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Shea butter or Shea nut butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory colored natural
fat extracted from the seed of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter
is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and salve cream. Shea butter is also
edible, used in food preparation as well as sometimes in the chocolate industry
substituting for cocoa butter.
The shea or karite tree called formerly Butyrospermum paradoxum, is now [[Vitellaria
paradoxa]]. It produces its first fruit (which resemble large plums) when it is about 20
years old and reaches its full production when the tree is about 45 years old. It produces nuts
for up to 200 years after reaching maturity.
Many vernacular names are used for Vitellaria, which is a reflection of its extensive range
of occurrence—nearly 5,000km from Senegal (west) to Uganda (east) across the
African continent. The nomenclature history and synonymy of the shea tree followed a very
tortuous evolution since the oldest recorded specimen collected by a European—[[Scottish
people|Scottish]] explorer Mungo Park—dated May 26, 1797. It
eventually arrived at the name vitellaria with subspecies paradoxa and nilotica. It
usually grows to an average height of about 15m with profuse branches and a thick waxy and
deeply fissured bark that makes it fire resistant.
The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from
Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east, and onto the foothills of the Ethiopian
highlands. It occurs in 19 countries across the African continent, namely Benin, [[Burkina
Faso]], Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, [[Guinea
Bissau]], Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.
In Ghana (FAO, 1988a), it occurs extensively in the Guinea savannah and less abundantly in the
Sudan Savannah. The shea tree occurs over almost the entire area of Northern Ghana, over about
77,670 square kilometers in Western Dagomba, Southern Mamprusi, Western Gonja, Lawra, Tumu, Wa
and Nanumba with Eastern Gonja having the densest stands. There is sparse shea tree cover found
in Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, and the Eastern and Volta regions in the south of the country.
Properties
Shea butter is known especially for its cosmetic properties as a moisturizer
cream and emulsion . Some claim that it is also an anti-inflammatory agent.[citation needed]Shea butter is marketed as being effective at treating the following
conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne,
severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips,
stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis.[citation needed] Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection,
although the level of protection is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately
SPF 6.[citation needed] Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a
greasy feeling. In Nigeria, it is known to be very effective in the management of sinusitis and
relief of nasal congestion.[1] This is due to its hydrating properties which helps in relaxing
the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. Scarcity of supply results in an erratic
market price 2005.[citation needed]
History
European botanists are said to have come across the shea tree recording the genus family
sapotaceae of the plant cirka late eighteenth century as traded by merchants of the age.
Ashanti, Benin, Burkinabe, Malian, and other spice merchants actively traded extracts in early cultures as far as Meroë and [[Kingdom of
Kush]] head way waters by the Blue Nile channeled by Aswan supported rivers.
Uses
Shea butter can be found in many high end moisturizing personal care products. Shea butter
extract is known for its skin softening effect, it is also used in hair conditioners to add
and maintain moisture in dry brittle hair; in addition to retaining softness and preventing
breakage.
Handcrafted shea butter is used in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Togo for ceremonies among the Fulani and Mano River ethnic groups. It is a acclaimed natural butter derived from the Shea Karite tree growing across Africa and
hoticultured in other regions by agricooperatives.
Many carvers of djembe husks and other african drums used from zouk to [[soca
music]] have traditional instrument gourds using shea extract to condition the wood for
durability; butter oil extract is also used to condition the leather binds of these
instruments.
Shea butter is a favorite among soapmakers it is typically used in small amounts (5-7% of the
oils in the recipe). Shea butter extract is a complex fat that contains many non-saponifiable
components (cannot be fully converted into soap.) Thus the shea butter leaves a small amount of
oil in the soap, which seals moisture into the skin after washing.; the product is widely used
in luxury end cosmetics as a moisturizer salve.
With regular use Shea Butter evens skin tone and returns skin to a natural luster, melting at
body temperature, it absorbs quickly and completely into the skin without leaving a noticable
oily residue. Shea Butter penetrates deep into the skin to rehydrate and promote cell growth.
Toilet paper manufacturer Andrex released a Shea Butter enriched toilet roll to the UK
market in Summer 2009. In North America shea butter is added to some brands of paper tissue (e.g. Puffs Plus) which is
fabric softener to give additional texture. Baby wipes Huggies also use simular tissue
softeners in thier product brands.
References
- ^ Tella, A, Br (1979) "Preliminary studies on nasal decongestant activity from the seed of the shea butter tree, Butyrospermum parkii", J Clin Pharmacol, May;7(5):495-7.