One of our new farm remedies coming to the online shop (and farm stand) this coming Friday (7/8)!
North Woods Grounding Balm
This is another one of our tallow-based remedies. Tallows cellular makeup is so close to our skin cell structure that it makes it incredibly effective at improving our skin cell health. We share biology with it, our body recognizes it, so we're able to utilize tallow and absorb it so much more efficiently. Tallow also supports us internally in so many ways that one could even label it as "a super food" but that's a post for another day. Tallow has such a unique makeup of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, proteins and nucleic acid. This time-honored fat promotes strong, healthy skin membranes. Both repairing and replenishing, hydrating us so deeply. In this balm, we’re using bear tallow (bear grease). Bear grease used to be called "the Swiss army knife of North America". It was a staple in every home, and has centuries of time-honored use, both here in North America by Native Americans, as well as indigenous peoples across the globe. The history of bear grease is plentiful. It's centuries of use include encouraging hair growth and as a deep conditioner, ligament pain (tendinitis, arthritis), Swimmer’s itch, bug bite relief, burns (including sunburns) and minor wounds, and eczema relief. Bear tallow has strong anti-inflammatory properties, and doesn't have a scent like Beef, Bison, or Lamb (unless it's from a bear that's been feasting on fish all summer😅).
Bears represent strength, wisdom and vitality. They're grounding and represent balance. They're protectors. Bears are incredibly important to so many indigenous cultures. Spiritually, and/or as a food, clothing and so much more. Bear grease represents not allowing any part of the animal go to waste, after all, for us to have access to such a valuable resource, they did pay the ultimate price, and remembering that is important.
For this balm, we used local, sustainably and honorably sourced bear tallow, Organic and locally sourced hempseed oil, Birch bark & leaves and White Cedar tips from the North Woods Farm and local pure Beeswax.
Birch leaves are stunning and are part of the beautiful color of this balm. They're so soothing and contain salicylates. This plays a big role contributing to their anti-inflammatory properties, and even pain relief. Birch leaves are also a wonderful antibacterial herb, making them ideal for minor wounds. The bark lends the same qualities, with the addition of having high concentrations of triterpenes. This allows the production of keratin, a protein that protects our skin from damage and stress. Birch bark is well known for its cell regenerative qualities and has betulin and betulinic acid.
White Cedar has been used on rashes and skin irritations for centuries time. White Cedar can be used on congested skin, fungal issues, warts, and infections.
I love this balm to help summertime cracked heals, and my dry garden hands. However, the uses are endless. From an over night deep conditioning hair mask to a first aid ointment, beard balm, burn salve and so much more. I hope you all love it as much as we do!