Fertile Heart - Book Shelf

In the last nine years, my entire relationship to books has changed. I have become much more aware of the live presence behind the pages. I look at them as my guides, my truest, most reliable friends who are there at a moment's notice, available 24 hours a day. I wouldn't dream of throwing away a single volume that has taught me something at some point in my life. The following list includes authors that continue to guide and nurture me in my own process, and I hope they will be treasured companions on your own journey. - Julia By partnering with Amazon.com, we are able to bring you a convenient way to purchase any of these books with the click of a button. Simply click on the title of the book you are interested in and you will be immediately brought to the corresponding book's page and description on Amazon.com's web site. We would love to hear your feedback as well as suggestions of additional titles.
Currently Featured
Inconceivable: A Woman's Triumph Over Despair and Statistics Julia Indichova, Broadway Books, 2001 For anyone who has ever been told "Sorry there is nothing you can do", Inconceivable is bursting with self-determination and hope. According to several fertitily specialists Julia's high FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level was an indication that her body was no longer producing fertilizable eggs... Click here for a full description of Inconceivable
Rain Forest Remedies, The Maya Way to Heal Your Body and Replenish Your Soul Rosita Arvigo & Nadine Epstein, HarperSanFrancisco, 2001 If you are wrestling with, endometriosis, fibroids, irregular cycles, painful periods, etc. you will find Dr. Arvigo's information on Mayan uterine massage especially helpful. This is a terrific resource offering natural remedies for a wide range of difficulties. Lots of inspiring stories!
Letters To A Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke, M.D. Herter Norton (Translator), W.W. Norton & Company, 1994 This book brings wisdom and comfort from a man who had endured great suffering throughout his life and found a way to transform it into meaning and joy. Rilke is one of my treasured friends. Here is a quote: "Your path with aloneness will be your support and solace even in the midst of unfamiliar situations. It is through that aloneness that you will find all your paths."
Women's Health and Fertility Issues
Mother Daugther Wisdom Christiane Northrup, MD, Bantam, 2005 As in all Dr. Nothrup�s books, Mother-Daughter Wisdom is a wonderful resource you�ll find yourself going back to through the years. Written in Dr. Norhtrup�s warm, compelling style, it covers topics ranging from sexuality, our genetic health legacy, financial independence, and much, much more. An indispensable companion to all mothers and daughters.
Natural Hormone Replacement Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. & John Morgenthaler, Smart Publications, 1997 Written by a clinician with extensive experience with fertility and hormonal issues, this book offers compelling evidence that nutritional adjustments and natural hormone replacement is a preferred alternative to synthetic drugs.
Fertility Cycles and Nutrition Marilyn M. Shanon, The Couple to Couple League International Inc.1996 This is an excellent resource. Invaluable information on food, suplements and their effect on our health and fertility. The reading list alone is worth the price of the book. A double must read.
The Infertility Diet : Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage Fern Reiss Peanut Butter and Jelly Press, 1999. This book is a welcome addition to the ever-increasing documentation of the benefits of specific nutritional choices in reclaiming our fertility, includes recommendations for specific conditions. Though an excellent resource, read it carefully, some of the data is confusing. For example, the information on the pro's and con's of dairy products.
Alternative Medicine Guide to Women's Health # 1Burton Goldberg and the editors of Alternative Medicine, Future Medicine Publishing 1998. Thirty two leading holistic physicians give their clinically safe treatments for problems such as Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts, fibroids, a range of fertility problems and more. Complete with details on thirty four actual patient success stories.
Enhancing Fertility NaturallyHolistic Therapies for a Successful Pregnancy Nicky Wesson Healing Arts Press, 1999. Discusses at some length side effects associated with conventional treatments. Has a number of useful tips, explores such alternatives as aromatherapy, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy, etc. Includes several success stories.
The Language of Fertility, A Revolutionary Mind-Body Program for Conscious Conception Niravi B. Payne, M.S., and Brenda Lane Richardson A passionate, and thoughtful exploration of mind-body tools for enhancing our fertility.
Menopausal Years The Wise Woman Way, Alternative approaches for women 30-90 Susun S. Weed, Ash Tree Publishing, 1992 Don't let the title scare you away. This book offers a myriad of herbal remedies for balancing our hormones, treating fibroids, menstrual cramps, osteoporosis, etc. Susun Weed has been working with plants for over a quarter of a century. She is one the of the Mothers of Herbal Medicine in the United States..I especially love her poetic descriptions of the Wise Woman Healing Rituals. This book should be in every woman's library regardless of age or health status.
