just my chart for that day and the scariest part is that not one of them had A clue about these things that should have been basic knowledge and would have enabled them to give me the answer I needed! My life wouldn’t have been almost” completely ruined. And now that I know how many millions are going through the same exact thing, I want to know jusr what the heck they are getting paid for! I’m sorry I haven’t got into specifics, it jusr makes me so angry. But anyway, I had to research all these years myself and finally figured it out. At 16 I was estrogen dominant. Which ofcourse nobody knew. My body barely produces progesterone. I had bad endometriosis, my hair started falling out(and now it’s ALL GONE) . And since my obgyn, an endocrinologist and dermatologist didn’t know how to read a lab test correctly, we never knew about the estrogen dominance, so I had two surgeries for the endo, which just kept growing back, so i was then given synthetic hormones to induce a “fake menopause” , yep you heard that right. So this further complicates my hormone problem and I had to just live with gradually losing my hair, cystic acne causing holes in my face. Then I suddenly developed major depression and panic disorder, which was bad enough before I became a Guinea pig taking drug after drug they gave to me, many which made me suicidal and for years It turned me into a completely different person. Ofcourse all of this was perfect for a new marriage. He should have ran the other way. And my dreams of being a doctor and years busting my butt to make perfect grades all went down the drain. I was told I probably couldn’t have children,(I guess they thought because of the endometriosis) so I figured that was fine cause I couldn’t even take care of myself at this point much less children. But the Lord had other plans! I was given natural progesterone by an iridologist , and all he did was look in my eyes and he said “you don’t make progesterone”. . This man knew nothing about me yet could see I was estrogen dominant, and those other idiots couldn’t figure that out with 100s of tests!?! I took it to help my hair and I really didn’t believe I could get pregnant and two months later I was! I had a perfect baby girl and six years later I started the progesterone again for my hair, thinking it wouldn’t happen twice. lol two months later preggo again with another perfect baby girl. My girls are the reason I’m still on this earth. And they deserve to grow up with a mom who doesn’t have all these problems. Oh well. So I’m currently trying to figure out what i did wrong this time with the progesterone, cause I can’t get these estrogen like symptoms to subside. I guess I’m not totally adapted to the all organic foods and natural household items. I never knew that those thing could make or break such serious health issues. Probably because I naively believed all my doctors over the years and TRUSTED them! Ok I’m really gonna stop rambling now. But Tina I hope you have found a new great obgyn! And I hope you are getting some relief! People joke about hormones, but they have no clue how debilitating it is.
Here has been my experience with Statins: I have a slightly elevated cholesterol level. First thing the Dr. wants to do is put me on Statins. Very firmly insisted that this would be wise to prevent heart attack. I asked her “with this elevated level, what are the chances I will have a heart attack?” She replied “about 4%!” I told her I have a 4% chance of getting run over in a parking lot somewhere and declined. So, I went to my diet and lowered my levels on my own. The thing is, if I would have consented, I would be on this for LIFE and never would have know if I could lower the levels myself! She did not even encourage me to use diet as a remedy firsts to see what I could do naturally. If she ever brings it up again, if my levels increase, I will ask her for the cutting edge test that will measure the size of my LDL particles to get the whole picture of what is really going on. The standard tests they use to get you on Statins are so antiquated.
Those drs. need to be put away…. if I would have known statin caused diabetes , I would not have taken it… the dr only check my sugar every 2 years… by then it was alrady higher… and when it was 129 he didn’t mention it, and at 149 I started thinking I wanted to lower it…. then I found out statins cause diabetis…. and I have all my records showing how it elevated along with the statins… it was always 99, even at 156# which was what I got back to…. after gaining 12#… losing 10 and gaining 20… It sickens me… I was healthier before I ever stated going to the dr…
What about Metformin?
Roxy, I would dump her as fast as you can. What other bum advice is she giving you? It is so apparent that she does not care about you at all. Good for you for not taking her advice. From what I have learned high cholesterol is not a disease.
Dear Christiane,
I have a miofibroma outside the uterus. It is 9 x 8 x 13cm, but I don’t have any painful symptoms. My age is 49. My doctor has recommended me to take ESMYA to reduce it.
I am reading you books and I am beginning to understand which attitudes and circumstances could have been the cause. I also had hipertyroidsm, which was treated with radioactive iodine, and now I have hypotiroidsm. I also have migraines from time to time. I have discovered the relation of this with food high in histamine and I am able to control them quite well with a good diet.
Would you recommend ESMYA, or try another kind of holistic treatment?
Can this miofibroma be dangerous?
Thanks a lot for sharing your wisdom.
Amparo
Barcelona
Dr. Northrup,
My 22 year daughter was prescribed prednisone in February of this year. She started by taking 6-10mg , decreasing to 10 mg on the sixth day. Shortly after starting this medication, she started with insomnia and then anxiety that led to prednisone induced psychosis. It is now late April and she has had 3 hospital stays, along with hours of therapy. She has been diagnosed with bipolar. My daughter, of which I’ve always had a very close relationship with ,stays in a constant rage. She literally hates her entire family. I don’t even know who she is anymore. It’s like she can’t feel any love for us. I am so confused, overwhelmed, and in such disbelief and despair over who she has become. I honestly don’t know what to do. All I know is every since she has had to come home. She’s not the same person.
Please, steroids can cause a person to not make any cortisol anymore. Anxiety and the such are low cortisol symptoms. If her pituitary is not telling her adrenals to make cortisol, or if her adrenals just quit functioning, then this would be the result. Also check all three of her sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). They need to all be in balance or can cause the symptoms you are talking about. Look up a pituitary specialist or a longevity or anti-aging person who specializes in hormones and you may be able to get your daughter back the way that she once was.
I have had steroid psychosis. It is truly horrible and she needs help while she has it. However, it is self-limiting. Mine was awful for three months and then very slowly dissipated. I fell into a depression after that and needed support, but by 6 months it was over and I am fine. She will be fine eventually but does need support now. Please tell her that, because I thought I was going to have to live with this for life and that did not help my mental health. Best of luck.
Hi, I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter, I’m not a professional, but my daughter was also prescribed Prednisone for her severe Asthma. She was hospitalized at 5 years old with the H1-N1 Virus and could not breathe, she was given Prednisone and to my despair began hallucinating, when I asked the doctor, I was told that it wasn’t a side effect(not true) She is now 19 and can still feel the trauma it caused her. She has a rare lung condition and Asthma, and in her worst moments she will not take it. She has been ridiculed by doctors and health care workers for not taking narcotics, and other crazy meds she has been prescribed.
I know you wrote this 7 months ago, I pray that everything is fine for your family. Try Bach remedies, they are homeopathic and can relive anxiety and other emotional and physical ailments, I use Walnut, Mustard and Olive which has saved my sanity.
You are not alone Darlene, you have a sister in Charleston who is sending you Love and Blessing!
Gina I am so moved by your kind response to the mother. Thank you for your compassion. Our world needs mire people like yiu❤️
I was told by a nurse that the doctors in her surgery had told her her son who was 9 would be on prednisone all is life for his asthma. She took him off cow’s milk and lo and behold – no more asthma. The doctors were not the least bit interested. I myself had had a similar experience with a severe cough for many years. I had visited many specialists to no avail and at great expense. A naturopath took me off dairy food and my cough disappeared. Again the doctors were not interested. I finally wrote to the Minister for Health here in Australia to tell her of these great results. She wrote back and said “cow’s milk doesn’t affect children”. How blind can you get! I have cured every one of my symptoms by visiting a naturopath and yet our Government is now disallowing benefits for visiting naturopaths!!
Thanks for all the great info on statins. My husbands cardiologist is pushing them with no indication except age. I now have another weapon.
Hope you have stood your ground!
I had a hysterectomy 15 years ago and suffer from extreme vaginal dryness. My gyn prescribed Estradiol Vaginal Natacream 0.01%. I’m hesitant to use it because of breast cancer in my family (3 maternal cousins). What is your recommendation Dr. Northrup?
I will always consider a supplement before a doctor recommended drug induced theory that may or may not work or hurt you. I’ve been bipolar, manic depressive, with severe anxiety my whole life for as long as I can remember. I was on many different medicine cocktails from the time I was 12 until I was 25. I stopped by tapering off, but now that I’m 35 I’ve noticed that I really needed to figure out why everything I took never worked and just made me feel more crazy than I was before. It was like everything was jumbled up and every time I went to a doctor, they tried to prescribe me different depression and anxiety medication. Each doctor came with a different pill. So, by chance I was talking to my grandmother in-law and she gave me a bottle of no flush instant release niacin 500mg with the instructions to “Try it and thank me later”. I started with 2 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon and 1 at night. On the 4th day, it was like a veil of impending doom was lifted from my brain. My sweaty hands were dry for the first time in my life. I smiled a real smile. I took it for 3 weeks and stopped for 4 days and everything that was wrong with me came back slowly. I started taking it again and it was gone. I highly recommend from personal experience, as well as so many other people have stated on the internet, a B3 vitamin. The flush is so worth the results. Some people say it works instantly for them. For me it took 3 days both times and I will never stop taking it. It’s a cheap miracle that truly took me from wanting to end my life, to being able to enjoy my life a little more everyday.
What does the b3 do?
Dr. Northrup,
What do you recommend for Hypertension? I have taken Losartan 100 mg for several years. It is not keeping the numbers down anymore.
Thank you,
Gayle M
I would like to know the answer to this
I have htn also
I would too – have been put on Pritor 40 mg. Although I feel better (no more high ups and downs of BP)I am wary of side effects of the drug
I would love to know what you would recommend for high blood pressure I am taking a water pill not really working I am not over weight and I exercise everyday I am fit. I am 61 and always had high blood pressure but hate to take medication! thank you for any input
My doctor has been after me to take Atornastatin. I have Type II Diabetes that is under control for which I take two Metformin a day. I do not take any other diabetes medication. My HDL and LDL numbers are in recommended levels. My Triglicerides are up a bit this time because I was giving into Swiss Cake Rolls and Nutty Bars, So I will stop that and they should return to normal and I will leave them alone no matter the temptation. I cannot eat meals that are high in fats as I have moderate fatty liver disease per MRI scan. My enzymes have returned to normal ranges with the weight loss I’ve had and the dietary changes I’ve made. I am allergic and/or sensitive to several medications and to several foods. When they had me try Pravastatin I had undesireable side affects so I discontinued taking them. My doctor says that I should be on a statin to keep me from having a heart attack or stroke. If we block the cholesterol then where do the organs that need cholesterol going to get their needs met? Are we going to starve one organ into another disease in order to avoid disease for others? I have such strong reluctance to giving in to my doctor’s recommendations when there has been absolutely no solid reasons given to me that would make me agree with the doctor. There is so much out there that Big Pharm puts out and doctors buy into and it is making me more and more untrusting in them and feel the need to look out for number 1# and to research for myself. Please let me know any advice you can give to me or others like me looking for the answers to questions we have as to why we should take the drugs and support Big Pharm and doctors and roll over and take them like good little guinea pigs.
