Health

Threads - Lisa Fannen

Not-for-profit book which collates and expands on the information and ideas stemming from feminist health workshops. Threads encompasses information and thoughts about changes that can be experienced during the menstrual cycle, a chapter about the experience and politics of so-called PMS, a look at feminist redefinitions of female anatomy based on women's own observations and experiences, information and thinking about the history of western anatomy and about different understandings of the human body (like Chinese Medicine). Threads also looks at the history of sexology, intersex politics, gender, and at the medical model of menstruation and includes a critique of biomedicine. As a collection of writing, personal stories and quotes, excerpts, illustrations and images from a wide array of sources, Threads frames these discussions in the broader cultural, social and economic contexts we are living in and shows how these inform our experience of ourselves, of health and of life. (B £6)

New View of a Woman's Body - Federation of Feminist Women's Health Centres

This was one of the original books that came out of the feminist movement in the U.S. Written by a collective of women who did tons of anatomical/practical and theoretical research and gave us a whole new understanding of the clitoris. This book contains info on cunt health, breast health, illustrations and photos. No other book like it. (B £10)

Hot Pantz, do it yourself gynecology - Isabelle Gauthier and Lisa Vinebaum

A pillar zine put together by women in Montreal. It describes DIY uses of herbs for gynaecological health with advice and recipes. (Z £1)

Touch me Touch me not - Shodhini Collective

Amazing book that describes how a collective of health workers in India used feminist ideas of consciousness-raising to teach sexual health to other health workers and lay women healers in remote villages. (B £8)

Navigating the space between brilliance and madness: a reader and roadmap of bipolar worlds - the icarus project

'the icarus project envisions a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences of 'mental illness' rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework (...) We believe we have a dangerous gift to be cultivated and taken care of, rather than a disease or disorder to be 'cured' or 'eliminated'. (A4 Z, £3.50)

Friends make the best medicine: a guide to creating community mental health support networks - the icarus project

The icarus project have put together a collection of guidelines for setting up a community support group within the icarus project vision (see the handbook review). These include confidentiality, facilitation and self-facilitation, mutual aid, discussion questions, elements of listening spaces and a tool kit and will be an invaluable ressource for anyone/any group looking to set up support networks including but not limited to mental health. (Z, £1)

Chart your cycle - Chella Quint

Articles about menstruation (cycles, myths, tampons ) and an invaluable ten-year chart to record your menstrual cycle. (Z £1)

Luna Yoga: vital fertility and sexuality - Adelheid Ohlig

This book was one of the main motivations to start reviewing books and set up a distro. It looks and may seem to be a load of hippy crap but it is a really incredible book. (Unless recommended you may never realise what a treasure this book is.) Written by Adelheid, a feminist who writes about her own experience of cervical cancer and her recovery with the use of specific yoga exercises, lifestyle changes and herbs. The book includes her own personal story, as well as yoga exercises to promote cunt health and specific exercises to control fertility. (B £8)

The Clitoral Truth - Rebecca Walker

Every time we read this book, it still surprises us. It's packed full of practical and historical information about women's genital anatomy and sexual response. It is easy to read and a great place to start reading about feminist health politics. (B £8)

The Menopausal Years - Susan Weed

Susan Weed spent 13 years talking to 50,000 women about the menopause and this book is based on what she discovered. There are lots of remedies but more importantly she challenges the idea that the menopause is something to be feared. (B £10)

Wives' Tales

American zine crammed with info on ways for women to reclaim their health. Alternatives to mainstream medicine: self exam, lunaception, precautions and herbal remedies for period pains, vaginal infections, birth control and a look at childbirth, abortion and breast health. Not sure when this was first printed but most of it remains relevant. (Z £1.50)

Adventures in Menstruating - Chella Quint

Rants about the feminine hygiene industry and personal stories of bleeding. Illustrated with some shocking sexist adverts from the 50's and 60's. (Z £1)

Viva Voce: some thoughts on women's health and sexuality

Zine compiled by the women who set up this distro. Articles among others on: history of female sexuality, the clitoris, ejaculation, herbal abortion, PMT, sexual abuse, and how to do self-exam. Also stories, poetry, lyrics and drawings. (Z £2)

...beyond amnesty...

Exploring self-directed violence, this zine looks at the political and economic climate we are living in and the effects on our mental health. Writing from personal experience, this is a chilling account of the current way of life in the UK. (Z, £1)

Breast cancer? Breast health! The wise woman way - Susan Weed

One of the most informative books out there if you can ignore the hippy language and goddess imagery. There is loads of practical info with a particular stress on preventative measures such as breast self-exam and nutrition. She also writes about different types and stages of tumours. Advice on breast cancer ranges from alternative treatments to coping with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and mastectomy. (B £10)

Bearing the weight towards body power - Mind the Gap

Articles on eating disorders, body hair, advertising campaigns This zine exposes the 'beauty myth' and the pressures put on girls growing up, showing how adolescence tends to function as a transitional period in which many girls grow to hate their bodies. Compiled by a feminist group in Cardiff. (Z 50p)

Negrita, Abortion Etiquette - Glo

Maybe a little obvious or maybe not If you are feeling shit or not getting enough support this would really cheer you up. Good feminist perspective on why it is important to look after your friends during abortion. (Z 50p)

Mine #2 - Meredith

This is one of the best anthologies of abortion stories we have read. It is a follow up of the first zine and deliberately focuses on stories from non-white women. The zine highlights the importance of talking about how emotional abortions can be and how little this was acknowledged in the early pro-abortion movements. (Z £1.50)

This is me using my choice: an anthology of women's abortion stories - Gabriella

Talking about abortion is still taboo in western society and the articles in this zine were written in the belief that sharing stories challenges this norm. There are two very important articles. The first is about how to look after yourself after a medical abortion. The other debates the irresponsibility of some feminist writings when both advocating herbal abortions and underplaying the significance of the accessibility to safe clinical abortions. (Z £1.50)

Herbal Abortion: a woman's d.i.y guide - Annwen

The best U.K. booklet on the use and safety of herbs. A totally invaluable starting point if you are thinking of doing this. (Z £2)

WARNING!

If you are going to attempt a herbal abortion please note dosages carefully, never use essential oils internally, and seek advice and support from the fantastic Sister Zeus email list. You can go onto the list and ask for advice from women who have experience of herbs and dosages. The website is http://www.sister_zeus.com/and the email list is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herbal_abortion_support.