This came from the "It's a girl" discussion:

Laundry and housework is extremely rough on your hands - if you do it right, or even pretty much if you just do it. So . . . how did earlier civilizations soften their skin and prevent/treat callouses? What did they use on cracked skin? Couldn't very well run down to 7/11 and grab a bottle of Cornhuskers . . . What homeopathic cures?

I've got a woman in a mediaval setting climbing a cliff. She needs to keep her hands and feet supple and free of callouses. What does she use?

Okay, Paul. Good information. Thanks! I had to do a bit more research, but it turns out that bear fat is a pretty fair source of Lanolin. Which seems pretty intuitive to me, but I like to check my fats . . . ah . . . facts.

There's a lot of interesting lore out there about bear fat. Barometer. Mixed with rendered bear urine as a mosquito repellent. Best pie crust in the world. I'm still trying to figure out how the Innuit peoples made raincoats out of aged bear gut . . . Need a better source.

Super. Thanks. Wish they had pictures . . .

Aloe vera wouldn't be available in this mountain range. No olives, either. The pot marigolds are good. As are rosemary and lavender. There's one type or another of sage in about every climate on land, so that's definitely good. Arnik is also prevalent; arnica is EXCELLENT for treating bruises! Witch hazel is a great substitute for rubbing alcohol, but doesn't smell very nice. Most of the others are unfamiliar to me. I'll have to find them for common names and get pictures. Thanks for the link!

crystalwizard said...

MysticWino said...
Sorry, Paul. I hate sheep. Therefore, my character hates them . . . Joking (about the character).
Turns out she prefers rendered bear fat with her own secret mix of flower petals and herbs.

olive oil works too, and doesn't smell as bad as rancid bear fat.
Calandula is good for the skin.

And here's a nice page of real herbs for the skin if you feel like adding any specifics into the story:

www.jurlique.com/page/ingredientsglossary

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Not sure, really. I think it has a fair amount of lanolin in it. Other than that, I can't recall. Been about 15 years . . . It's name couldn't be more appropriate. I know that much. Anyone who has detassled corn or stripped serious quantities of either fresh or dried corn can tell you how rough that is on your hands. I think I found it by recommendation of a doctor . . .

Pork fat is fairly common and plentiful in most places with pigs. I'm not sure about health department regs, though. Well, really, I'm not sure about laws in relation to animal any animal parts in this state. It would be rather tricky to explain the possession of bear fat in Illinois. Not so much pig lard, but I'm not sure about processing regulations; know a few guys I could get plenty from . . . Deer don't have enough fat to render in these parts. And there's not much else big enough . . .