Thank you for all the helpful information.
I have been taking a Prolia shot every six months for two years to increase bone density luckily with no side effects so far. It has helped increase my bone density, but after reading your article I am concerned about brittle bones. If you stop taking Bisphosphonates medications will your bones start the natural cycle of breakdown and restoration again or do these drugs ruin you for life? I am a very small boned woman with no history of fractures.
Hi Dr. Northrup,
Regarding the bioavailable’ Cal and Mag you take please let me know where I can purchase this bioavailable Cal and Mag. I tried to find this combo in the bioavailable form and the options made me dizzy! Please can you recommend a brand or better yet the brand you take. Thank you!
As I’m learning, knowing your genetic profile can be very useful. I recently found out that my mother has the MTHFR gene mutation, as do 30-50% of the population. This results in a B9 deficiency. It’s not usually tested for unless your homocysteine levels are high; it leads to cardiovascular disease. Many docs see a Folate deficiency and rx Folic Acid. But for those with MTHFR, that is not a solution. it blocks the Folate receptor sites so we can’t utilize the natural Folate in our foods and doesn’t correct the deficiency. Actually, further harms us.
Ironically, USDA/WHO decided to add FA to our food supply in ’98, under the auspices of decreasing Neural Tube Disorders. But, up to 50% of the population with MTHFR are susceptible to miscarriage, fertility problems and… imagine this… NTDs; and an increased risk if they are homogenous and/or are ingesting Folic Acid.
-Why dose the entire population, including men and children, with synthetic Folic Acid if the concern was NTDs?
-Why advise all pregnant women to take Folic Acid when it causes severe adverse effects (including birth defects and miscarriage) in 30-50% of the population with MTHFR?
There are certain drugs and supplements that we should not take, including Niacin and certain forms of B vitamins. On the list of contraindicated drugs is Prilosec.
My mother took Prilosec for years which contributed to the development of heart disease. She was also consuming large amounts of Folic Acid in “enriched/fortified” foods. I convinced her to replace the Prilosec with DGL, and reversed the heart disease with diet and supplements. I didn’t have the MTHFR information at that time, but the protocol worked.
Learning this also explained the high incidence of adverse drug reactions common in my family, as well as the neurological problems- everything from Grand Mal seizures to Migraine with aura. Phenobarbital is on the list of contraindicated drugs, so explains why it didn’t work for my ‘A-typical’ epilepsy. What helped my mild seizure activity was learning stress management techniques; eating well, and avoiding environmental triggers.
As for Calcium. I took many forms and brands over the years. I finally found a doc and took his line of ‘bioavailable’ Cal and Mag. Within a month, I was growing fingernails! The first time in my life! His commonly shared opinion on this: we consume non-bioavailable Cal in packaged foods, dairy products and supplements which leads to Cal deficiency, bone loss, etc. I now avoid any product that has ‘Calcium ___’ added, most dairy.
Two other obvious signs that I noticed- I had always had fibrous breasts; uterine fibroids in my 20s. My breasts are now free of this. I also had some pain in my right knee after starting the Cal. In hindsight, it was Cal deposits breaking up. Oh yes, another amazing proof for me- C5/6 in my neck was degenerating, almost no cushion between the vertebrae and bone spurs. My DC x-rayed after a few months on the Cal/Mag and was overjoyed to see the dramatic improvement. Nice puffy cushion and no more bone spurs.
Our bodies can’t process non-bioavailable Cal, so it gets stored in joints and organs. Think kidney stones, bone spurs, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibrous tissue, etc. If you consume non-bioavailable Cal, you will slowly turn to stone.
Hi there!
I would like to know where to get bioavailable cal/mag ?
Thx so much!
Jdorsini@me.com
Could you please provide where we can get the Cal/Mag you speak of.
Thank you
What is the brand of bioavailable Cal and Mag?
Would love to know where to get bioavailable ca/mg. I too have the MTHFR gene.
>I finally found a doc and took his line of ‘bioavailable’ Cal and Mag.
Could you share the information/name/brand and how I could order this?
I would also love to know how to purchase this bioavailable Cal, Mag. I have similar problems. I see no response to any of the requests for this information?
My daughter, Amy, 46 years old – has Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from a tick bite. The antibiotic usually prescribed for this condition is Doxacyclinine and has many bad side effects. What are her options as far as natural health remedies such as diet and supplements? She has fever, loss of appetite, headaches, cannot tolerate light, body aches and fatique. She does not as yet have a rash. The symptoms first appeared about a month ago. I would appreciate any advise you can give me regarding this condition. Thanks so much Barbara
Hi Dr. Christiane, I really enjoy your writing and thank you for that and for many great ideas. I just wanted to comment that the last two prescriptions I was given, after reading the lengthy information sheet with them, I returned the drugs to the drugstore, hopefully for disposal (and that they don’t recycle them). I asked a Dermatologist for a cream to soothe and reduce the redness in an area of skin on my nose and she gave me a cream that causes redness. Then unfortunately I got hit in the eye by the resistance band I was exercising with and went straight to my Opthalmologist. She gave me two bottles of drops and a cream. The first day I did exactly what she said, though I did notice the drops contained Prednisone (OMG). The next morning when I woke up I was walking like a drunken sailor. I took all that stuff back to the drugstore and switched to compresses of Witch Hazel and my eye test after a month is the same as it was before I got hit in the eye. I feel embarrassed because I can’t tell the doctor I didn’t use the drugs. I’ve always tried to avoid medication and after being given Hydromorphine after surgery I started to feel quite strange. Ha ha ha, said the nurses, pretty soon you’ll say the sky is green. Apparently a side effect is that it changes your brain chemistry. I had the opportunity to fill in a survey about this drug and I wrote at length about it – I know codeine works for me and was angry actually that they used me like a guinea pig. Hydromorphine is like LSD. I never took that and I don’t need to now either. There is a distinct lack of respect for patient’s opinions and safety. I actually dread any visit to the doctor, but we have a shortage of them so it’s a put up and shut up sort of situation. Enough to cause dis-ease in my opinion. Thanks again and look forward to reading more.
I was taking Solgar female herbal formular for perimenopausal symptoms. (Age 51). When the symptoms got more severe (about 1-2 years later), I added Solgar Black Cohosh (Age 53 – & still menstrating).
They really helped my symptoms until I had a routine blood test for my physician.
My liver function was critically high. S gamma 135, S alt 163, S ast 72. This was all because of the black cohosh.
My liver function on just the female herbal was 54,39,24. This was a year earlier.
I googled and read up that Black Cohosh is very dangerous if you have a compromised liver. I have had my gall bladder removed in my late 30’s and had jaundice in my early 20’s. It also states that there should be a warning on black cohosh to warn against the damage to your liver.
I went off the black cohash and 6 weeks later had another liver function test which showed the numbers as 83,50,24.
Surely there should be a word of caution as to the potency of these herbs and that they are not for everyone. I still see that you & lots of websites are advising women to take it without cautioning the dangers. It did help my symptoms but could have destroyed my liver if I had stayed on it too long without realizing the damage that I was doing.
I am post-menopausal and I am affected by cognitive decline and memory loss following a Oophorectomy and hysterectomy. I eat a healthy diet avoiding processed food. What supplements do you recommend to halt the decline?
Margaret, Please read Dr. David Perlmutter’s book Grain Brain and/or Brain maker. He tells you how to protect your brain and especially what foods to eat and NOT eat. My husband and I were eating a lot of garlic (because it is good for you right?) Over time we both developed brain fog. We were afraid we were losing it (we are 58 & 59 years old). I was determined to find out why we had brain fog….I had read both of Dr. Perlmutter’s books and we have been following his guidelines for a year. I found a site on the internet that said garlic is toxic and causes brain fog! This man went on to explain that no other living creature will eat garlic…..just people. He said there is a reason for that. Creatures, bugs and insects sense by nature what is toxic. We got rid of the garlic and within 10 days our brain fog was gone. Good luck to you!
Wow, thank you for this! I hadn’t heard about toxic effects from garlic. What about other foods in the onion family?
I’ve been through hormone based breast cancer and now take Arimidex. My oncologist recommends and I am having biophosphonate infusion every 6 months. This has been a big study and published a few months ago in the Lancet as having very good results with longevity and no recurrence for hormone based breast cancer. Think this outweighs the negatives for me!
Hi Dr Northrup. I need advice. My 70 year old mother has just been yanked off her HRT in the past 2 weeks I have seen a rapid decline in my usually very active mom and it is breaking me heart. What can I do to assist her be all that she wants to be. I am VERY concerned for her well being.
What are the dangers of taking Prolia if you have had thyroid surgery? I cannot find that information anywhere. I have had only 1 injection and I am due to have the 2nd on in July. I have also found that you shouldn’t eat grapefruit, or drink alcohol as well. I was never told that by the doctor, I only found this out by reading articles on the drug. What are the side effects if you do?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Hi Dr. Northrup,
I am 46 years old and was diagnosed with classical hodgkins lymphoma stage 2 on March 22nd 2016. Up to that point was feeling fine other than a persistent itch in my anal area, no sex drive, and a swollen lymph node in my right armpit. I kept going to my primary care physician and he said ” I wouldn’t worry about it ” I was immediately pushed into chemotherapy ( ABVD ) specifically, for six month or twelve infusions. I just had my fourth infusion and the side effects are so much worse than I ever imagined. I am wondering if you have any resources such as books that you might recommend for my plight. I am using the ” bone broth secret ” cookbook by louise hays but when coming off of the chemo, I have no appetite. I am meeting with my oncologist tomorrow and was wondering if you had any words of wisdom for me? I feel like I was pushed into chemo but also know my options are limited. Do you feel it would be unwise to negotiate for less rounds of chemo. I am not sure that emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I can take another 8 infusions. It has been super hard for me! Sincerely, Paula Parenzano
Do you live in a state where medical marijuana is legalized? My friend in Oregon went through 15 months of chemo and it was the only thing that helped him through the nausea and side effects of chemo! You could drink an herbal mmj tea if you want to avoid smoking it. My friend also found that it helped his appetite after chemo!
