An Ode to Lanolin, Olive Oil and Breast Milk

I never pay much attention to the details of things like medicines, treatments or ingredients. As a kid, I was always searching the kitchen looking for ingredients that "looked" or sounded like what I needed. "Mom, can I use corn starch instead of corn meal?" "How about Karo syrup instead of oil?" I tried. And it never bothered me when things didn't work out. I guess I just liked the process and having something to do.

Also, as a kid (and now) my parents knew everything. I remember the first time I had heartburn. I called my dad, and he explained to me what it was and how to fix it. What to eat and what not to eat. Illness, process, paperwork .... I always call either my dad or my mom. Then after I got married, I expanded a few of my questions to my mother-in-law and beyond.

Now I love to get advice from people and find new solutions and new cures. I figure there is never a reason to not have the answer. In fact, some of my friends ask ME, and then I ask around until I come up with the answer.

So here are three cures that have come to me via geniuses over the last year. This is my Ode to Lanolin, Olive Oil, and Breast Milk.

Lanolin: Yup, that's right, ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about nipple cream. The first person to tell me about Lanolin was my high school best friend, Michael Westover. I was visiting him and his wife to meet their new baby. His wife ask for the Lanolin, and he threw it over to her. He told me, "This is cream that women put on to make sure their nipples don't crack because if they crack, they can't breast feed ... and then they will feel like failures as mothers." He always had a flare for the hyperbole, but I got the point. I used the magic cream in my hour of need after Quinn was born, and it worked just fine.

At the same time, my best friend Lindsay was dealing with this horrible rash on her son's face and body. The rash on his face would NOT go away. It would get worse and better, but the cause was impossible to find. Sometimes it flared up while nursing, eating, rolling on the floor, playing outside, inside, anywhere. It got horrible. She tried a hundred creams and ointments from friends, family and doctors. After a year she tried Lanolin, and the rash was never a problem again!!

My Quinny got really dry cheeks with a rash on her face this winter. I pulled out the Lanolin, and ta-da, it was gone. I could put it on her face before a nap, and she would be all cleared up by 2 p.m. It was great.

Then last night I got to my whits end with cracked heels. My balances changes when I am pregnant, and the added weight cracks my heels. They hurt so badly. I couldn't even touch my right heel yesterday. I called my dad, who is a walker with bad feet, and a genius (remember?). He said soak them and then apply some kind of oil. Sounded great. I used expensive Pure Figi oil and put on soaksm but in the morning, I was as dry as ever. At 5 a.m. I grabbed the Lanolin. I applied it a few times during the day, and now I could run a marathon. My feet feel great. All healed and soft.

Olive Oil: So most of you know that I converted to Olive Oil for all cooking needs when I started eating dirt last year. I personally think it works as a replacement for all other oils, although some people disagree. I use Olive Oil as butter, oil and sometimes as Mayonaise. I love it.

When Quinn had a rash on her tummy, my sister mentioned that the Croatians use Olive Oil for everything just like the grandpa in My Big Fat Greek Wedding used Windex. So, I gave it a try and lathered some Olive Oil on her tummy before nap. Fixed. All better. Amazing!!

Breast Milk: As with the other items, breast milk obviously has a purpose that it works great for (free food.) But when my friend Lizza's new baby got a clogged tear duct, her midwife said, before you take her to a doctor, try dabbing the infected area with some breast milk. Lizza gave Elsie a little breast milk spray, and BAM! the redness and swelling were gone.

So, I will keep looking for answers that work. I love to know what things can do, and I think there is probably always a cheaper and easier way to fix a lot of little problems.

And if you didn't know, I love beans. Kindey, Pinto, Black and all the rest. Just a side note. They are my life force. It is mental, but it works for me.