And why do I call it 'ancestral?

No, it isn't just a buzzword. Tallow, and fats of animal origin were used as skin care and medicine for generations before the industrial revolution. In Sally Fallon's book 'Nourishing Fats' she outlines the rise of seed oils which were made to look appealing to the then modern housewife.

In this greater move away from the wild, the village and nature's way, animal fats were easily replaced by these mechanically derived oils (previously only used as machinery lubricants). The effects have made themselves known over the past decades as disease, digestive issues and obesity have spiked dangerously and the demonised animal fat consumption is at an all-time low.

Now, this may be particularly true for nourishment, ie what we choose to consume...but what if we viewed anything we put in, on or near our bodies as consumption?

In reality we are very closely linked to our environment, and our skin, the largest organ of absorption and boundary between inside and outside on the physical layer of things, needs the same kind of care and attention to what goes into our stomach.

This is why I strive to find the best quality suppliers for the suet I use to make Freya's Kitchen Tallow Balm! I source only from high-welfare, organic and free range pastures for life cattle.

It is so important to me that the animals providing us with their medicine for our nourishment and thrival be honoured and get to live the best lives they can-as close to how nature intends as possible.