Bone broth sounds amazing. I love Louise Hay’s book, The Bone Broth Secret, and I hope that it helps you with healing. Aloe vera juice may also help…George’s Aloe Vera juice is the best. It’s a bit more expensive than other also juice, but it’s triple-filtered, so it tastes like really pure water—and it works. I drink it when I am in need of any healing and I always notice that I’m way more regular when I drink it! And my mom’s friend baffled her doctors when she recovered from radiation therapy in record time. She had throat cancer and underwent radiation treatment, but she started drinking aloe vera juice without consulting her doctors, and it healed her burns and reduced scarring. So glad that she listened to her intuition instead of waiting for a suggestion or blessing from her doctors to try it!
I have been given a stating to take i but i had side effects of my tinnutis getting worse, aching joints and memory loss so i stopped taking it after 3 days. Should i try another statin as i have been reading so much information against statins.
I have a terrible time with my nerves and anxiety plz help me
Read A Mind of Your Own by Kelly Brogan, MD. Best thing out there. You can also listen to our radio interview on hayhouseradio.com But you must become a member to listen to all the archives. But the price is very reasonable. Sending blessings, Christiane
Hello Dr. I was diagnosed with her2neu positive breast cancer oct 2013. I have had chemo reconstruction using tram flap and body fat. I was put on Arimidex but stopped taking it after four months because of side effects and quality of life. Btw I was stage 1b. No lymphs. My question is this. I cannot shed one pound no matter what I do. I gained 20lbs during treatment. I work out both strength and cardio, I eat organic food only and take supplements pretty regularly. I’m very depressed over not being able to shed the pounds. I also feel certain that my thyroid was linked to my cancer although none of my doctors will acknowledge this. What can I do? Hope you can help. I am reaching out because your ideology seems to fit mine. If you cannot address this can you point me to someone who can? Thank you for your time.
I can relate to your situation. A year after surgery and menopause I gained 20 pounds. It was my thyroid. I spent a lot of time looking into the effects of CT scan contrast dyes on thyroid but I suspect all the factors were behind this. I now take four times the daily dose I did three years ago and so many symptoms have resolved! It’s worth looking into thyroid. I swear by functional medicine practitioners. Institute of Functional Medicine website has info. Wishing you wellness.
Dear Dr. Northrup-
I have long been a fan of yours, and have several of your books.
I have just been prescribed a statin (after fighting for decades to NOT be on one.) I am 63. I had a heart attack in March. Then double bypass surgery in April. It is extremely hard to try to decide to not take a drug that the statistics tell you will lengthen your life & help keep another heart attack at bay. I am now also on a Beta blocker, which I also fought against.
What wisdom would you impart to someone who has already had a cardiac event? (BTW I had already, years ago made tons of lifestyle choices for the better. Exercise, diet (more organic, almost no processed. Scant sugar, low carbs, no nitrates and so on… My genetics are loaded with cardiac problems.)
thanks
Lori
I see that your 2 references for the CoQ 10 articles are dated 1991 and 2003!!!! My PCP and cardiologist both say that recent studies show it has no real positive effect. Your thoughts?
For example, I was trained as an ob/gyn when we were told to clamp the umbilical cord immediately. Failure to do so was considered malpractice despite nature’s good intentions. Now — 30 years later, we’re finally realizing that premature cord clamping does a lot of harm. Science is like that. It’s influenced by those who practice it. It doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Those in clinical practice like Dr. Stephen Sinatra, author of Metabolic Cardiology, have seen hundreds of patients reverse things like cardiomyopathy with large doses of co enzyme Q10.
Here is a list of articles about coQ10: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10#references
At the end of the day, you can find studies to support whatever stance you want to take. So — the best way to know what to do is try CoQ10 and see how you feel. Your body and your health and your intuition are the BEST arbiter of what you should do — NOT your doctor or a medical authority.
This is a question, hopefully for Dr. Northrup: I was wondering what your stance is on Mac a root for the balancing of hormones post menopausal?
Thanks,
Debbie-Sue Beauparlant
Check out the Whole Health Medicine Institute (located in CA) and you will find that there is a practitioner in Midway, Kentucky. I live in Louisville and would make that relatively short drive if I needed to see a medical practitioner.
So for those of us who are on statins (I am currently on Lipitor) what is the best course to get off of them?
Good morning Dr. Norhrup, I just love your blog and all the wonderful information you give us and have been following you for years. I too am looking for a medical doctor in the Frankfort, Lexington, Kentucky area that share similar practice beliefs. I went off pravastatin as it literally made me feel like I had been hit by a mac truck. Now I would like to get off Lisinopril also and keep my blood pressure healthy naturally. I believe I was put on it because of one incident and “just because my mother had it”.
Laura, I am in far Eastern KY. I am hoping to tag along on any recommendations you receive. I have been following Dr. Northrup since the 1990’s and always wish to have this level of care.
I feel the object of medical mismanagement, and have been experiencing a yeast infection in the vaginal area for months. Have been treated by a doctor with anti-fungals and now aloe vera gel from the plant. It is better but just lingers on and won’t go away. I am 84 years old. Other than hypothyroidism which is being treated, I am in good health. I have done some reading about Candida and it seems reasonable that there is some way that this chronic problem could get cleared up.
There is a drug called Nystatin (because it was developed here in NY) which will kill of the candida. I went through this many years ago, and it will flare up again if I eat too much sugar. I think they other versions of Nystatin my now, but no matter what you take, it will get worse before it gets better, because the colonies of candida albicans fight to stay alive, and the fight releases some toxins. I notice an improvement in about 3 weeks.
Pau d’Arco is also just as effective as Nystatin or Nilstat. This rainforest herb is available as a tincture, as a tea and in capsules.
Absolutely Pau d’Arco. Always works for me and much gentler. Candex is good for maintenance. But the bottom line is – use Stevia, no sugar!!
I have used a teaspoon of chia seeds for Gerd. it is like trying to chew and swallow gravel, but it worked amazingly well for me.
Your can soak chia for 30 minutes before swallowing. Then it is soft.
Chia seeds absorb about 10 times their weight in water. So, unless you drink a lot of water, you are better off soaking the seeds. I always soak mine; I fill a 16-oz. (500 ml) jar about 3/4 full and add three round tablespoons of chia seeds. Shake and keep in the fridge (shake a couple of times the first hour or two so all the seeds are covered). It will have a gelatinous texture in no time. I have difficulty swallowing supplements so I open the capsules and mix the contents with a bit of soaked chia seeds.
You should not eat raw chia seeds,they swell to 10 times thier size, so imagine if they get stuck in your throat. Soak for 30 mins in water or juice before hand, maybe keep some ready soaked in the refrigerator.
Anti-estrogen drugs for breast cancer affect cognitive function! I took Anastrozole for 3 months after my diagnosis of breast cancer and it impaired my ability to think things through, to make decisions, to concentrate, and to remember. I was not told about the neurotoxic effect of this drug before I took it. Later, I found this information: a 2015 study by the American Cancer Society on this medication commonly prescribed to women with breast cancer concluded that, for the first 18 months of anastrozole therapy combined with chemo, “women with breast cancer had poorer executive functioning” [of the brain in the area of decision-making, problem-solving, and other higher cognitive functions] “from the period before therapy through the entire first 18 months of therapy” as well as “a pattern of decline in working memory and concentration.” This study also stated that “women receiving anastrole alone had a second deterioration in working memory and concentration from 12 to 18 months after therapy initiation.” The study only analyzed the first 18 months of cognitive function although in most cases, women are prescribed this drug for 5 years after the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. (Quotes are from PubMed Abstract; the original study is published in the journal Cancer, Month 00, 2015 by authors Bender CM, Merriman JD, Gentry AL, Ahrendt GM, Berga SL, Brufsky AM, Casillo FE, Dailey MM, Erickson KI, Kratofil FM, Rosenzweig MQ, Ryan CM, Sereika SM.) Women, be careful about the immediate effects of anti-estrogen medications for cancer treatment. Ask your oncologist to explain all risks and effects of taking this medication or not taking it in your particular situation!!
I do take bio identical hormones and love them. I am 58 and felt great with them. I have been on statins for years but take a coQ10 everyday. I was on Fosomax for many years and NEVER needed them according to bone scan. Through many dental scares, it will be 10 years without them next year. Due to a huge amount of stress in my life, proton pump inhib. was given. NO NO NO!!! After the Fosomax situation I will never again take meds without researching them. I find a magnesium tablet nightly really helps. I have almost no symptoms whatsoever. Also, from my prior research, it also helps me to sleep and is good for bones. Ladies… really….check out those bio idents.
I just read your blog about drugs not to take.
I took bio-identical hormones for seven years and I just got breast cancer. I have no ovaries and am post menopausal and I found out in radiation that these hormones should not be taken if you have cystic breasts like I have. The doctor kept upping the dosage and had not seen me in five years.
Now they want me to take an anti-estrogen drug that causes bone loss and I just noticed the side effects are bone loss and fatigue and I am not going to take that.
Can I take Tamoxifin without terrible side effects. The doctor also wanted to give me Prolea this week and I keep cancelling the appointment.
I also had a lump almost two years ago in my armpit breast region and the mammogram said it was nothing. When I went to NYC the radiologist knew right away it was not nothing. I also went to a breast surgeon a few months before diagnosis and he said the lump was nothing.
Women need to know these things so they don’t end up like I did.