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause: Balance your hormones and your life from thirty to fifty John R. Lee, M.D. , Jesse Hanley, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins. Warner Books 1999 Dr. Lee is a pioneer and expert in the study and use of the hormone progesterone. This book is an excellent source of information on how hormones, nutrition, exercise, and environmental toxins affect your health. (a must read especially for women with POF)
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing Christiane Northrup, M.D., 1998 Filled with fascinating case histories documenting the mind-body connection
Fibroid Tumors & Endometriosis, Self Help Book Susan M. Lark, M.D., 1995 Specific recommedations for nutritional and lifestyle adjustments. Solving the problems of heavy bleeding, cramps, pain, infertility, and other symptoms associated with fibroid tumors and endometriosis
A Woman's Best Medicine, Health, Happiness, and Long Life through Mahrishi Ayur-Veda Nancy Lonsdorf M.D., Veronica Butler, M.D. and Melanie Brown, Ph.D., 1993 An in-depth exploration of one of the ancient healing traditions
Healing Mind, Healthy Woman, Using the Mind-Body Connection to Manage Stress and Take Control of Your Life Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., and Henry Dreher, 1996 A compassionate book, includes a number of useful suggestions and easy to follow mind-body exercises.
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Natural Healing Dr. Gary Null, 1996 An excellent tool for self-empowerment, lists natural treatments for a wide range of diseases
Estrogen, The Natural Way: Over 250 Easy & Delicious Recipes for Menopause Nina Shandler, Villard New York, 1997 The introduction by three physicians as well as the author's personal journey is in itself reason enough to buy this book. You will need to adjust some of the recipes to your personal needs but here is once again an example of the healing power of food. Women with POF will find it especially useful.
I Got Pregnant, You Can Too!: How Healing Yourself Physically, Mentally and Spiritually Leads to Fertility Katie Boland, Underwood books, 1998. Here is another inspiring story of overcoming odds. Filled with amusing stories and fertility boosting tips.
A Little Pregnant: Our Memoir of Fertility, Infertility, and a Marriage Linda Carbone and Ed Decker, Atlantic Monthly Press 1999 This is a beautifully written story that offers a number of important lessons. For me it once again validates the idea that the emotional and spiritual aspects of this process are often more important than hormone levels and age. In one heartbreaking IVF scene,for example, Linda's cervix communicates her ambivalence more clearly than her words. Unfortunately no one seems to be taking this communication very seriously. The great gift of this book is also an opportunity to hear the voice of the father-to-be.
Nutrition
Food and Our Bones: The Natural Way To Prevent Osteoporosis, Annemarie Colbin, Penguin Book 1998. (You don't need to be at risk for osteoporosis to find this book useful ) Ms. Colbin is someone you will trust as soon as you read the first paragraph of her Introduction. She is clearly someone who speaks from personal experience and her insights are invaluable. Includes recipes, information on key nutrients, foods that drain calcium and foods that build bone. Especially useful for anyone with elevated FSH levels.
Healing With Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford, North Atlantic Books Teacher, healer and nutrition researcher Paul Pitchford brings together Western nutritional science and Chinese medicine to create one of the clearest, most readable, comprehensive guides to conscious eating. Extensive information on health-balancing properties of specific foods, traditional herbal remedies, tips for protecing yourself against environmental toxins, in-depth exploration of the relationship between foods and emotional well-being. Includes 300 nutrient packed delicious recipes. If you want to be inspired to take charge of your own health this book is an excellent choice.
The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity, Donna Gates & Linda Schatz, B E D Pubns, 1996 Several people in my support groups have found this book extremely valuable. Many of the dietary changes I discuss in the "Cleaning the Refrigerator" chapter of Inconceivable are validated by the authors. One adjustment that may not be useful is using Stevia as a sugar substitute. There is some question about the adverse effects of Stevia on fertility.
A Way Out: Disease Deception and the Truth about Health, Matthew Grace, 2000. This is a great book if you want to be inspired to think for yourself and feel validated in a natural food-centered approach to resolving your current health challenge. Matthew Grace is a pretty "radical" guy, so be prepared for a scathing indictment of our meat-eating, and pill popping culture.
The Infertility Diet : Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage Fern Reiss Peanut Butter and Jelly Press, 1999. This book is a welcome addition to the ever-increasing documentation of the benefits of specific nutritional choices in reclaiming our fertility, includes recommendations for specific conditions. Though an excellent resource, read it carefully, some of the data is confusing. For example, the information on the pro's and con's of dairy products.
Food and Healing, How what you eat determines your health, your well-being, and the quality of your life Annemarie Colbin, 1996 An excellent resource to help us understand how what we eat has a great deal to to with how we feel. I appreciate Ms. Colbin's word of caution not to look to food as our salvation but rather see it as another tool to help in our personal evolution.
Fit for Life Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, 1985 We have found this controversial diet book very useful.
