Health is Wealth Post: Dry Hands Secret

Health is Wealth Tip, February 23, 2013, Year of the Snake:

This winter season left us so dry we felt like we were becoming jerky! In my profession, I wash my hands at least three times every hour if not more. This drys out my hands even more, and you add on the very dry weather, my hands have been in bad shape this winter.

Past winters have dried out my skin to the point that my knuckles start to crack, which is manageable by sleeping with heavy hand cream and cotton gloves. This winter not only all my knuckles cracked but the entire back of my hands from my finger joints to my wrists had hundreds of tiny cracks, and the skin was red and irritated. The cotton glove trick did not work, and I tried over 20 types of creams and nothing was penetrating my skin.

Then one evening I was talking to a patient of mine. She told me about a traditional Italian remedy of olive oil and lemon juice for dry skin. So, I tried it, and it worked! It started to soothe the redness immediately, and I wore cotton gloves at night and in two days all the cracks healed. Olive oil helps to create a protective barrier and seal in moisture.

The picture is of a lovely Christmas present I received from another patient this year. She hand made a sugar scrub with olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, rosemary (from her garden), peppermint essential oil, and a few other ingredients. It has been amazing for not only my hands, but great for the whole body.

Give it a try!

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.