I too have had breast cancer that I discovered myself after getting the all clear from a mammogram. I have cystic breasts and my cancer was estrogen receptive. I had my ovaries removed after chemo and surgery and have been on an anti-estrogen drug called anastrozole for six years. I hated the drug at first but I take large dosed of vitamin D, E fish oil and calcium and do weight bearing exercise. I have learned to adapt. I AM ALIVE! We have to be our own advocates. I am 66 and am as dry as the Mojave desert so I use the product the Dr Northrup sells on her website for lubrication….(I love it). I keep looking for a doctor that practices Integrative Medicine but they are no where near me and my health insurance doesn’t cover a lot of the preventative treatments. We can’t be victims from this broken system that makes money from the knife and prescription drugs. You have to read as much as you can, spend the money and time to get good help, find ways to reduce stress in your life and practice loving kindness as much as you can. Whatever the source is of our cancer, my gut tells me it is lack of love and respect for my body and my spirit for many years and a life of stress and misguided goals. Its never too late to take a deep breath and renegotiate our lives into a place where we live and love every moment we can, forgive those who have hurt us, free ourselves from guilt and if we can, advocate for a better health system so that our children don’t suffer the same ills as we. Good Luck
Bio-identical hormones pose the same risks as synthetic hormones. I am a biochemist and I tell you that out of solid scientific knowledge. Your body does not care about the derivation of these hormones. They are added hormones that are not a part of a natural, albeit usually uncomfortable, transition in the hormonal transitions in lives of both men and women. There are supplements, herbs, and lifestyle changes you can make to give you with symptoms that need extra attention to allow you to live longer and more vibrantly. Consult with a naturopath, and even if offered bio-identical hormones, do not take them. You have the right to refuse any treatment and the right to ask for alternatives. Keep going to find someone who has the knowledge you need, or do the research yourself. Dr. David Williams is a good place to start. So is acupuncture! Stay strong. Stay healthy.
Not everyone would agree with you about David Williams, DC. http://www.ncahf.org/articles/c-d/davidwilliams.html
Julie, your comment is horrendously irresponsible! It’s hard for me to believe that you are any kind of scientist at all, let alone a biochemist. You’d better go back to school. Studies are showing that transdermal estradiol carries none of the risks of oral conjugated equine estrogens. (Do you really think that horse hormones are going to behave the same in the human body as human estradiol?) Also, studies have shown that medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic progestin, increases the occurrence of breast cancer and other problems while human progesterone does not. Please remember that women have relatively high levels estradiol and progesterone in their bodies from pubescence until perimenopause/menopause. They are perfectly natural in a woman’s body and the lack of them causes so many problems! If you don’t want to supplement hormones, it’s your choice, but you are irresponsible to advise anyone else because clearly you are undereducated when it comes to hormones.
i AGREE WITH YOU!
Hi Julie I wanted to know if you knew how long it took for bioidentical progesterone to leave your body. It gave me some bad symptoms and I want to now when they will subside. I was on 300mg and taking it 2 weeks out of the month for 4 months.
Hi Julie,
I’m not a biochemist, but I’m skeptical of bio-identical hormones, mostly because experience has told me that doctors will continually promote medications as safe only to find out decades later that they aren’t. Time and time again, we are finding out that there isn’t a magical pill that we can take to cure our health conditions. We must live healthy to be healthy.
It may be inconvenient to manage our hormones through natural means, but I will if that means I don’t have to take medications.
What supplements, herbs, and lifestyle changes do you recommend?
This information I have been privy to already. What I want to know is how do I convince my PCP to let me get off of it? I love her and she’s very caring and helpful, but she insists on my taking Atorvastatin. She let me cut down to 5mg, but I don’t want to take it all. I also think it possibly accelerates diabetes, or at least similar symptoms. My cholesterol is a bit high but is it really necessary?
Have you had the VAP blood test for cholesterol. Much more info than just total, LDL and HDL. Important info can be gleaned such as how much Lp(a) is circulating in your blood and most importantly to me if your LDL is light and fluffy or hard and dense and differentiates between HDL2 and HDL3 and many more values. I took the meds for two months and felt terrible so I just refused and my doctor put a note in my chart to that effect.
She “let you” cut down to 5mg? you are in charge of your body. If you don’t want to take it, why do so? There are doctors that will support your philosophy and approach. Even the most caring doctors may have been trained with more of a western approach to health.
Why can’t we find a doctor that has parallel or similar practices LIKE YOU? please email me and tell me why more docs aren’t like you. I live in Carroll County, Maryland and I have seen 6 gyn docs in the last 3 years. One pushed prozac and scoffed at bio identical and another doc AGGRESSIVELY pushed the nuva ring without even knowing my blood work or my medical history! I’m 46 and having inconsistent perimenopause symptoms. My PA I see for colds is wonderful but she’s also 28 years old! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE- help me find a Maryland Dr. Northrup!!!!!! please.
You can try my OB/GYN, Regina Costantini at Carroll Health group. I had to convince her to go with Bioidentica HRT. I had her call a local compounding pharmacy to translate Prempro to bio identical. She wasn’t too familiar w/ it but she gave me what I wanted and I haven’t had the side effects w/ the bio that I had on Prempro. Sadly, I spent all of my perimenopausal into menopause years on Prozac and Wellbutrin. This pahramcy also has a website with a questionnaire for hormone help. BTW, did you live in Finksburg?
Thank you so much Dr. Northrup for your insight and wisdom. I have read all your books except your last one, Goddesses Don’t Age, which I look forward to. I am a retired RN and have been a huge proponent of health and wellness for the pat 20 years. I greatly appreciate and admire what you and Dr Oz are doing in really educating people about wellness and they many things that can be done to facilitate wellness. It is largely about education. Prescription drugs are horribly over prescribed and the results are tragic. I am 62, feel great and take no prescription drugs. Thank you for all you do! Love and Respect.
I too the lowest dosage of Prempro after trying to ‘tough out’ symptoms of menopause for 7 years (no sleep being a hard one to overcome). Three years later, I had blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. Turns out I have one copy of Factor V Leiden, which causes your blood to be more ‘sticky’ and prone to clots. Factor V is *not* rare, and, in fact, the reason so many people get blood clots. The fact that women are not tested for Factor V before putting them on any hormone replacement therapy is absolutely criminal. When I asked my internist why the test was not performed prior to women being prescribed hormone replacement drugs, her response was ‘the blood test is very expensive.’ Ergo, I could have died from the clots and PE.
I no longer take any type of hormone replacement, have changed my diet, am blood clot / PE free for two years (all the meds I was not made me horribly ill). Please be wary of hormone replacement drugs; taking them could cost you your life!
Tú libro la sabiduría de la menopausia es unreferente para mí y la gente que conozco,
Dónde puedo conseguir es ESpaña unas hormonas bioidénticas. Conoces a alguna ginecóloga que trabaje en tu línea en España?
Tengo 51 años, tengo la menopausia desde hace 4 años. No tomo ningún medicamento. Tengo osteoporosis en la espalda. Y no quiero tomar los medicamentos prescritos por la ginecóloga. En estos dos años he tomado un suplemento de Ca, Mg, Boro, Zn, vitamina D, Manganeso. Tomo omega 3, y un compuesto con saugatillo , ñame y brócoli. Empecé a correr, pues lo que hacía era caminar, y ahora corro 6 km, unas cuatro veces a la semana y camino otro día. Estoy haciendo pesas. Con esto he conseguido que mi osteoporosis esté igual( -3.4) Pero no he recuperado mása ósea.
y dada mi edad y lo que tengo, me gustaría recuperar.
Isofablonaas de soja no tomo, pues actualmente leo que es discutible. Y en mi familia materna hay cáncer de pecho, ovarios, próstata, mi madre no.
me gustaría que me dijeras que puedo hacer para recuperar mása ósea. Mido 1.72 y peso 57 kl. Como sano, mucho biológico, verduras, ensaladas, legumbres, huevos y pescado, fruta. Leche de avena enriquecida con calcio de alga.
I developed breast cancer from taking Vivelle patches. I hope the attorneys can help me because I have now developed lymphedema from the side effects of surgery and radiation. It’s still going on and so much pain all the time. I’m opting to have my breast removed.
Dr. Northrop, I was recently hospitalized for atypical heart issues accompanied by hypertension (over 200 systolic), shortness of breath, and chest pressure! I am known to have atherosclerosis, CAD, ischemia and hypertension! I stopped taking my Crestor 40 mg because of side effects about 3 months ago! I have read much of the info against statins! My cholesterol was very high both LDL and Triglycerides but HDL was good! I am looking for a Cardiologist in the Calgary, Alberta, Canada area if you have any suggestions. I am so frustrated that my meds before this incident were 5 , no statin … My choice and now I am up to 10 prescriptions and one Cardiologist threatened me with adding another Statin to get my numbers down.
Hi
I am 59 and recently diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I was told to take the generic of Evista. What do you think of that drug? A friend recommended boron which I see you recommend along with supplements. I take 600mg of calcium and 1000 mg of vitamin D because supposedly my vitamin D is in the normal range. That is it for supplements. I would love to stop the Evista if possible but am afraid to do so…
Thank you
Ellen S
Relative to The Wisdom of Menopause, there is NOTHING concerning swollen ankles & feet which is a very common problem with older goddesses. Can you please document CAUSES & SOLUTIONS in your next book?? Does soaking in Epson Salts help?? I noticed Package Warning — Do Not Use for Diabetes — and wondered what that was all about.
At any rate, Many Thanks for your positive information our goddess outreach!!
Hi, Christiane I have been reading your book Goddesses never age I love it.. such a wonderful book. I am concerned about my body and hormones. I am taking estradiol once a day. low sex drive,have no libido at all. also recently my dr. did blood work because I have a herniated disc in my neck and lower back. so for that I take indiomethician 25 mg, flexeril 5 mg , and diazapan 5 mg for anxiety.The test revealed my total cholesterol was LDL 151, glucose 110, triglycerides 136,ratio 0.3. he put me on colestipol 1 gm. My question is in your opinion should I be taking this . I take a multi vitamin, omega 3 +d,E 400, I know my hormones are out of wack. I am 65 please could you help me get back on track,there is a lot of stress in my life with grown children and grandchildren. I pray to our divine healer and meditate. believe in the chakras also. Please I would like to get you input if possible. I am married and he is a younger man 8 yrs. I have lost interest in sex and we have only been married 4 yrs. Thanks so much and I will continue to read all your wonderful books. sincerely Julia
Hi Christine
Saw you in London thank you so much. I live in Uk
I am on a cocktail of drugs for Fibro – apart from pain and antinflammatory I have noretryptaline
My Vit D now just below what’s except able so I have been given Vit D
I’m 60 full hysterectomy at 45 & I have a sling inside me – re vault prolapse.
Diet is good
Any ideas
Hi, just wanted to share my fibro experience. I’ve had a very bad case of it since before the term ‘fibromyalgia’ became the official term. I am now pain free. Totally. This came about quite by accident last March when i discovered that taking Aleve with spironolactone, my med for PCOS, had nearly destroyed my kidneys. In nearly 4th stage kidney failure, I was forced to change my diet and lifestyle. I had to give up all sugar, including wheat, which effectively turns into sugar during digestion. The response was astounding. Within 10 days I had to discontinue 2 of my meds for hypertension, but more important, ALL of my fibro symptoms were just GONE! Since that initial detox phase I have occasionally eaten a little sugar once in a while, with not too much problem beyond elevated blood glucose. But, on the few occasions I have tried to re-introduce wheat in small amounts, the fibro pain, and osteo arthritis pain, have come back within hours. If you haven’t tried eliminating wheat, it might be worth the aggravation to find out if doing so will enable you to get off the pain meds. Tough it out for at least a month, but I think you will know before that time if it is going to help you. I’ve learned the hard way that pretty much all drugs damage the kidneys, especially pain meds, even aspirin and tylenol, and the further we can stay away from them, the better. Good luck to you.
Can you please tell me how you changed your diet in simple terms? What is the process?
I
Am
Overwhelmed and in chronic pain. Fibro, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, thyroid nodule (surgery for taking out thyroid scheduled)
How do you go about it?
Hi Pam,
As no one has answered you, I will give it a try. As a health coach, I help many folks change their diets. I recommend trying the following: Pick one offender (milk, bread, chips, etc), and drop it for one week. When you are fine with that, you can try the next. Or, you can do an Elimination diet, by eliminating all “offenders” — milk-based, wheat-based, soy-based, alcohol, sugar, corn and eggs. You eat what is left: oatmeal, nuts, lean proteins, veggies, for two weeks. Then, add back in an eliminated food for one day at a time, a bit at each meal. Observe how your body feels, and, if it sends signals such as pain or head-ache, stay away from that food. Over time your body will clear out the toxins from the foods it does not like. There are lots of good resources out there who can guide you through this. Dr. Oz has a simple elimination diet on his site. I hope this helps.
Pam, please read No Grain, No Pain by Dr. Peter Osborne! This book is a treasure trove of ways to stop pain and regain ones life without harmful pharmaceuticals! You may even be able to avoid having your thyroid removed if you still have it! This is one of the best books I have ever read, in addition to Ageless Goddess! Good luck!
Dr Tasha Turner has a book called the super charged hormone diet
Try sublingual Vitamin D3 liquid 10 drops = 5000 mg. My D3 was 30 on oral tablets. With sublingual drops my D3 is now 100 with daily supplements. Get your D3 levels checked every 3 months to be sure your D3 is not too high. Titrate accordingly.
Thanks Dr. Christiane! You are singing my tune! I have recently declined all three! I would like to know why all of my joints have gone tits up since menopause!
I was diagnosed with breast cancer January 2012 I am hrt positive and had to go through chemo a masectomy and they removed seven lymph nodes along with doing radiation. I was prescribed premarin for hot flashes.
Your cancer was not estrogen /progesterone receptor positive, most likely. Premarin won’t be dangerous for you because you are HER2 NU positive.
Why do they prescribe horse hormones when there are several products containing human estradiol? Vivelle patch, Estrogel, and more. This seems crazy to me.
I am 67 and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I have been on steroids throughout my life for asthma and RA. My weight is good (5’4″, 122 lbs) and I am walking 4-5 days a week along with yoga. I am resistant to taking these medications but my doctors are insisting. What is your advice?
Thank you! You are such an inspiration!
Warmly,
Kathryn
Just read Goddesses never age. Brilliant. Please can you tell me if the puerira murifica capsules are available in the UK.
Also, do you make a cream with this for vaginal dryness?
Hi. I noticed your question on vaginal dryness. I use olive oil, both during sex and at least once a week after a shower. I am 60 and well past menopause, and was always dry. Commercial lubricants bothered me or my husband, so in desperation I tried olive oil, thinking it was at least natural. On my next gyno checkup, my doctor (female) remarked that my labia was much healthier looking. She laughed when I told her I was using olive oil, then seemed very impressed with the result. I would be interested to see what Dr. Northrup says.
Did your regular doc say it was okay to continue using the olive oil?
A great lubricant for vaginal dryness is coconut oil…it’s amazing!
How often should I use coconut oil
Question on coconut oil “down there”; wouldn’t that mean that one would always taste like a coconut? How about Vitamin E oil, up there?
Not everyone likes that flavor.
I keep reading how bad cholesterol lowering medications are for you. I’m very confused & need help. I have familial high cholesterol & am told I have to be on medication to protect my heart. I’ve had a mitral valve replacement in 1999, I was 39 at the time. I suffered from Mitral Stenosis. I take Warfarin, ezetrol 40/10 and amIodarone. Can you tell me if I still need to lower my Cholester? Please help. Love all your work so much.
Hello Dr Northup,
I have been on Lexapro for almost 10 years off and on for anxitey/panic attacts. I have met a homepath dr in the past five years and we’re trying to find some balance, i’ve tried the progestarone biodenical creme, it does’nt seem to help…. I don’t want to stay on the lexapro but i’m so afraid to go off it, i guess major anxitey/depression and i’m quite sure it’s mostly hormones and STRESS.
frustrated…
Kim
Dear Christiane
You are one of my guiding lights. I read your book many years ago and have since recommended it to all my students and clients. Now I have just discovered your blog and website.
You may not yet have heard of The Swiss Sophrology Method as I have the first school in the world to train sophrologists in english. Sophrology is rated the top method in France and Switzerland for improving and maintaining physical and mental health. I found it when I moved to Switzerland and went into burnout. The mind/body awareness exercises were quite incredible and my recovery remarkable. What we think about ourselves definitely changes our physical and mental health. I just want to share the method with as many people as possible and would be delighted if you would take some time to google sophrology and find out more about it.
It can help so many people and now that I teach through online video training it is available worldwide.
With warmest wishes and many thanks for being in my life
Dorna Revie
I DECIDED TO BRING 6 LADIES TOGETHER TO STUDY, DISCUSS AND PLAN WITH YOUR NEW BOOK. WE ARE ALL IN OUR 60 AND 70’S WE WILL THINK OF YOU BEING HERE WITH US…THANK YOU MUCH
Thank you for taking a stand against statins. I have been fighting my healthcare providers on this for almost three decades now. My father died several years ago – he developed late-onset diabetes and dementia from the particular statin he was prescribed (it is no longer being used).
hi.
what are your thoughts on Bisphosphonates and Multiple Myeloma ? ….i have been on infusions every 4 weeks since September 2013, when i was diagnosed with stage 3 . My haemotologist say i have to stay on it for 2 years to prevent the Myeloma doing any more damage to the bones. (there wasnt much initial damage, only ‘salt and pepper skull’ as they call it, and 4 other other inconclusive lesions right that could also just be wear and tear)
thanks….. 🙂
thank you Dr Northrup as a former nurse midwife from England I am amazed how drs over prescribe medication my husband who is mature ate too much drank too much ended with two stents sleep apnea pot belly and general poor health I am surprised when going to the doctors with him no one was interested in talking life style changes but kept prescribing he now takes far too many medications I am glad to see you and dr Oz are trying to help us even though the medical board want to come after him
The more I tell my Dr how I’m feeling, The more pills I take. Maybe I need them and maybe I don’t. I have talk to her about hormone therapy and she is saying not a good idea. I’m 55 years old and I feel like I’m 75 y, old ” HELP ME”
Here’s your answer Nancy: find another doctor. One that will listen. One that isn’t going to lunch/golf/drinks with the pharmaceutical sales reps.
yep! Great advice!
I have had an autoimmune eye disease called parsplanitis since the age of 19 (I am 61 now). The cause is unknown. The odd thing about it is it goes into remission for most women who have it for 12 -15 years at some point, then reoccurs in the later years of our lives. This leads me to believe that the trigger may be hormone related. My question is, how would one discover which hormones might be contributing to the trigger mechanism for this autoimmune re-occurence? What is the best place to research this information? Thanks so very much for your thoughts.
Thank you Dr. Northrup for having the public’s/patient’s interest at heart. I have much admiration for you for being honest and forthright about the dangers of certain prescription drugs. There is no doubt that many of the pharmaceuticals prescribed by well-meaning doctors can make us ill or even kill us.
$$$$ and not the greater good is what drives the pharmaceutical companies, and our government acquiesces to big pharma as their support can make or break a campaign.
I hope more doctors, chemists and pharmacists will follow your lead and speak up and speak out in the interest of public health.
I have had 3 strokes this year. Non, so far debilitating. I am on Crestor 40mg. and am loosing all of my hair.. Do I have to stay on statins to keep from having another stroke? I now have bald spots from the hair loss. This is awful.. Please help.
Since these postings are a year old, I don’t know if anyone will see this. One of the very best reasons to not take premarin is the suffering it causes for the horses. Google it. It is absolutely horrific for them. I think if most women that take premarin knew of this, they would opt for other avenues.
Thank you! It amazes me many people are oblivious to the suffering these mare go through.
So I’m unclear—what are you supposed to do if you have some developing osteoporosis, despite taking plenty of vitamin D3 and calcium and magnesium and being an active person?
Have your hormone levels checked and, if low, get on some bio-identical natural estrogen and progesterone. And do not eat sugar, processed foods or drink soda ( the Standard American Diet) which causes acidity. The body does not live well in an acid state, so the body works to make you more alkaline- and minerals do this. The most abundant mineral in the body is calcium -in the bones- so the body takes the calcium out of the bones to bring you back to the healthy alkaline state, thus causing bone loss. This is good for you but really bad for your bones.
i am so grateful to have access to Dr. Northup’s information on women’s health. It is informative, refreshing, hopeful and affirming for me. Doctors have tried to get me to take stains for years, but I have steadfastly refused. Thank you, Dr. Northrop for sharing the truth about the harm that comes from taking statins. Having the right information & thoughts, healthy eating, exercise and loving yourself & others is the key to longevity and good health.
I’m so glad to read your thoughts on these drugs. I believe my father’s dementia came from taking statins. What did he know? He was dutifully following the doctors’ orders. Each time my mom and dad go to the doctor—a new prescription. I’d get them off of one, turn around, and they’d have a new one in their hands.
Osteoporosis? Small women beware: we are compared to a group of large or average sized women in their mid thirties, probably. Of course our bones will show less density. That doesn’t mean we have osteopenia or osteoporosis. I used to wonder why small women were said to be more at risk. Now I know, we are unfairly compared to groups with larger bones.
And bone density is not the same as bone strength which is not measured by the DEXA and other common tests.
I have been using a little bio-identical progesterone for about 12 years now and I feel great. I wish Dr. Lee were still alive and I wish I’d had the opportunity to meet him. I started when I was going through menopause (53 yrs) as a result of reading his books, and have continued to use it to try to offset the onslaught of synthetic estrogens in the air (fragrances), in plastics, in food, etc.
You are so right !!!!! I’m just learning but MEDs good book by Suzy Cohen, RPh called Drug muggers !!!! Every one should read it!!!! All MDs should have it !!!
Terrific article. I learn so much from you and feel better prepared as I age (I’m 40) for the road ahead:-)
I agree w/ everything use wrote on these 3 subjects…resonates, for sure. Many thanks! I’ve tried to express these views, regarding my health & what I feel, think, believe. You say it better!
I wish I knew when Oestrogel will be available here in the U.S., it is bioidentical and transdermal. The perfect solution for my severe menopausal alternating hot flashes/cold chills. I use natural progesterone cream also. Dr. N. failed to mention one of the best benefits of progesterone cream, it has been proven by the research of John Lee, M.D. to actually build bone. See his books about this.
I used to take Wellbutrin for depression and I’ve been prescription free for years now. Meditation and tuning into my chakras has helped greatly.
It’s unfortunate that we women are a great income source for drug companies.
This is the road.Meditation Yoga and eating fruits and Vegetables.All ithers have huge risk!.
Drugs only bring more problems in the long run. I believe in natural meds luke Kelp.Kale.Fruits.Natural meats.Stress management and a positive outlook.I took all those meds. I almost passed away four times.I am passionate about doing all I can to avoid them all. They are real massive women killers.
If women were really in charge.I mean really…
Nobody will be having severe hot flashes depression.Drugs overuse and heart attacks the number one killer of women.We must be wise and rise above small thinking.
Menopausal pain will not be here if women were in charge like man are!
Asap all prostate diseases were inmediately manage.Men diseases are fast to be manage.Women diseases take forever and ever. Wise up and take charge of your iwn body and mind.Be mindful!
rise above my typo errors ! Think outside the box.
Bravo! There is a very interesting book called, Are your medications killing you? by Dr. Armon Neel. Dr. Neel is a retired consultant pharmacist who has spent his entire career helping seniors get off medications. I am a geriatric pharmacist myself and I totally agree. All of the above medications are listed in his books, as well as proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec and the like), and a host of other meds that aren’t helpful for seniors. It’s a truly informative book and well researched.
Thank you so much Dr. Northrup! My body had me go organic & glutenfree before it was popular, now sugar is on the chopping block and I feel great! I’m supporting with some of the same herbals you suggest. I teach midlife women how not to have hot flashes and other annoying symptoms and though I share bioenergy techniques and belief change processes, quite a bit is nutrition. Sharing this article with my Healthy Midlife Women’s community. Thank you!
I had a hysterectomy about 4 months ago and they wanted to put me on permarin and I ggogled it up and said No. I tried one bi-identical doctor but as soon as I was having issues he wanted me to go see my family doctor. She did not know much about supplements. I had what is believed because there are no test Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Now I am having really bad headaches so bad I don’t want to get out of bed. Will those herbs you recommended help me?
My partner is 57, claims to have a familial risk of heart disease and stroke, so insists on taking statins. He has led an active lifestyle, healthy diet, but now has lost his sex drive, disrupted sleep, low energy levels, starting to have memory problems. I feel he must stop the statins. But he’s frightened of having a stroke. How can I persuade him? I hate to see him poisoning himself with statins, when he’s so green and health conscious about everything else.
Three years ago, my husband at the age of 51 was experiencing all of the exact same symptoms as your partner. I actually believed he was starting to have the onset of dementia. His liver function tests were elevated, he was sleepy, memory issues, crabby, just generally acted like a dopey old man. I finally wrote a long letter to our primary care doctor pleading for help. He was not happy about not taking statins as my husband has high cholesterol, but he agreed to try him off the statins and he did testosterone levels which turned out to be low too. We first had him go off the statins because this is when his symptoms started with those. And then he started on the testosterone gel. Within a month of being off the statins, his liver function tests were normal, and his mind was sharp again and back to his previous personality and activity. The testosterone was pretty much effective immediately. It is a personal decision and weighing not taking a statin versus the risk of stroke or heart attack is scary. Personally, if it is effecting your mind and body negatively, take a “statin vacation” and if you are feeling younger and healthier without it, then start thinking of quitting (but let your doc know even if he doesn’t agree). If you do a google search for statins and dementia, you’d be amazed how many people are suffering these same symptoms and can’t figure out why. I think it is personal body chemistry. Statins are handed out like we are Stepford wives and that all bodies are alike…statins work fine for some and horrible for others. Your post was 1 year ago, so I hope you have had some resolution by now…if not, hope this helps someone.
53 year old “proud owner” of high cholesterol (really high-324),with a very well balanced HDL/LDL ratio. My PCP is NOT pushing for statins. Since I eliminated gluten from my diet, the cholesterol went down to 290 in 4 wks. I do not take any meds, I exercise and feel great. My Gyne does not know anything about bioidentical hormons… I put myself on Estroven/Remifemin combo and my hot flashes were gone in a week ! Thanks for the hint. Love your WISDOM.
I re posted this article as I thought it needs to be out there & the barrage of abuse I received from well meaning medical professionals was astounding. I full agree with your outline on these & other drugs. Sadly though Western medicine has brainwashed the masses with fear. So much more to learn & know out there. The most scathing reply was from a 27 year old nurse/paramedic. I’d like to speak again with you dear girl when your 50. As I to worked too many years as a nurse also.
What do you reccommend for vaginal dryness and atrophy?
There seem to be comments from many about dying. If you take or do not take drugs or supplements, you are still going to die. The difference is HOW WELL you want to live before you die. Statins have been linked to dementia and muscle damage; I have seen these side effects in older relatives, so I choose alternatives.
I’ve been taking estrogen. I started at the age of 40 and now I’m 63 years of age. I feel something in my right breast now so I’m going to take care of that. But what do mean about dementia and muscle damage if you stop taking estrogen please explain.
And when is it the best time to stop taking estrogen.
Thanks
Deborah
I would like an answer regarding estrogen as well but I don’t see many questions being answered here…thanks.
My question is:
I’m 59 in excellent health and people guess me to be around 45 years of age. I’m taking estrodial, progesterone and testosterone for libido and post menopause night sweats and hot flashes. They are working beautifully. I started taking them around 55. Both parents had cancer. I can’t afford the bio identical route. I’m I okay with this regime? Do you have an alternative? Thank you;)))
I am a 55 year old woman with Turner Syndrome. I have been prescirbed Female hormones as hormone replacement therapy since I was 20. I now know many young women with Turner syndrome. The horse may have bolted for me – no pun intended but these young women need to know what they are up against as hormone treatment is necessary for normal sexual development and especially bone health. What is your recommendation in terms of hormone treatment for women with TS?
Thank you so much for speaking out Dr. Northrup. I have always believed this to be true as well as a 25+ years nurse and certified holistic nurse. But people would become so angry when I spoke out that I stopped for a while. I always listen to you and your words support and strengthened my ability to continue to speak out. Bless you!
I’m 44. ER/PR positive breast cancer left breast at 38, treated with bi-lat mast and tamoxifen. Recurrence at 40, tax/cyt, rad., anastrozole, zoladex, and Zometta. I eat right, do cardio & weights, supplements. Needing root canal left bottom molar, held Z for the last 6 months. Dentist has reservations about root canals due to studies linking to BC. Onc feels strongly about being on Z, for osteopenia, & ZoFast study showing benefit in reduction of cancer recurrence. Please help me.
Many years ago when I went into menopause my first medication I ever took was premarin. For one year I had irritable bowel and had no idea why. It was horrible and I missed work, etc. Then one day I decided to quit my premarin because I just didn’t feel right on it. Two weeks after I quit it, my irritable bowel was completely gone. This was my first experience with any medication and it was a hard lesson. I take bioidentical hormones and they agree with me so well.
More than HALF (!) of people who start statins stop them within the first 6 months…and for good reasons! People would be a lot better off if they simply did not start to take them in the first place!
Hi. I had a 2 cm complex cyst in my left ovary (0.6cm of solid area). My doctor took my ovary against my will. It was borderline but the pathologist said the remaining ovary tissue was clean. There was margin to save my ovary. I was worrying about my hormonal change, it happened. I do not have sexual feeling anymore, or sex drive. Have memory problems, my first white hairs appeared in mass, suddenly. I am always down. What can I do? I am 36.
To lower cholesterol, try a grapefruit a day.. peel of the other one and then eat whole slice.. not with the spoon…
Pectin in the skin of each slice.. don’t peel those…
Have a friend with whom I shared a grapefruit and he is down by 30 points in 3 months.
The only problem with the non flushing Niacin is that it really does not lower choleterol
Took Statins for years and quit as my legs were weak and hurt. Still are weak but no longer hurt as much.
I refuse to take statin drugs. I have recently started taking 4mg of Astaxanthin a day and the results are already obvious in my all over health and energy, and even skin. My pain level has decreased after several back surgeries and I am walking much better.
I have cut the horse urine down to 1 and 1/2 .03mg a week. 1/2 premerin M W F. Hoping to stop soon. Thank you for your information, I can’t agree more!
Thank you for sharing this important information. You are such a blessing!
Does taking a Co-Q10 supplement mitigate the negative effects of Statins? If so, how much should I be taking? Thanks so much!
I would also add any fluorquinolone antibiotics–Avelox, Cipro, Levaquin– to this list since they have damaged so many people’s health and there is a class action lawsuit in the works to sue the makers of these drugs.
Dear Dr. Northrup, thank you for your continued service to people, planet, and those patient.
I have always been a fan of yours and have your books too so I had to check out what you would say here…although it is not new news, I know there are so many women who have not heard the message yet…so you have to keep on talking to everyone…it’s a sure thing most Drs. serve the interests of the pharmaceutical companies and they won’t tell the entire truth about these drugs. Go Dr Northrup! keep up your good works.
Have been taking Livifem for 16 years and feel absolutely great, I came off the medication a year ago because for some reason it was not available and everything just went wrong, my bladder gave trouble so did my thyroid, I tried other hormones that did not agree with me either. Six months later it was back on the market. I am 66 years old, and do not take any other medication. I have tried the natural stuff but it does not agree with me, I even get a reaction from vitamins.
I disagree with your suggestion of intaking antioxidant supplements. Studies and meta-analysis show they increase the risk of death, especially vitamin E (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=718049).
