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My Reward PointsUdder Balm, created in 1899 by John L. Norris, was initially designed for dairy cows to soothe and protect their udders.
Farmers' wives noticed the softness in their husbands' hands and began using the lotion themselves.
Today, it is used as a skin moisturiser, hand cream, and healing balm due to its natural, customised, and reasonably priced properties.
This blog discusses the benefits of making udder balm, its essential ingredients, an effortless recipe, usage, variations, and safety precautions.
What is Udder Balm?
Udder balm, originally designed to prevent chapping in cow udders, is now being used to treat human skin, including that of farmers and gardeners, providing moisture and long-lasting relief for hands, feet, elbows, and lips.
Why Make Homemade Udder Balm?
Homemade udder balm offers numerous benefits, such as ingredient control, customisation, environmentally friendly packaging, and cost savings compared to commercial options.
1. Control Over Ingredients
Making your own udder balm allows you complete control over the ingredients, ensuring skin protection, moisturising, antibacterial properties, and fragrance, unlike commercially manufactured balms with harsh chemicals or petroleum.
2. Customizable With Natural Oils, Butters, And Essential Oils.
You can customise homemade udder balm with butters, essential oils, natural oils, and fragrances, providing medicinal effects, and adjust carrier oil amounts for a personalised experience.
3. Eco-friendly Packaging
DIY udder balm can be packaged in eco-friendly containers, eliminating single-use plastics and using materials like reusable jars/tins, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
4. Cost Savings Compared to Commercial Udder Balms
Making your own udder balm can save money for frequent users or those who prefer not to pay for preservatives and scents in commercial products.
Benefits of Homemade Udder Balm
Udder balm, with its antiseptic properties and emollients, prevents disease growth, maintains skin softness, and soothes minor skin irritations like cuts, bruises, and sunburn.
1. Intense Hydration for Dehydrated Skin
Udder balm is perfect for extremely dry, chapped, or cracked skin because it can deeply hydrate the skin as a traditional treatment for it.
2. Soothes Irritation And Minor Cracks
Do-it-yourself udder balms, containing beeswax, shea butter, and natural oils, provide deep moisture, protect skin, and relieve dryness, cracks, and skin irritation.
3. Natural Protection From Wind, Cold, And Dryness.
A DIY udder balm, containing natural ingredients like lanolin and beeswax, provides protection against wind, cold, and dryness, deeply hydrating, calming, and repairing skin for all skin types.
4. Multipurpose Balm
The DIY udder balm is a safe, hydrating, and versatile treatment not only for cows' udders but also for dry hands, chapped lips, cracked heels, rough elbows, cuticles, and feet, protecting irritated skin.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Udder Balm
Homemade udder balm typically requires a base oil (coconut, olive, or castor oil), thickening, and medicinal essential oils like lavender, tea tree, frankincense, vitamin E oil, and other ingredients listed below.
1. Carrier Oils
Carrier oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and almond oil are essential in homemade udder balm, providing skin moisture and nutrients, diluting essential oils for safe topical use, and adding skin-nourishing properties.
2. Butters
Shea butter or other natural butters like cocoa butter are commonly used in homemade udder balm due to their moisturizing and restorative properties, providing deep hydration & protection, which help calm and heal chapped or irritated skin.
3. Waxes
Beeswax is used in homemade udder balm to create a firm, thick consistency, create a protective barrier, lock in moisture, and prevent udder discomfort by softening and soothing the skin.
4. Essential Oils (Optional)
Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, and peppermint are used in homemade udder balm to calm the skin, provide antibacterial properties, and refresh the skin, respectively, although caution is advised during milking.
5. Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil, a potent antioxidant and preservative, is used in homemade udder balm to soothe inflamed skin and protect against environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays.
Easy DIY Udder Balm Recipe
You can make an all-natural, handmade udder balm for dairy animals by using this simple recipe. This balm works excellently on cow and goat udders, as well as hands.
Ingredients
- Coconut oil: ½ cup
- Olive oil: ¾ cup
- Beeswax: ¾ cup
- Raw honey: 1 tablespoon
- Lavender essential oil (or essential oil blend): 15-20 drops
How to Make?
