SHEA BUTTER
Karite tree (french)
(Vitellaria Paradoxa)
(Vitellaria Paradoxa)
The West African Shea tree is beautifuland goes right along with my french theme too
Lately I have been suffering with dry skin on my hands because of the number of times I wash them (due to cleanup after the pups and as a precaution surrounding not getting colds or the dreaded H1N1 virus). I have been attempting to determine what kind of hand lotion or cream to use to combat the dryness.
Anyway, we were in an African Shop yesterday and we began speaking with the owner about my problem and he recommended that I try some shea butter. I bought a small container ($12.99) scented with orange, grapefruit or verbena (I've forgotten which) but it smells yummy. I have to say, the owner had the best skin and he is 58. The skin on his hands was very tight when you tried to pinch it as well. It might be partly heredity (which we probably share a bit of), and drinking plenty of water (which I don't)but he swears by the shea butter. He puts it all over his body and he said whenever his kids have a scrape, scratch, cold, sore throat or whatever, he breaks out the shea butter.
I have used raw shea butter in the past but found the consistency hard to work with. The butter I got yesterday was light and very pliable. Anyway,for $12.99, what do I have to lose (and you know if you could buy it @ Macy's,it would cost you $129.99. I don't think I will use it on my face just yet but I'm definitely going to use it on my hands and feet. He said I should see a marked improvement in a week or two. So, we'll see what happens and I'll report back.
As a rule; if I recommend something, I give some background, so here is a little more info on shea butter
shea nut(inside)
The Karite Shea tree is native of Africa (West Africa). The natural fat is extracted from the seed, crushed and boiled
We, Americans generally use shea butter only in cosmetics but Africans use it for just about anything and everything, including:
- as cooking lard (it's edible)
- waterproofing wax
- candle making
- medicinal purposes
Raw shea butter
The medicinal value is tremendous and is used for
- moisturizer/salve
- scars/stretch marks
- wrinkles
- burns
- rashes
- severe dry skin/chapped lips
- sun spots/dark spots
- anti-inflammatory
- sunblock
- sinusitis/nasal decongestion (yep they stick it up their noses)
The Shea Project
The shea-butter from the nilotic shea-butter tree is different from that of the West African varieties in that it is higher in olein, which contains most of the therapeutic substances found in shea-butter. Nilotica shea-butter is softer and more fragrant than West African shea-butters, and this high-value product gives Ugandan women farmers over five times the amount received by their West African counterparts.
In West Africa, sheanut and shea-butter prices are set by large multinational corporations which 'took over' the shea market following the colonial era. In Uganda, the price of shea products is set by the farmers themselves, based on the actual value of shea products to the farmers who produce it and by Ugandan consumers - prices on the traditional market are about double those of West Africa for both sheanut and shea-butter.So had I known this I might have opted for the East African variety. But live and learn.
and yes, I need to drink more water too!
I'm Just Sayin
3 comments:
Very helpful article, especially in these cold months when dry hands and feet are a problem.
...and I am going to drink more water too...
As usual, you have researched some great info here. I didn't know shea butter was used in so many ways.
I too am suffering extreme dry skin from lots of hand washing this year. But for some odd reason, only one of my hands (the right one) is HORRIBLY dry and a little flaky.
I wash both equally as much...
Unfortunately, shea butter makes me itch so I don't use it.
Coconut oil seems to help but it's not as rich as shea butter and is not providing all day moisture. :(
I also find that I am allergic to shea butter I think, although I have not used it without some other additives and who knows? I could be allergic to them instead. Dry and cracked skin is the norm here in Wisconsin in winter. Only thing I know that works is Vaseline on hands or feet at night covered with old socks...Not sexy but it works.
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