Hot Pants! Do It Yourself Gynecology and Herbal Remedies
Isabelle Gauthier and Lisa Vinebaum
https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/899
**As stated in the zine: This book is not intended to provide diagnoses or prescriptions.
There seems to be this view of the world in that there are people who are ‘for’ modern medicine and those who are ‘against’. Well I’m here to tell you there are plenty of people who just want options.
Hot Pants! Do It Yourself Gynecology and Herbal Remedies is exactly that. From PMS to yeast infections, this zine lists alternatives for problems you’ve had, problems you’ve heard of, and a few more in the mix. I feel like this is the ‘little book of lady bits’ that I should have been given when I was a teenager.
This zine goes far beyond a list of problems and solutions, though. There are illustrations a’plenty with the female reproductive system, how to check your vaginal mucus, and even an example chart for fertility charting. It gets even better in the back. Want a list of aphrodisiacs? Check. Want to know how to prepare your own herbs? Check. Not sure if you wanted Chickweed or Motherwort? You guessed it – check.
Side not kudos: I love how the table of contents is set up like a periodic table. There are multiple reasons as to why this is funny and clever.
My love for this zine extends beyond what this zine literally is into what it stands for. Beyond ‘this is how you make babies’, my education about my body was distinctly lacking. My access to doctors who could actually explain anything? Distinctly lacking. What this stands for is not just alternative health but communication and shared knowledge for women in a world where it can be difficult for women to learn more about their bodies and their health.
As someone who craves some alternatives that don’t come from the chemist, I think this is a fantastic little guide for better understanding.