What do you think?
Rate this book
Hot Pants: Do-It-Yourself Gynecology and Herbal Remedies
Hot Pants, long an underground classic, offers great basic sexual health information along with tried and true herbal treatments for common gynecological problems. "Patriarchy sucks," the authors begin. "It's robbed us of our autonomy and much of our history. We believe it's integral for women to be aware and in control of our own bodies." In that spirit, diagrams and herbal remedies teach you how to diagnose and heal many basic problems, including bladder infections, inducing your period, easing cramps and PMS, aphrodisiacs, and dealing with pregnancy. You'll learn herbal remedies to ease every stage of your menstrual cycle. This book deserves a place next to your copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves.
- GenresNonfictionGenderHealth
96 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 14, 2024
I find it difficult to rate this little book
😃 I love that it's a form of collected social and feminist activist history. the zine that's been adapted to produce this volume was in circulation in 1993, and this collection was published 2015. it's nice that it's been preserved and is still available to interested folk.
😃 I always appreciate zines, collected zines, books, etc that seek to share information to empower others, and particularly to empower and equip people to be able to better understand and care for their own bodies and health.
😃 a collection that openly addresses sexual health, and especially the sexual and reproductive health of women and other people with vaginas, wombs, etc. (whatever we personally call them).
😃 contents page laid out like the periodic (period-ic? 😉) table.
🙂 body info
🙂 herb info
🙂 lots of easy info on how to make an infusion, decoction, tincture, at home/in community.
🙂 some pictures and diagrams.
🤔 I'm pretty sure a few things will have changed since the original zine this was adapted from, and since this adaptation (which was updated and fact checked abit). this might include *medical and herbal understanding and approaches to some aspects of health and dis-ease *forms and availability of information *contexts many folk are living in, including current choices.
🤔 it's very DIY/DIT - people got together and shared what they knew and/or could glean. there's possibly going to be abit of human error. some things might not be quite accurate. I haven't read thru in detail and fact checked stuff. (not knocking DIY/DIT at all - that's a positive imo 🙂).
🤔 it's an English adaptation of a work originally in French, so it loses its original title ('C'est toujours chaud dans les culottes des filles' 😁), and maybe some of its original feel. but it also gains what the editors added and updated.
🤔 it's North American in origin, so folk on other continents might need to find local equivalents wrt some herbs, resources.
and kinda integral to this is the perspective - it's mostly a Euro-American approach to the understanding of bodies, health, medicines, etc. I don't think this is meant to prioritise one system of medicine over another - the authors were just writing from what they knew - but it's obviously not the only system of medicine, nor the only valid one.
🤔 by its very nature, it's a zine, and it can feel abit all over the place. not a bad thing, just a thing... maybe even a good thing artistically and anarchistically 😉
☹🤔 the diagrams of pelvic anatomy aren't good. the authors did acknowledge some things from the original suffered from repeated copying over time, and perhaps this is one of those. but some of the anatomy is kinda lost by some bits (hahah, 'bits' indeed! 😉) being all dark, and it runs the risk of it confusing people as much as it informs. probably the biggest flaw in the book in my opinion, and one that could have been corrected when it was updated for publication in this form, with better line drawings. eg in the drawing of a generalised vagina seen as you would if you were looking at it face on, the clitoris, urethra, hymen, vaginal opening, labia minor are all lost within a kinda blacked out shape. the internal anatomy is equally affected/worse ☹😥
🌿🌼🌿
I read bits, and I skim read others. mostly I was interested and happy it exists. awa having an interest in the subject and approach.
it wasn't especially useful to me, mostly cos I know alot already, but I enjoyed seeing it, and seeing their approach, and I'm always interested in how others use herbs - while there's alot of commonality, sometimes the little differences are the most interesting. the authors drew on their personal experience, awa reference materials.
like I said, I both skimmed abit and haven't fact checked stuff, so apologies if there's any really glaring errors in the text and esp info presented that my review doesn't flag! nothing obviously very wrong leapt off the page at me, and I wasn't surprised by alot of the info and the herbs included, etc, but that doesn't mean there aren't any issues of accuracy - the herb profiles I suspect would be mostly likely to suffer from being incomplete rather than inaccurate - it's a small book, and not room for alot of information.
within the first few pages there's a short disclaimer type bit, and the authors clearly state that the remedies presented are from their personal experiences, and encourage folk to seek professional input (herbal and/or medical) if needed. and throughout the book they give some references, and give some further reading.