General Health
Spontaneous Healing, How to Discover and Embrace Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself Andrew Weil, M.D. The Ballantine Publishing Group 1995 soul For anyone looking to validate the idea of optimizing your inner healing system this is a double must read. Although this book is a classic, I find that many people even if they have read it at some point, have not really utilized it to its fullest. In order to do that you will want to read and reread it for inspiration and as a source of ongoing guidance for the rest of your life. Through discussion of topics such as, "Protecting Yourself from Toxins, Seven Strategies of Successful Patients," and through case histories of his patients, Dr Weil gets us to appreciate the incredible self-healing mechanism within the human body.
Radical Healing, Integrating the World's Great Therapeutic Traditions to Create a New Transformative Medicine Rudolph Ballentine, M.D. 1999 Trained at Duke University, Dr. Ballentine is a medical doctor, herbalist, Ayurvedic practitioner, homeopath. Drawing on 30 years of practice and medical studies this brilliant book is a cause for celebration for anyone interested in learning about different schools of Eastern and Western healing traditions. Radical Healing presents practical, well proven techniques for self-healing and transfomation, inspiring case histories, and specific tools , that help us go beyond labels (infertile) and give us a wide range of options. The notion that our personal healing is part of a global process of healing becomes quite clear as we journey toward our own Truth with this remarkable handbook.
Dr. Gaynor's Cancer Prevention Program Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D. and Jerry Hickey, R. Ph. Kensington Books 1999 I include this book here because many of the nutrients (phytoestrogens, antioxidants, etc.) that play a critical role in cancer prevention can help us reclaim our fertility. Dr Gaynor, M.D. is the Director of Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center, a New York Hospital/Cornell affiliate. His co-author Jerry Hickey, R. Ph. is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Society of Natural Pharmacy. This book is an impeccably researched resource with specific do's and don'ts that can change the way our body functions and feels. (The authors recommend many of the dietary changes I talk about in Inconceivable)
Natural Health, Natural Medicine, A Comprehensive Manual for Wellness and Self-Care Andrew Weil M.D. Practical, well researched advice from the guru of integrative medicine
Healing Visualizations, Creating Health through Imagery Gerald Epstein, M.D., 1989 Dr. Epstein's introduction, which I read many times, helped me understand why and how imagery creates physiological changes. The imagery exercises will help you learn the language of images and assist you in creating healing imagery for your particular problem.
Awakening Intuition: Using Your Mind- Body Network for Insight and Healing. Mona Lisa Schulz M.D. Ph.D. 1999 If you need guidance for starting you inner pilgrimage and reading the messages your body-mind dispatches every moment of your life (in the form of dreams, emotional reactions, memories, etc.) this is it. Dr. Schulz guides us in a voice that is fun and easy to understand. Her excitement about learning and self-discovery emanates from every page.
For Your Soul
Broken Open, Elizabeth Lesser, Villard, June 2005 If you haven�t yet been �broken open� this book can help get you started. And it can do so in the most pleasurable, poignant way. Reading it is like hanging out with a really smart and funny friend who has had a lot of amazing experiences in her life. Most important, someone who�s been willing to learn, learn, learn from them all, and is now without the slightest hesitation willing to pass on what she discovered to you. An eminently readable book.
Satan Says, Sharon Olds, Univ of Pittsburgh Pr, 1985 If you want to connect with your longing, read Sharon Olds' poems about motherhood. They will open your heart, and guide you in your exploration of your deepest desires as well as possible inner conflicts about parenthood. The book is divided into three sections Daughter, Mother, Journey. I recommend that you read the poems you most connect with outloud to yourself and make these readings a part of your self-healing regimen. I see poetry as powerful body-mind-soul medicine.
You'll See It When You Believe It, The Way to Your Personal Transformation Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Avon Books, 1989 If you want to create a miracle, it helps to believe in them. Dr Dyer's writings make it easy to believe.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Anne Lamott, Doubleday 1994 The essence of our fertility is our creativity and our lust for life. Anne Lamott is a wise and laugh-out-loud-funny friend to help us reconnect with that part of ourselves. I've given dozens of copies as gifts.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith Anne Lamott, Pantheon Books 1999 The author in her inimitable fashion shows us a myriad of ways to sustain our faith amidst our trials..
The Clone Age, Adventures in the New World of Reproductive Technology Lori B. Andrews, Henry Holt and Company, 1999 This is an illuminating, often shocking book that takes us behind the scenes of the scientific-medical-industry of ART. Don't read it if you are considering IVF. But if you want help coming up with reasons not to do ART, this book might be a good place to start.
Time shifting: Creating More time to Enjoy Your Life Stephan Rechtschaffen, M.D., Doubleday 1998 One of the greatest challenges of the fertility-search is honoring our own rhythm of healing rather than getting caught up in the race against our biological clocks. Dr. Rechtshaffen offers a number of specific simple tools that can help us get back in sync with our bodies and souls. If you feel pressured by the "collective hysteria of the last good egg," this book is for you.

The alternative treatments discussed on this website are not intended to replace the advice of a health professional. They are shared with the understanding that each individual accepts full responsibiliy for her/his own well being.