SHEA BUTTER
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) – It is also called Karite, which comes from the fruit kernels of the shea nut tree. This sweet, pulpy fruit grows wild throughout the dry arid regions of Central Africa. The pits are collected to sun dry and then roasted to get it ready for the difficult work of extracting the creamy, rich solid oil by hand. This butter has an amazing amount of healing properties and softening capability. Natural shea butter has been used traditionally as a balm for minor burns, muscle aches, rheumatism and more. Valued by a variety of people for hair and skin care use, natural shea butter skin lotion is a fabulous skin softening emollient due to its unique fatty acid profile and excellent natural moisturizing qualities. Shea butter benefits also include the protection of skin from environmental damage.
BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER
Shea butter has a wide range of amazing healing properties stemming from its physical make up of vitamins A, E, and cinnamic acid, just to name a few. Shea butter has been shown to have anti-inflammatory capabilities and has been utilized for these benefits for hundreds of years. It has been shown to increase the healing of wounds and improve scars. It is used to heal eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, and to lessen the irritation of psoriasis.
Damage from the sun produces free radicals, which in turn increases the rate at which skin ages and can even become cancerous. To avoid damage, skin needs year round protection. Shea butter contains natural UV sun protection. Daily usage of shea butter skin cream or lotion on the face and body drastically reduces sun exposure while slowing down the effects of aging. It also acts as a natural barrier to protect against elements such as smoke, smog and environmental pollutants in the air.
Shea butter benefits the skin leaving it soft and supple after topical application. It is quickly replacing cocoa butter for the use of stretch mark prevention. Shea butter lotions are used by massage therapists and spas due to its non-greasy after feel and effective softening results. In fact, the usage of shea butter to replace other oils is growing as more and more therapists discover shea butter skin care treatment products.
SHEA BUTTER CLINICAL STUDY
Shea butter is currently undergoing clinical tests in quite a few universities. Researchers hope to understand its healing properties and to find out how shea butter can be more useful for medical therapy. Several studies have revealed that Shea butter has UV anti-erythemic activity, which helps tissue cell regeneration and softening of the skin (1).
(1) Tran, T., Parfumes, Cosmétiques et Arômes, 58, 65-66, 1986
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