Nowadays there seems to be a drug store on every corner. They are all full of expensive remedies for any minor malady we might suffer from. Did you ever wonder how people survived before so many lotions and potions came to our aid? Farmers have known for years that the secret to good health is home grown. It is little wonder that many home-made cures involve something most farms had plenty of – milk. No, I am not ‘making this up’.
A good example is what the old timers did for sunburn, especially on the first bright days of June, before the invention of sunscreen numbers. Easy, they used what they had the most of. They filled a quart jar with equal parts milk and ice, added two tablespoons of salt, and then used a washcloth to apply this mixture to the affected areas several times a day. Have you ever marveled at the stylized farmer’s tans, with their intricate patterns left from shirts with a myriad of rips in them?
If their hat flew off mid field, and their face got sunburned, the old timers made a mask of sour cream or yogurt, left it on for 20 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly, all the while keeping themselves far away from the family dog. I don’t know what flavor yogurt they used or if the sour cream was low fat.
Milk can relieve a variety of skin problems and irritations. For minor burns, they doused the entire burned area in whole milk, applied with a milk-soaked washcloth, repeating every four to six hours. Just keep your eye out for any stray cats.
Or, try a masque or footbath. Legend has it that Cleopatra soaked in milk to keep her skin supple and soft. She may not have known that that the natural lactic acid found in milk is a form of alpha-hydroxyl-acid (an ingredient which can be found in some of the most expensive exfoliating products), but she did know that bathing in milk daily “does a body good”. You can pay a lot for these exfoliating skin freshening products or you could head to the dairy aisle.
Photo Credit: Chaval Brasil via Compfight
Best of all, milk is rich in Vitamin E and zinc, which help slow the process of aging and keep skin elastic and resilient. Yes, it is true; if you want to look like those magazine ads, or even a reasonable facsimile of your touched-up selfie, try milk. Don’t worry, the lactic acid found in milk is very mild, so it won’t irritate your skin. In fact, milk is quite soothing on dry skin. Experts say skim milk is best for oily skin; whole milk for younger skin, and half and half or heavy cream if your skin is over 40. They say sour cream soothes dry skin and yogurt is good for every skin type because of its anti-bacterial qualities. Boy, this is a fad I hope catches on.
Of course, you can always drink the milk, too. According to a recent poll, 46 percent of adults have trouble falling asleep at least some of the time. Warm milk, especially if you add a teaspoon of nutmeg or honey, has long been used to combat insomnia. The reason is simple. When milk is warmed, the naturally occurring tryptophan is activated. Tryptophan, an amino acid, induces sleep without leaving you feeling groggy, drugged, or hung over in the morning.
I don’t want you think I’m cheesy or milking it for all its worth, but face it, milk might be just be the miracle cure you’ve been searching for.
Joe Peck, a Saratoga County dairy farmer, storyteller and humorous speaker, is author of “A Tractor in the House & Other Smashing Farm Stories” and “A Cow in the Pool & Udder Humorous Farm Stories” which you may order at www.joepeckonline.com or call (518) 584-4129.