🌿🌼🌿
I noticed a couple of fairly alarmist reviews on goodreads, and don't let those put you off.
🌟 herbal medicine is real medicine, and effective medicine 🌟
🌟 personal autonomy in managing our health, and especially our sexual and reproductive health, is important, especially when many of us live in societies that try to control some aspects. information is power! 🌟
🌿🌼🌿
o, and no copyright, and a downloadable photocopyable version is available at:
www.indybay.org/uploads/2010/04/06/ho...
this has much more of a zine feel and look to it, and almost feels like a different publication - I think it probably retains more of the feel of the original zine. it appears to be a 1994/1995 English adaptation of the original. one of the anatomy diagrams I grumbled about is better, the other seems missing. there's some cute drawings you don't see in the book 🙂 there's probably some other differences too, but I'd need to print a copy - I was mostly just checking the link still worked (19 years later 😃) before including it in my review.
🌿🌼🌿
accessed as a paper book, published by Microcosm Publishing, printed on post-consumer paper 💚
😃 I love that it's a form of collected social and feminist activist history. the zine that's been adapted to produce this volume was in circulation in 1993, and this collection was published 2015. it's nice that it's been preserved and is still available to interested folk.
😃 I always appreciate zines, collected zines, books, etc that seek to share information to empower others, and particularly to empower and equip people to be able to better understand and care for their own bodies and health.
😃 a collection that openly addresses sexual health, and especially the sexual and reproductive health of women and other people with vaginas, wombs, etc. (whatever we personally call them).
😃 contents page laid out like the periodic (period-ic? 😉) table.
🙂 body info
🙂 herb info
🙂 lots of easy info on how to make an infusion, decoction, tincture, at home/in community.
🙂 some pictures and diagrams.
🤔 I'm pretty sure a few things will have changed since the original zine this was adapted from, and since this adaptation (which was updated and fact checked abit). this might include *medical and herbal understanding and approaches to some aspects of health and dis-ease *forms and availability of information *contexts many folk are living in, including current choices.
🤔 it's very DIY/DIT - people got together and shared what they knew and/or could glean. there's possibly going to be abit of human error. some things might not be quite accurate. I haven't read thru in detail and fact checked stuff. (not knocking DIY/DIT at all - that's a positive imo 🙂).
🤔 it's an English adaptation of a work originally in French, so it loses its original title ('C'est toujours chaud dans les culottes des filles' 😁), and maybe some of its original feel. but it also gains what the editors added and updated.
🤔 it's North American in origin, so folk on other continents might need to find local equivalents wrt some herbs, resources.
and kinda integral to this is the perspective - it's mostly a Euro-American approach to the understanding of bodies, health, medicines, etc. I don't think this is meant to prioritise one system of medicine over another - the authors were just writing from what they knew - but it's obviously not the only system of medicine, nor the only valid one.
🤔 by its very nature, it's a zine, and it can feel abit all over the place. not a bad thing, just a thing... maybe even a good thing artistically and anarchistically 😉
☹🤔 the diagrams of pelvic anatomy aren't good. the authors did acknowledge some things from the original suffered from repeated copying over time, and perhaps this is one of those. but some of the anatomy is kinda lost by some bits (hahah, 'bits' indeed! 😉) being all dark, and it runs the risk of it confusing people as much as it informs. probably the biggest flaw in the book in my opinion, and one that could have been corrected when it was updated for publication in this form, with better line drawings. eg in the drawing of a generalised vagina seen as you would if you were looking at it face on, the clitoris, urethra, hymen, vaginal opening, labia minor are all lost within a kinda blacked out shape. the internal anatomy is equally affected/worse ☹😥
🌿🌼🌿
I read bits, and I skim read others. mostly I was interested and happy it exists. awa having an interest in the subject and approach.
it wasn't especially useful to me, mostly cos I know alot already, but I enjoyed seeing it, and seeing their approach, and I'm always interested in how others use herbs - while there's alot of commonality, sometimes the little differences are the most interesting. the authors drew on their personal experience, awa reference materials.
like I said, I both skimmed abit and haven't fact checked stuff, so apologies if there's any really glaring errors in the text and esp info presented that my review doesn't flag! nothing obviously very wrong leapt off the page at me, and I wasn't surprised by alot of the info and the herbs included, etc, but that doesn't mean there aren't any issues of accuracy - the herb profiles I suspect would be mostly likely to suffer from being incomplete rather than inaccurate - it's a small book, and not room for alot of information.
within the first few pages there's a short disclaimer type bit, and the authors clearly state that the remedies presented are from their personal experiences, and encourage folk to seek professional input (herbal and/or medical) if needed. and throughout the book they give some references, and give some further reading.
