Natural Health: What can I do about my dry lips?

Plus: natural ways of managing arthritis in later life

Pic: iStock

I suffer from dry lips most of the year, but they crack and sometimes bleed during winter. I’ve stopped using lip salves as they don’t make much difference. What would you recommend?

I understand you are fed up using balms that aren’t making a difference. However, a natural or organic baby balm is often the ideal solution.

Petroleum jelly is the key ingredient to avoid when buying lip balms and other lip moisturising products. Though initially smoothing, it can make the lips drier than before.

Any balm or salve you choose should contain natural plant butters, waxes, and oils such as jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa/cacao butter, hempseed oil, and candelilla or beeswax. These are rich and nourishing for the delicate skin and will help protect against wind and cold.

Avoid preparations that include artificial flavours, colours, and fragrances, as these can be very drying and sensitising.

Dublin Herbalists has created a gentle baby balm combining hypericum, calendula, chamomile, chickweed, and sea buckthorn.

It is ideal as an overnight intensive treatment on your lips and during the day for additional relief. Baby Balm costs €14.94 for a 50ml pot and is available online from www.dublinherbalists.ie.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are crucial for dealing with any skin issue where dryness, peeling, inflammation, and cracking are present. Foods high in EFAs include nuts, seeds, oily fish, and hemp seed products. Or you can choose to supplement with EFAs.

Raw honey has a long history of medicinal use, and it may help heal your lips.

You can use it alone or with the baby balm from Dublin Herbalists as an overnight hydrating and healing treatment.

Raw honey usually has a slightly granular texture, which means it can act as an exfoliant, leaving your lips smooth and nourished.

My mum is 90 and suffers from arthritis in her feet. Steroid injections help to ease the pain but she is rarely pain-free. Is there a natural remedy she could take?

Your poor mum, that level of near-constant pain can be exhausting. Boswellia serrata is a natural remedy that can be used in place of ibuprofen. It works by supporting the vascular system and helps to relieve inflammation.

Boswellia is used to treat several arthritic conditions, along with headaches, sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and menstrual cramps.

A simple kitchen remedy can help with joint stiffness and pain due to arthritis.

Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (preferably raw and unfiltered) with a teaspoon of raw honey and a slice of raw ginger root into a cup of boiling water and allow to cool. This combination should be taken once or twice daily for best effect.

Apple cider vinegar provides nutrients which help to reduce stiffness and pain.

Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and offsets the taste of the vinegar.

Ginger root helps improve circulation, reduce swelling, and helps with pain relief.

If you are unable to source the fresh root, powdered ginger will do — use around half a teaspoon of ground ginger.

You can also add a cinnamon stick or pinch of cinnamon to help with circulation, turmeric for additional anti-inflammatory benefit, and a clove of garlic to bolster the immune system.

Your mum might prefer to make up a teapot of this infusion and drink it throughout the day.

• If you have a question for Megan Sheppard, please email it to [e-mail] 
• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.