Artificial antioxidants blunt the bodies natural production of protective proteins like heat-shock protein and superoxide dismutase.
Stick to natural foods. Not high dose antioxidant supplements.
Thank you so much for your wisdom. I am 34 and have been following your work for several years along with my mother who is 63. We love you! Thank you for what you do.
My goal is to be 93 and prescription free! I’m especially happy for your advice regarding statins. I really don’t like going to the doctor because he pushes statins even though my cholesterol is not so bad and lower than last year. We have an excellent diet with tons of vegetables and fruits and don’t eat sugar. We also exercise, do yoga and use acupuncture to reduce stress. I feel great at 65. You have reassured me I am on the right path. I truly thank you!
I take red yeast rice and have reduced my cholesterol from 278 to the 230 range. Are the dangers of statins the same in red yeast rice? After back surgery, how long should elapse before resuming taking bio-identical hormones?
I agree with you on all three of these.
I would add another, a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (think Levaquin and Cipro). These are all POISON. If your life is threatened with a bacterial infection, then perhaps the risk is worth it. But doctors are prescribing them to children now. We’re talking big time side effects — tendon ruptures, arthritis, mental illness/paranoia, digestive problems. They need to be taken off the market.
Are there any known bad effects from taking one Levothyroxine 50 microgram tablet a day for under active thyroid? I am a couple of months off my 90th birthday and do not take any other medication.
Based on your guidance provided by your book – The Wisdom of Menopause -I was able to identify what my body was missing and put together the vitamins, minerals and other supplements I need. I also started to use natural progesterone cream. After about a half year I started to feel the change – got stronger, healthier and got rid of my hot flashes … I could go on and on and on … but in short, thank you for your eye opening book and your continues support …
Your great book – the Wisdom of menopause – guided me through of my really bad menopause and depression. It is wonderful to hear from a doctor not to take synthetic hormone. Reading the truth about Cholesterol, statin and Bisphosphonates are refreshing as well – hard to find fresh and reliable sources which are based on the latest research …
Your books and articles are great help, please educate us, we need you!
I also have a question about the use of bisphosphonates for breast cancer that has metastasized to the bones. I tried Xgeva, but had terrible side effects so am switching to Zometa. Do you have any suggestions on natural ways to strengthen bones that are effected by cancer?
I take metetoprol is that a statin…….
Plus I have another issue to address: I guess I must of been alittle vain but, I decided to silicone implants in 1984..I didn’t really have any problems except incapacitation until 2007 when I fell and punctured my left breast. Now I’m having all sorts of health issues and the doctors will not listen to me when I tell them I think my symptoms could be from silicone…well they just ignore that and give me a prescription for whatever they think it is.
This is fantastic. Thank you!
My mom is 77 and says “every time I go to the Dr they give me a prescription and on the way home I throw it away.” She is really healthy and still in her right mind, enjoying life.
Thank you, Dr. Northrup, for all the information you share about womens’ health.
Thank you for your valuable information. I live in Australia and I can’t seem to find bio identical hormones here. When I ask about them I get told they are just another form of HRT and still synthetic. Would love it if you could explain this further. I also have cholesterol. I had a hysterectomy 4 years ago at 49. But just had my ovaries out 3 months ago and even though I was told through blood tests that I was postmenopausal I now have a lot of those horrid symptoms. Regards Dot 🙂
Love the focus on being healthy without medication. My doctor wanted to put me on blood pressure medication but I was resistant. I knew it is not good for me. So instead, I used essential oils and lowered it back to 116/83. I also use an essential oil to balance hormones – no hormones in the oil but works great. I want to be in my 80’s without being on any meds too. It can be done!!!
I would like to know what were the oils you were using to balance your hormones.
I take a product enzyme hydrolyzed collagen,has amazingly changed my life and the wellness of my family s life.I had my jaw wired,from a car accident,brain injury,broken ankle,bone graft,broken wrist and arthritis.I hurt everyday of my life and took gravol for the naseau because of a permanent vestibular deficiency.I know now what it is to live pain free.If you suffer from fibromyalgia,arthritis,inflamation,please try it.
Hi Penny I came across your letter regarding a product you take, that can also help for Fibromyalgia. Please can you supply me with the name of the product that I may try and source it here in South Africa. My e-mail is longhaul@501.co.za
Many Thanks
Tracey
Please post the name of the product. Thank you!
Interesting information on the Statins. I was diagnosed w/congestive heart failure in 2012 and now take Bumetanide. At the time of my hospitalization, I had a total cholesterol of 101, and an angiogram showing sparkling clean arteries. The Bumetanide increases LDL; mine went from 93 to 262 in 3 months. I do not want blocked arteries to add to my mix, so I take a statin, and now it is back to normal. I wish I didn’t have to, but in some instances I think it does outweigh the risks, alas.
Thank you for sharing you knowledge experience and intuition so generously. I have been following you for years and always find the answer I need by going to your books and teachings
Great article! Thank you, Dr. Northrup, for your powerful voice. I have hypothyroidism and four years ago was prescribed levothyroxine which is synthetic and helped initially but later plateaued. Fortunately I met with a naturopathic physician who switched me to Armour thyroid, which is bioidentical. You can get it at your pharmacy with a prescription! Insist on Armour instead of levothyroxine. Doctors want to push levothyroxine, surprise surprise.
What about the hormone patch Vivelle Dot? I am on the lowest dose. I don’t take other prescriptions and I’m healthy. I have noticed in the past year since the hysterectomy an increase in joint pain and the bottom of my feet hurt? Coincidence or correlation?
Thanks for all the honest info.
Have a Blessed day!
Wow, everyone just jumps on the bandwagon! Listen, before you start not taking your medications, please talk to your own Dr. or if you must, get a second opinion.
What do you think about the hormone patch, Vivelle Dot? What are the side effects to that? I am on the lowest dosage and change it once a week.I am healthy and do not take any prescriptions. Ever since the hysterectomy I’ve noticed more pain in my joints and the bottom of my feet. Coincidence or not?
Thanks.
What is your opinion of red yeast rice for genetically high cholesterol?
I go by how i feel AND have my hormone levels checked once a year. My mother FELT fine and had no menopausal symptoms until she was 75 and then it was too late to start BHRT. My sister and I go to a clinic with docs who practice integrative medicine. I started on BHRT 6 yrs. ago and all my menopausal symptoms are gone – insomnia, fibromyalgia, hot flashes, etc.
don’t believe everything you read. My mother died as a result of osteoporosis and I am now taking the equivalent of Fosamax and my bones have improved because of it. Osteo runs in the family- big time. I am 67 and have fallen a few times with no breaks.
Thank you Dr. Northrup for sharing your wisdom. I go to a traditional western medicine Gyno and know she doesn’t know about bio-identical hormones. Where can I find information on these?
Please Help! Have been on every kind antidepressant since 2000,had a accident went thru a lot.I have no energy,no joy,do not want to go anywhere or see anyone.I know it is them cause I was always happy, energetic and love people. I am 68 and just want to live happy again healthy. Want to be drug free.
Joann, Read Dr. David Perlmutter’s book Brain Maker. He tells how nourishing your brain will get rid of depression, anxiety, and ward off Alzheimer’s. It is an amazing book. I had two bouts of really bad depression years ago. I started eating much better and following much of what Dr. Perlmutter wrote in his book. I have not had any depression for 18 years now. My parents passed away 6 months apart…..I thought for sure I would fall into a deep depression. I didn’t even come close! Love Dr. Perlmutter’s book & Dr. Northrup for turning me on to his work. THANK YOU!!!!
Thanks Dr. Northrup. I so agree with you on these and appreciate you sharing this information.
I appreciate this so much- my father was a pharmacist, and he made me extremely critical of Big Pharma, to the point where I take almost no meds, only what is only absolutely needed. I resisted my doctor’s advice to take all of these mentioned, and also anti-depressants.
I’ve listened to you for years! You always reassure me that not rushing to medicate is the best way to go. I’ve gotten pass the ruff stages of menopause without hormones. I used herbs and diet modification. I plan to follow in in the footsteps of others to be senior and medicine free!
Thank you for your truthfulness regarding prescription drugs.I stopped taking tamoxifan after 3 yrs…is there anything at all I can do since my dr has drilled it into me that estrogen is my enemy?? 47 yrs old and I feel much older most days!
What about having severe osteoporosis caused by anti seizure drugs which one has to take and the lack of doctors not pre warning this years ago and giving the extra calcium, vit k2 and vit D required to offset – now they say bisphosphonates is the only thing that will help – ?????
What if a woman has to have a total hysterectomy including ovaries pre-menopause onset? I’m looking at that very thing. I can’t diet myself out if this.
Monique, initially when has premature or surgical menopause, i had been advised to use bio identical hormones (patches, creams, etc ). Right after the surgery, i was on Premarin for some few months to alleviate the sudden rush of symptoms and then eased to Bio-identicals. Now I use only natural progesterone cream about 10 days a month and looking at herbs (black cohos, low dose pueraria mirifica) for the estrogen part. I also eat cruciferous vegetables almost every day, (or take a low dose DIM tablet to counteract the estrogen effect of the pueraria m) and organic foods, no sugar, as little processed food as possible, and moderate exercise 3 times a week.
Dear Dr. Northrup~I have been following you for years and am so proud to see that you take a stance about the erroneous information that has been sold to the public about pharmaceuticals. I applaud your honesty and that you cite the research so that when there is a discussion to be had the evidence can be shown. Thank you!
Thank you Dr. Northrup for all of your valuable information.
Statins really messed me up! I started getting arthritis every where. I spent a fortune on orthopedic drs and I was on a very low dose. I now have fibromyalgia!
I have a cholestrol of 8.3 and whilst my veins are looking good (and reasonably clean) it has been suggested that I take statins. I am in menopause and that is part of the concern. Please advise your thoughts?
Just had a hysterectomy because period would not stop the doctor thought I have polyacystic Overary Syndrome and the surgeon did not want to do a hormone test to see where my levels were. He prescribes Premarin and I googled it and decided it had to many side affects. Went to a bio-identical doctor got hormone test my estrogen was fine my progesterone was a 0.06 low is a 4. Been taking it and it seems to be helping. What can we do to get doctors to do hormone tests?
Thank you for this article.
I have been following you for years and have passed on info to my daughters, too. I send you a cyber hug from Kauai.
Thank you dr Northrop for all your work.
I have the same question as Tina about thyroxine and avoid going back to my Dr.
Agreed. Thank you for posting this information.