- Melt the wax and oils together in a double boiler.
- When they have all melted, add the honey. (Honey may clump and solidify due to cooler temperatures, but swirling it will blend it in. It may sink to the bottom, but it can be worked in while cooling.)
- Take the balm off the heat and add the essential oils, mixing well.
- As it cools, it will stiffen around the edges. Scrape it off the edge of the basin or pot and continue to whisk.
- When you stir as it cools, the honey will be incorporated into the balm rather than remaining on the bottom. You can alternatively whisk it to achieve a lighter, whipped butter-like consistency.
- When finished, put it into a wide-mouth jar. This makes it convenient to dip your hands into.
Notes: Adjust beeswax to achieve a firmer/softer balm consistency.
How to Use Homemade Udder Balm
- This balm is easy to use. After milking, wipe down the udder and apply a small bit of udder balm to dry, chapped, or rough skin.
- Whatever remains on your hands can be worked into keeping them soft and flexible (ideal for hands after gardening or dishwashing).
- It can work as a foot balm before bedtime (socks are recommended to wear after applying).
- It can also be used as a lip balm or cuticle softener.
- Store the balm in a superb location. (If you store the balm in a warm area, such as a barn or shed, during the summer, the contents may separate. If this occurs, simply melt it and mix or whisk again.)
Variations of Homemade Udder Balm
Homemade udder balm can be enhanced with oils, butters, thickeners, calming ingredients, and essential oils for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Here are its variations:
1. Vegan Version
Beeswax is not vegan, so plant-based alternatives like candelilla or soy wax are used instead. Candella wax is harder and requires less, while soy wax is comparable in hardness.
2. Scented Balm
Essential oils, like citrus, floral, or herbal, are added to the cooling phase of homemade udder balm for a scented version with additional benefits and a pleasant scent.
3. Healing Balm
A healing version of homemade udder balm includes lavender, tea tree oil, and calendula flowers, with herbal infusions, frankincense, clay, charcoal, and chamomile for added calming properties.
Safety & Precautions While Using Udder Balm
- Always do a patch test before using DIY Udder Balm, especially if it contains essential oils.
- If you plan to go outside in the sun, avoid adding citrus oils to your homemade udder balm because they can promote photosensitivity.
- Do not use homemade udder balm as an alternative to medical therapy for skin issues.
FAQs - Homemade Udder Balm
You would probably know a lot about homemade udder balm, including how to make it at home. Now, take a look at the frequently asked questions below:
Q 1: What is the best recipe for homemade udder balm?
Ans: The recipe provided earlier in this blog is one of the best recipes to make a DIY udder balm. It works well for both the cows and goats, as well as humans.
Q 2: Can I use homemade udder balm on my face?
Ans: Homemade udder balm is safe for face use, but caution is advised due to potential safety concerns. Always perform patch tests and discontinue use if a rash or irritation occurs.
Q 3: How long does DIY udder balm last?
Ans: A homemade udder balm can last over a year to a year and a half when stored in a cold, dark, and dry location with stable materials like lard or beeswax.
Q 4: Is beeswax necessary for udder balm?
Ans: Beeswax is crucial for the solid, hard structure of udder balm, thickening it and protecting the skin. However, substituting it with carnauba wax or creating a softer oil-based product can create an udder-like balm.
Q 5: Can I make a vegan version of Udder Balm?
Ans: A vegan udder balm can be created by replacing beeswax with plant-based wax like candelilla or carnauba wax and eliminating animal-derived ingredients like lanolin or honey from a conventional recipe.
Final Thoughts
Homemade udder balm is a natural, cost-effective, and multipurpose moisturiser. It offers benefits like ingredient control, customisation, eco-friendly packaging, and cost savings compared to commercial options.
It has antiseptic properties and emollients, preventing disease growth, maintaining skin softness, and soothing minor irritations.
So, swap store-bought creams for this nourishing DIY balm by making a batch with simple ingredients at home today.