🌿🌼🌿
I noticed a couple of fairly alarmist reviews on goodreads, and don't let those put you off.
🌟 herbal medicine is real medicine, and effective medicine 🌟
🌟 personal autonomy in managing our health, and especially our sexual and reproductive health, is important, especially when many of us live in societies that try to control some aspects. information is power! 🌟
🌿🌼🌿
o, and no copyright, and a downloadable photocopyable version is available at:
www.indybay.org/uploads/2010/04/06/ho...
this has much more of a zine feel and look to it, and almost feels like a different publication - I think it probably retains more of the feel of the original zine. it appears to be a 1994/1995 English adaptation of the original. one of the anatomy diagrams I grumbled about is better, the other seems missing. there's some cute drawings you don't see in the book 🙂 there's probably some other differences too, but I'd need to print a copy - I was mostly just checking the link still worked (19 years later 😃) before including it in my review.
🌿🌼🌿
accessed as a paper book, published by Microcosm Publishing, printed on post-consumer paper 💚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2024
4 Circa 1993 Stars that Remain Solid Today!
Measuring 5.25” x 6.75”, 3/8” thick, 95 pages cover to cover, and printed in 1993 this tiny tome delivers the low-down on “down there” in straight forward, uncomplicated, non-clinical, and sometimes crass lingo. According to the authors,
“TEN GOOD REASONS TO KEEP THIS BOOK ON HAND AND TO SHARE IT:
😎 IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT YOUR CUNT AS YOUR DOCTOR DOES
😎 IF YOU BREAK OUT INTO A COLD SWEAT EVERY TIME YOUR PERIOD'S LATE
😎 IF THE PILL IS GIVING YOU THE BLUES
😎 IF YOUR FRIEND'S GOT CRAMPS
😎 IF THE CONDOM BUSTS
😎 IF YOU CATCH THE CLAP
😎 IF ANTIBIOTICS GIVE YOU A YEAST INFECTION
😎 IF YOUR YEASTY ITCH MAKES YOU WANT TO GRAB STEEL WOOL
😎 IF YOU BLEED BUCKETS
😎 IF STIs ARE SQUATTING YOUR CROTCH
….....AND FOR MANY OTHER REASONS............”
Having been a provider of women's health care for a number of years I concur with the above. HOT PANTS addresses all of the above and much more; and, as importantly, includes the disclaimer:
“THIS BOOK IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSIS OR PRESCRIPTIONS. IT IS AN INFORMATIONAL GUIDE TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY AND YOUR HEALTH...[].....IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONSULT AN HERBAL PRACTITIONER, NATUROPATH, PHYSICIAN, OR GYNECOLOGIST.”
(the authors neglected to include Nurse Practitioner here but they get a pass for all the friendly, patient centered, info they themselves provide)
“Green” tips are given, in an era before it was more than hip to be green, such as the use of a natural sea sponge instead of tampons. One sponge can last up to 6 months if properly cared for!
There is also simple stark advice that could save your life (or at least a lot of heartache and headache), “If you are sexually active with men who don't want to wear condoms, ask whose interest they have in mind and remind yourself that no fuck is worth risking your life for.” This may sound a bit dramatic but really drives home the perspicuity of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Sixteen pages are devoted to THE PROPERTIES AND DOSAGES of herbs referred to in the text and the last seven pages contain a useful glossary of terms.
The few illustrations contained are catchy and kitschy: The Table of Contents is arranged like The Periodic Table of The Elements; anatomical diagrams are clear and simple and very clearly labeled; an abbreviated foot reflexology chart shows where to massage to help relieve period cramps. “Alternate massaging of each foot as needed. This massage yields astonishing results,especially if it's done by someone else.”; and there is a TEMPERATURE AND CERVICAL MUCOUS CHARTING template page for you to copy and use. How & why would you want to use it, you ask? Then you really need to get a copy of this very affordable and indispensable little book!
Thank you to GR member, Hawk, for bringing this publication to my attention and for providing the link to an on-line version in your wonderful review!
