Northrup, Christiane 1949–

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Northrup, Christiane 1949–

PERSONAL: Born October 4, 1949, in Buffalo, NY; daughter of George Wilbur and Edna (Zwilling) Northrup; children: Ann, Kate. Education: Case Western Reserve University, B.A., 1971; Dartmouth College, M.D., 1975.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—P.O. Box 199, Yarmouth, ME 04096.

CAREER: Obstetrician and gynecologist. In private practice of obstetrics-gynecology, Yarmouth, ME, 1979–; Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, associate clinical professor of obstetrics-gynecology, 1979–80; Gynecological Associates, South Portland, ME, obstetrician-gynecologist, 1979–85; Women to Women, Yarmouth, gynecologist-obstetrician, 1985–96. University of Vermont College of Medicine, Portland, ME, clinical instructor, 1980–82, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics-gynecology, 1982–2001. Host of television specials, including Mother-daugther Wisdom, 2005; Your Diet, Your Health, 1999; and Women's Bodies, Women's Choices, 1998. Editor of Dr. Christiane Northrup Newsletter and Women's Health Wisdom e-letter.

MEMBER: Heartwings Foundation (member of board of trustees, 2004–), Red Web Foundation (advisory board member, 2004–), American Holistic Health Association (member of board of advisors, 2003–), National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (advisory council, 1997–), American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

AWARDS, HONORS: Teacher of the Year Award, Tufts Medical School, 1979; honorary D.H.L., University of Maine at Farmington, 2002; Celebrating Excellence award, Campaign for Better Health, 2003; Maine Media Women's President's Award, 2003; Learn & Live Gold Heart award, American Heart Association, 2004; Sarah Orne Jewett Award, Maine Women's Fund, 2005.

WRITINGS:

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing, Bantam (New York, NY), 1994, revised edition, 1998.

(Author of foreword) Mona Lisa Schulz, Awakening Intuition: Using Your Mind-Body Network for Insight and Healing, Harmony Books (New York, NY), 1998.

(Author of foreword) Tori Hudson, Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine, Lowell House (Los Angeles, CA), 1999.

The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing during the Change, Bantam (New York, NY), 2001.

Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health, Bantam (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Christiane Northrup works in the medical field as an obstetrician and gynecologist. Her emphasis is on a combination of conventional medicine, complementary medicine, and spirituality. Northrup has been the host of a number of television specials, and is the editor of the Dr. Christiane Northrup Newsletter. In addition to practicing obstetrics and gynecology in her private practice in Maine, she is the founder and president of the Center for Women's Empowerment, a center that promotes physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Additionally, Northrup is actively involved in a number of professional organizations and has been the recipient of many awards and honors over the course of her career, including earning an honorary D.H.L. from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2002.

In 1994, Northrup published her first book, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing. In this work the author explores the various conditions of women's lives that can lead to health problems. First, Northrup discusses how society influences women's ideas about their bodies and how to care for them. Then she gives readers an overview of women's bodies, including various problems or conditions associated with each part. Finally, Northrup gives advice on choosing the right health-care provider. Throughout, she gives examples of women who have healed from illnesses through a variety of alternative medical methods.

Reviews of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom were positive overall. A number of critics noted that the book provides more information than many self-help books, making it a text appealing to a greater number of readers. "This guide goes far beyond standard self-help books, assessing women's health within the context of their work, families and society," observed a Publishers Weekly contributor. Others lauded Northrup's ability to combine different approaches to medicine in an effective and useful manner. "This is a truly remarkable book seamlessly integrating traditional medical approaches and understandings; complementary therapies; contemporary psychological methods; and profound spiritual beliefs," wrote a reviewer for Menopause News.

In 2001, Northrup published The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing during the Change. Here the author addresses the specific health changes and concerns associated with menopause, with a special emphasis on the use of alternative medicine in order to ease and treat women's changing bodies. She discusses the connection between women's minds and their bodies, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of hormone replacement therapy, the physical changes associated with menopause, and useful foods and supplements.

Critics and readers reacted positively to The Wisdom of Menopause overall, citing Northrup's wealth of knowledge and research experience. "Middle-aged herself, Northrup writes from experience and, more important, from her professional expertise as a physician who has treated many women and researched menopause," wrote a Publishers Weekly contributor. For others, the book was viewed as a helpful tool for navigating a sometimes mysterious and frightening stage in women's lives. It is a "reassuring study of the changes that women should expect and the ways they can improve life," commented a reviewer in the School Library Journal.

In 2005, Northrup published Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health. In this work she explores the mother-daughter relationship, and its effects on women's health. In addition to citing extensive research on mother-daughter health, Northrup shares stories from her life and the lives of her patients to discuss issues like pregnancy, emotional health, puberty, and the transition into adulthood.

Some reviewers enjoyed Northrup's insight and more thoughtful approach to the book. "Her best and most heartfelt advice is on dealing with teenage daughters," commented a Publishers Weekly contributor. Others found her information on alternative forms of medicine most helpful. Northrup "offers parenting advice and some useful information on holistic medicine," wrote Susan E. Pease in a review for the Library Journal.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 2001, Mary Carroll, review of The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing during the Change, p. 1340.

East West, April 1989, Ulrike Welsch, "Women to Women," p. 42; November 1990, Francine Rota, "50 Ways to Better Women's Health," p. 46; May 1991, Francine Rota, "Honoring Our Bodies," p. 89.

Library Journal, December 2001, Kathleen A. Sullivan, "Body Talk," p. 199; March 1, 2005, Susan E. Pease, review of Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health, p. 104.

Menopause News, July-August 1994, review of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing, p. 6.

Publishers Weekly, May 30, 1994, review of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, p. 53; March 12, 2001, review of The Wisdom of Menopause, p. 83; March 19, 2001, Daisy Maryles and Dick Donahue, "Medical Wisdom," p. 18; February 14, 2005, review of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, p. 69; March 28, 2005, Daisy Maryles, "Wise Gals Indeed," p. 16.

School Library Journal, August, 2002, review of The Wisdom of Menopause, p. 53.

Special Delivery, spring, 1999, Ananda Lowe, review of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, p. 25.