Dec 3, 2011

What is Shea Butter?


Natural shea butter is extracted from the pit of a fruit that grows only on the mangifolia tree also known as the Shea-Karite tree in Central and Western Africa. They begin to bear fruit after about 15 years; and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality crop of nuts with a high content of irremovable fatty acid.  It is this irremovable fatty acid that gives Shea Butter its unique healing properties and makes it far superior to cocoa butter and other vegetable butters.  Traditionally, Shea Butter was extracted by people who picked the nuts, cracked them, grilled them and pounded them. They were boiled in water for hours until the Shea Butter rose to the surface.  It was then scooped into gourds and left to cool and set. Shea butter is sometimes called “women’s gold,” because extracting the butter from the nuts gives employment and income to hundreds of thousands of rural African village women. Shea butter is so non-toxic and beneficial that it is used in foods and cooking as well as soaps and beauty products. Shea Butter is solid at room temperature although it quickly liquefies right around body temperature.  

 
Stage 1 "Making Of Shea Butter" 
From Collecting Of The Shea Fruit to Preparing Of The Shea Nuts
Video Courtesy of : le Corps de la Paix  

 Stage 2 "Making Of Shea Butter" 
Processing of Shea Nut to Final Product "Shea Butter"
Video Courtesy of : le Corps de la Paix  

Africans have known the secret of Shea Butter for centuries. They use it to moisturize, replenish, soothe and condition their skin. They use it for their face, hair and bodies. African healers and beauties have known about shea butter for thousands of years considering the substance as almost magical in its healing effects on burns, skin conditions, ulcerated skin, stretch marks, and dryness. It contains beneficial vegetable fats that promote cell regeneration and circulation, making it a wonderful healer and rejuvenator for troubled or aging skin. It also contains natural sun-protectants. 

 


The pits are taken from the fruit, boiled, and then sun dried for 3 – 5 days before they are roasted to complete dehydration. Afterwards, the shea butter is extracted by hand from the pit of the fruit. This long, arduous process has provided what is commonly called ‘The most beneficial all-natural skin product today’ “Shea Butter”.








 

The moisturizers in shea butter are the same ones produced by the sebaceous glands in your skin. The sebaceous glands in the skin are responsible for oil production and keeping your skin soft and supple. As we age, these glands produce less and less sebum (oil) which is evidenced by dry wrinkled skin.

Shea Butter actually mimics your natural moisturizers in your skin making it an outstanding humectant and moisturizer. Natural, unrefined and pure shea butter will have a distinctive aroma. It has a smoky, nutty, and earthy scent that disappears shortly after it is applied.

Shea Butter contains an abundance of vital nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin F.  Vitamin A is very necessary for healthy skin. A serious lack or excessive intake can cause dry, rough skin, among other problems. Synthetic vitamin A-like compounds called retinoids, such as treatments, applied directly to the skin have been used to treat acne and skin wrinkling and mottled pigmentation caused by chronic sun exposure. Unrefined Certified Organic Shea Butter is an all-natural Vitamin A cream.


According to the American Shea Butter Institute, “Shea butter has a vast number of proven healing properties stemming from its physical makeup of vitamin E, vitamin A and cinnamic acid to name a few. Shea butters ingredients increase the healing of wounds and improve scars. It is commonly used in the treatment of eczema, rashes, burns, and severely dry skin.

Vitamin A in Shea Butter is important for improving a number of skins conditions, including blemishes, wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis. Additionally, Shea Butter cream has properties that treat skin allergies, insect bites, sunburns, frostbites, and a number of other conditions of the skin.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps to prevent free radical damage. Based on the observation that skin damage caused by the sun and other environmental agents are induced by free radicals, there is the possibility that vitamin E may be effective in preventing skin damage.

Vitamin E is a vitamin whose exact function in human being is not entirely clear, although it has been described as effective in a number of conditions or circumstances. These benefits include anti-aging, an anti-free radical agent, and exerting a positive effect on increasing the micro-circulation.

If the vitamin E in Shea Butter is helpful for the skin, such benefits could be accomplished by at least two methods:

(1)  by increasing the micro-circulation to the skin, which results in increased blood supply to and from the skin;

(2)   Vitamin E may serve by as an anti-free radical agent, thereby aiding in preventing the deleterious effects of sun and environmental exposure.

Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator. It soothes rough, dry or chapped skin and helps soften dry or damaged hair.  Shea Butter is high in unsaponifiables (a type of fat).  Shea Butter has between 7-12% unsaponifiables.  For comparison, avocado oil, a well known skin conditioner, has between 2-6%.  This high level of unsaponifiables is one of the properties that make Shea Butter so invaluable in treating the conditions listed above.   Also, Shea Butter easily penetrates the skin allowing the skin to breathe and not clogging pores.  Shea Butter has a high level of cinnamic acid, a natural sun screen.  So, it provides some degree of protection from the sun.  Shea Butter is also anti-inflammatory making it useful in treating rheumatism. Shea Butter is also known for its effectiveness in treating minor skin conditions and in some cases even for those with eczema and /or psoriasis.

Daily use of shea butter on the face and body leaves skin smooth, supple and soft. Shea butter has been known to aid in drastically reduces the affects of sun exposure, which in turn slows down the rate of aging due to external factors. Shea butter also acts as a natural mantle against elements of cigarette smoke, smog and chemical pollutants in the atmosphere.

Benefits of Shea Butter  

Shea Butter can provide relief from everything from just dry skin to many minor dermatological diseases (if you have a serious skin condition, you should see a doctor).  It has been clinically shown to provide benefits.  Here are some of the benefits of Shea Butter for the skin:

* Helps heal scars, burns, and stretch marks.

* Prevents dry skin, chapping, and skin rashes.

* An ideal hair dressing that protects the scalp and prevents dandruff.

* Helps prevent weak hair from breaking, fading, or thinning out.

* Fortifies cuticles and nails.

* Helps bruises to heal.

* Helps drain toxins from sore muscles: perfect for sports participants.

* Helps prevent skin irritation for babies.

* Use after shaving to prevent irritation and restore skins natural luster.

* Ideal for dry skin, dermatitis, eczema, sunburn and athletes foot.

* Rejuvenates skin pores and adds elasticity to skin.

* Firms up aging skin and helps clear wrinkles.

* Helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes/Acne.

* Relieves tough or rough skin on feet.

* Prevention of stretch marks in pregnancy.