Hawk's outstanding review may be read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Measuring 5.25” x 6.75”, 3/8” thick, 95 pages cover to cover, and printed in 1993 this tiny tome delivers the low-down on “down there” in straight forward, uncomplicated, non-clinical, and sometimes crass lingo. According to the authors,
“TEN GOOD REASONS TO KEEP THIS BOOK ON HAND AND TO SHARE IT:
😎 IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT YOUR CUNT AS YOUR DOCTOR DOES
😎 IF YOU BREAK OUT INTO A COLD SWEAT EVERY TIME YOUR PERIOD'S LATE
😎 IF THE PILL IS GIVING YOU THE BLUES
😎 IF YOUR FRIEND'S GOT CRAMPS
😎 IF THE CONDOM BUSTS
😎 IF YOU CATCH THE CLAP
😎 IF ANTIBIOTICS GIVE YOU A YEAST INFECTION
😎 IF YOUR YEASTY ITCH MAKES YOU WANT TO GRAB STEEL WOOL
😎 IF YOU BLEED BUCKETS
😎 IF STIs ARE SQUATTING YOUR CROTCH
….....AND FOR MANY OTHER REASONS............”
Having been a provider of women's health care for a number of years I concur with the above. HOT PANTS addresses all of the above and much more; and, as importantly, includes the disclaimer:
“THIS BOOK IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSIS OR PRESCRIPTIONS. IT IS AN INFORMATIONAL GUIDE TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY AND YOUR HEALTH...[].....IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONSULT AN HERBAL PRACTITIONER, NATUROPATH, PHYSICIAN, OR GYNECOLOGIST.”
(the authors neglected to include Nurse Practitioner here but they get a pass for all the friendly, patient centered, info they themselves provide)
“Green” tips are given, in an era before it was more than hip to be green, such as the use of a natural sea sponge instead of tampons. One sponge can last up to 6 months if properly cared for!
There is also simple stark advice that could save your life (or at least a lot of heartache and headache), “If you are sexually active with men who don't want to wear condoms, ask whose interest they have in mind and remind yourself that no fuck is worth risking your life for.” This may sound a bit dramatic but really drives home the perspicuity of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Sixteen pages are devoted to THE PROPERTIES AND DOSAGES of herbs referred to in the text and the last seven pages contain a useful glossary of terms.
The few illustrations contained are catchy and kitschy: The Table of Contents is arranged like The Periodic Table of The Elements; anatomical diagrams are clear and simple and very clearly labeled; an abbreviated foot reflexology chart shows where to massage to help relieve period cramps. “Alternate massaging of each foot as needed. This massage yields astonishing results,especially if it's done by someone else.”; and there is a TEMPERATURE AND CERVICAL MUCOUS CHARTING template page for you to copy and use. How & why would you want to use it, you ask? Then you really need to get a copy of this very affordable and indispensable little book!
Thank you to GR member, Hawk, for bringing this publication to my attention and for providing the link to an on-line version in your wonderful review!
Hawk's outstanding review may be read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 12, 2018
Painfully inaccurate, potentially dangerous information masquerading as real health information. Any gynaecology guide which cannot accurately identify the difference between the vulva and the vagina is automatically alarming. Please provide the young women in your lives with more accurate information, they deserve better.
October 4, 2017
A decent reference for folks with ovaries, cervixes, & vaginas. The herbal info isn't as in-depth as I'd like but pairs well with other herbal remedy books.
December 27, 2018
I'm so glad that Goodreads have put a warning. And you should follow it. You know what irks me? This book is disguised as a tool to fight the patriarchy and empower women when none of this is true. It promotes homoeopathy and alternative medicine when none of those things works. Medicine that actually does the job is called medicine and not alternative for a good reason. This book has some harmful advice because their herbs haven't passed clinical trials to see if the risks outweigh the benefits. I'd love to debunk all the garbage present in this book, but it has so many ridiculous claims that I'd never finish. Thankfully, Dr Jen Gunter has dispelled some myths they present.
Read
July 4, 2018super useful
August 16, 2023
I think alternative and traditional medicine is valuable, and Western medicine has completely failed women in terms of female issues such as endometriosis, PCOS, and menstrual health. So I was excited to check out the information in this book. Unfortunately, it has a lot of red flags and I'm not sure the information can be trusted. In particular their remedies for trichomoniasis, and unprotected sex/pregnancy prevention, seem dangerous and could potentially cause irritation, ulcers, infection and kidney stones/kidney damage.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews