Why Tallow?
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.
Fiona Sears
Animal and Plant medicine maker
Hello, I'm Fiona, one of your friendly neighbourhood medicine makers!
I work with both plant and animal medicine in the native American sense of the inner gift or essence that a particular being holds and has to offer to those who need it.
I started making Tallow after my very first lesson in compassionate butchery where I identified the suet in the beautiful doe our friend harvested in the mountains of Scotland. I had read about it and of course watched a million YouTube videos about how to best make tallow, what parts of the animal should be used and what precise process needed to be carried out.
This deer, and a very special plant guide-mugwort made up the very first venison tallow balm. I have learned so much since then! There have been challenges and incredible rewards, and I continue to hone this craft today!
What a gift to be able to use parts of the animal.that would normally be thrown away and wasted, to create something with such goodness, nourishing power and healing ability.
Grateful to mother nature for her abundance, skillful means and creative force, I am inspired by her (and as her) daily.
