Tallow, a rendered form of animal fat (usually from cattle or sheep), has been traditionally used for treating cuts and minor wounds in various cultures. Historically, tallow was a primary ingredient in ointments and salves, especially before the advent of modern petroleum-based products and antibiotics. Its use was primarily based on its ability to provide a protective barrier over the skin, preventing further contamination and retaining moisture, which can be beneficial for wound healing. Some traditional remedies also combined tallow with medicinal herbs to enhance its healing properties.

From a scientific standpoint, there is limited direct evidence supporting tallow’s efficacy in treating cuts. Tallow does contain fatty acids—such as palmitic acid and stearic acid—that have some moisturizing and mildly antimicrobial properties. However, robust clinical studies demonstrating significant wound-healing or anti-infective effects of tallow are lacking. Modern wound care relies on sterile, evidence-based products, and tallow is generally not recommended in clinical guidelines for cut treatment. Its primary justification, therefore, lies in historical and traditional usage, with only weak supportive evidence from its physical properties and minor antimicrobial activity.