I'm a fan of Before the Change, by Ann Louise Gittleman! The peri-zappers really do help minimize the ...um...nastier aspects of this time of life. (Perimenopause pretty much consumed my 40's. ). Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil's SO) liked 'em so much he did a whole show on perimenopause.

I've never used prescription hormone replacement and I'm now officially in menopause. Using peri-zappers (and the Fat Flush w.o.e.) the usual "change" nasties are history:
1) hot flashes - gone
2) acne - not only gone, but I have the best skin of my life
3) insomnia - cured
4) mood swings from h*** - history, I'm sweet alla time. (OK, it's true, when my inner brat escapes I'm not so sweet - but I'm generally harmless. )
5) tanked metabolism resulting in weight gain (I used to think that just looking at food made me gain weight!) - the FFP really helped me kickstart my metabolism and keep it ticking over. While I'm on the subject, how come health class doesn't warn you that your metabolism will naturally slow down as you age I like to think that a little warning notice would have helped me make dietary changes BEFORE I packed on 80+ pounds. Then again, I'm a chocoholic of long standing (now in remission. LOL).

At any rate, I wanna put in a plug for using natural dietary aids (as opposed to synthetic prescription hormones) for helping get through this time of life. Helped me a whole lot, I tell you what!

best wishes, ladies!
charli