This is true also of mental health. Your symptoms of depression and anxiety are evidence of a need for change in some area of your life. They are not to be suppressed and masked by drugs. It’s like we’re waking up finally to taking responsibility for our health.
I do take Lipotor because I have a genetic component for high cholesterol. I only take half a pill[5 mg. daily]. I also exercise a lot, weight train too. I take organic, ground golden flax seed[1/4 cup a night]. Now I’m questioning whether or not I should stop the Lipitor. So confusing sometimes!
There are many nights that I do not take it!
All three of this issues apply to me! I keep getting the same test results and answers. ‘It is your best option…’ After weening myself off the Premarin, I finally confessed… and was convinced that the new lower dose of .3 would help, and it was true. I eliminated the Lipitor, for a 4 months and tried to keep the same good numbers… which also failed. Osteoporosis has set in, but my body has not accepted medication for that. My other issue is hypo-thyroidism. Not happy.
Bio identical hormones are not all created equal. I was on them for three or four months. The first two months I was a new person, the third, the bottom fell out and I stopped halfway through the fourth because I felt so bad. I truly believe that I was part of some undisclosed study. The doctor is no longer in practice here, disappeared. This set me on a horrible ten year run of monster menopause which continues to this day at age 65. So be careful, be very careful.
Thank you Dr. Northrup!
My youngest son has been put on Statin drugs for high cholesterol since he was
in the military. He was told he needed to take it because his body is producing too
much cholesterol. I have made suggestions to him about alternative options but he seems to buy into Statin as the only way. Please help!
I take levothyroxine because of thyroid cancer. should I switch to the natural hormone. also, I have high cholesterol and refuse to take statin drugs. Thank you for the information. I plan on trying to eliminate sugar in my diet and eating more alkaline.
Thank you for all of your wisdom that you share! I have learned so much from you. I have had wonderful success using Progessence Plus. It took me nicely through menopause at 55.
I am also blessed to be the caretaker of two 94 year old women who are not on any meds and doing great. Life is grand!
I had a problem with my thyroid and I took kelp and it straightened it right out. Most people are low in iodine so that is why the kelp worked for me. You can take it everyday as the body only uses what it needs and discards the rest. No meds for me.
Dr. Northrup my PCP prescribed Levothyroxine 50 MCG taken daily. What are your recommendations regarding this prescription? I am 65 yrs. old and when first prescribed 2 yrs. ago I was experiencing lethargy and pain due to osteopenia in my hips as well as some lower back pain
due to slight spine loss. Since taking the medication I just have flare ups in my hips and back.
This is a great article. I am 56 and drug free. Hope to stay that way lifelong. My choice for calcium -green, leafy veges. Kale, spinach, and my favorite, beet greens! Thanks Dr. Northrup, your articles are so timely and caring.
thank you for this information – although i have been taken of actonel – now i am on prolia injections – what are your concerns for this drug – if any?
thanks –
I have an under active thyroid & worry constantly about taking Thyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone for the rest of my life. Is there a more “natural” version & does it really work??
Thank you so much for this article – My Doctor is pushing statins right now and Blood pressure meds – I have printed this off to share with her.
All I can say is, AMEN! Great recommendations, Dr. Northrup. Thanks!
Thank you so much Dr. Northrup. I love all the valuable info you give us women . Just love u!
Thank you for your knowledge and sharing what you know with us. Special thank you for your love of Womanhood and reconnecting us with Feminine energy. I’m 43 and loving life more than ever!! My question is about CoEnzyme Q10 is, I took this on occassion and felt an agitation that mimiced anxiety. This happened a few times whenI took it and stopped taking it again fearing I was doing more harm than good.Have you heard of people being allergic to this? What are your thoughts on this?
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m currently signing up for medicare (since it’s required) and am having difficulty finding recommendations (with clear implications) for people who are healthy and prescription-free. I don’t take the drugs you mention but am glad that somebody is speaking out on drug hazards.
I understand the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones. But I haven’t ever seen any data to show that bioidenticals do not pose the same health risks as synthetic. Have there been any clinical trials that you know of?
Thanks so much for all your wonderful posts and book!
Colette
Wow – Pretty radical for an MD to recommend to NOT take medications. I plan to be ’93 and prescription free’ myself. I avoid tylenol, ibuprofen, etc unless it’s really, really needed as well. Many prescription meds are poorly tested before being released. I am highly skeptical and mistrusting of the pharmaceuticals companies overall – it really is about money for them, not health. I’m sticking with diet and exercise thank you.
I would like to know more about the drugs used for ANTI-ESTROGEN therapy. I am taking 25 mg. of Exemestane and I am not happy with some of the side affects; such as, hair thinning and the possibility of bone mass being lost of this. Please send me an answer….THANK YOU!
i have high cholestral. my good to bad ratio is really good since my hdl is always around 95.
i refuse statins telling the DR ‘if statins can damage muscles, what does it do to the heart muscle?’. they dont ever have an answer.
i think i will add coq10 and vitamin e to my supplements. i’ve been a little lazy taking calcium and vit d. thanks for the reminder.
Years ago I suffered from depression and took Wellbutrin; I suffered side effects that I could no longer deal with so I challenged myself to tune into my chakra energy to overcome my dependence and like your friend Gladys, I am prescription free for years now and listen to my body to let me know what I NEED to know.
after reading the China Study and other related information, I am led to believe that it is best to get calcium from vegetables and NOT from dairy products, because of a negative calcium balance that develops from too much calcium at once, combined with too much protein that, in order to be ph balanced, robs the bones of calcium. How does Dr. Northrup feel about this?
I took myself ot of all Premarin, et, etc, and the patch 15 years. I have been using Life-flow Estrocare -natural Phytoestrogen for now 10 years. I am now 72 years old and feel and look in mid early 60’s. thank you! Alicia Hammett
My cholesterol is way too high, and I refuse to take statins. I think they’ve led to my father’s dementia. Instead, I am going to try flush-free niacin. Cheaper and works better.
Dr. Northrup,
Thank you for going on record about statins and bisphosphonates as well as synthetic hormones. I’ve been telling my patients this and urging them to do their own research for a long time. Now I’ll send them to your site as well! As a psychiatrist, I too take the approach that the body’s own wisdom is paramount. That’s a tough message to convey in today’s medical world! Thank you for always being a clear guiding voice midst the noise!
Debra J. Solomon, M.D.
What about women (me) who are not candidates for hormone therapy(I have a gene marker that predisposes me to blood clots)? I take soy supplements, but I still suffer from menopausal symptoms (severe weight gain, severe lack of energy, hot flashes, mood swings). The soy has helped, but I struggle daily/hourly. 🙁
Dr. Chris–what do you feel about thyroid meds? My TSH is 5.5 but I feel good. I am post menopause, in good health,spiritual in orientation,active,happy. I went on some synthroid and had headaches , insomnia, even when we lowered the dose. Is it safe to have a TSH of 5.5 and NOT treating? Dr. Mc Dougall seems to encourage treating even slightly high TSH. Opinion?? I am not on any other meds. Had a pretty easy menopause transition.
Thank you so much for this article. I value your insight and approach.
Dr. Norhrup, I have read your books for years and just think the world of your approach. This article did peak my curiosity in regard to Bisphosphonates. I wonder what you think of their use for metastasized breast cancer in the bones. My sister is taking xgeva and we are all so uncomfortable with this (monthly injections). Do you think in this instance, it is wise to use this medication? Is it possible to strengthen bone damage from cancer with natural protocols?
Thank you so much for these clear and helpful explanations. You are the number one doctor whom I trust. (Also, I totally L-O-V-E-D your recent conversation with Dr. Gottfried: I listened to it with my daughter, then my husband listened, then my Mom listened! We love you!)
Great article. Thank you.
Thank you for this article. I agree that taking unnatural medications is like poison to our bodies. That is how I felt when I was taking Fosomax! I’ve been taking larger amounts of calcium and vitamin D. My doctor hasn’t come up with an alternative for me. Still geared toward meds! Very frustrating.
Thank you, Dr. Northrup! Do the bioidenticals put one at risk for cancer since it’s a hormone mixture? Also are biphosphonates affected by soda as well? I thought I’d heard that it affects bone loss. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
The world is such a better place with Dr. Northrup in it!
Always such great information on your site, thank you for caring.
Estelle
What about genetic high cholesterol . My dr. Wants to put me back on statin drugs . I really don’t want to.
My father died last year. Five years ago, he was normal and healthy. Then he went through steep and fast decline. I’ve long wondered if it was to do with the statins he was taking (Lipitor). Is there any way to know? Any kind of readings we can look for in his blood levels or other medical records?
Thank you so much for all. Could you go over the different types of calcium and which would be the best source?
Hello Dr. Northrup, thank you for this very informative article. I am going to share this with my 68 year-old Mom, who is on statins and also very addicted to sugary foods, particularly coca cola!
I hope to be prescription free at 93!
Thank you for your wonderful work.
Many blessings,
Karen
Thank you for writing the article – and all that you do to keep us informed. Treating symptoms is crazy and happens all of the time. I have been feeling frazzled, for lack of a better term. I don’t handle stress as well as I used to. I’m wondering if this is part of menopause? If so, I’d better consult my doctor – I’m guessing my Ob/Gyn?
The process in which Premarin is made is horrible. Pregnant mares are confined and constantly attached to urine collectors. The babies are unwanted products of pregnancy and are discarded, often sent to slaughter. This to me is the main reason not to use this drug.
It amazes me that some people don’t have a problem with this.
Good God! These drug companies!!! My gyn group does not “do” bioidentical hormones. Plus the cost of blood tests and prescriptions, even with insurance is astronomical for middle class people.
I prefer to be like your mom and Gladys. Goddess speed to all of us!
So many conflicting studies, etc. about our health and well-being.
I trust you!!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this very helpful information – I thank God that I do not take any of the medications mentioned Xx
I am 68 years old…..4 years ago I had both my hips replaced and have been on Prolia Injections every 6 months for the past 3 years. I have been diagnosed with Osteoporosis and have “achy” legs from the hip down when the Prolia begins to wear off after about 4 months. Cold damp weather doesn’t help either. In the last six months I’ve been prescribed a low dose Blood Pressure med. and now my Dr. is wanting me to begin Anti-Statin medication. I HATE having to take any chemical medication and keep the dam Drug Companies in business but my cholesterol is quite high. Are there other methods to reduce it with a “natural” supplement and would you please enlighten me about CQ-10.