Looking up recipes for homemade ointments I came across several that required the use of lard. yuck! Can anyone offer any alternatives? Vaseline won't work as it is not easily absorbed in the skin.

Lard is a good moisturizer.. also works well to enahance herbs. Why not just use it?

Well...a part of it is squemishness about handling animal fat. I admit. It grosses me out.

On the other hand, I would just rather avoid using animal by-products in my ointments if I can.

I was thinking I could replace the lard with Olive oil, Sesame Oil, or Almond Oil....if I could just find somthing to thicken it with. Or maybe there's something else out there I've not thought about.

Any help is appreciated.

What about Crisco or something similar? I think that is plant based materials.

I'd not thought of that. Hmmmmmmm

Do you think it would work?

I'm not sure, but do you think the lard is called for in this recipe as to make a creme where lanolin would produce a lotion??? Can lanolin be used as a substitute?

you could use any kind of oil you prefer...olive, sunflower, apricot kernel, almond, etc.....in order to thicken it, you could use cocoa butter or even a bit of bee's wax. Perhaps even some aloe gel might be a good addition.

I think I'd stay away from shortening (animal or vegetable) - may be a bit heavy as a coating on the skin...but could work.

Found the following site that you may find interesting...
Natural Lotions, Creme's, etc...

I think Aloe Vera is the best thing for skin. It is a MUST HAVE plant to have on hand in case of burns.. forget any other burn treatment the aloe vera, sliced and placed on burns, including sunburn is both soothing and healing, the sooner after getting the burn that you use it the better! It is good for cuts too. But if you want just a beauty cream made from it I have a recipe here for Aloe Vera Cold Cream: 1tbspn aloe vera gel, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 tabspn white bees wax, 2 tabspns anhydrous lanolin, 2tbspns rose water, 2-3 drops essential oils)lavender, rose, eucalyptus, peppermint) With a whisk or blender mix the aloe gel thoroughly into the oil. Put aside. In top of a double boiler, melt the beeswax with the lanolin. Slowly stir in the oil mixture. Remove pan from heat and slowly stir in the essential oil and rose water. Keep stirring until mixture cools and thickens. Just before it solidifies, pour into a sterile jar with a screw lid. Hope you find that helpful?

I am into salve making. I always always use lard in my recipe that has been passed down generation after generation. It has never had any ill effects on anyone except when it has been misused. (you never treat burns with lard) Although lard is a key ingredient, it is mixed with essential oil, herbs, beeswax, and processed plant biproducts to produce the product that works very well.