Organic Shea butter is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit tree called karite (shea), also known as the mangifolia tree. This tree grows in the semi-arid, North African savannah. The karite tree needs about 40-50 years to reach maturity and in many parts of Africa, destruction of these trees is forbidden because of their economical and medical benefits.
Shea Butter – “Women’s Gold”
Shea, or karite, butter is also known as “women’s gold” because extracting the butter from Shea nuts is a source of income for thousands of rural African women. Therefore, it not only brings nutritional benefits to people who use it, but also economical benefits for native people of Africa. The advantages of organic shea butter are widely known, which is why it has been used for thousands of years by African medicine men who in turn, teach cosmetic and soap manufacturers from around the world how to use this natural cosmetic product.
Vitamins A, E, and F
Organic Shea butter nourishes the skin with vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E are essential in maintaining healthy skin and are especially helpful to skin that suffers from sun damage; they also have high levels of cinnamic acid, a natural defense against the sun, and they prevent premature wrinkles. Vitamin F acts as a protective barrier for the skin and helps it rejuvenate, transforming dry, rough, and cracked skin into a smooth, soft, and supple skin.
An Anti-Inflammatory
Organic Shea butter is very rich in vegetable fats that make it unique in treating the aforementioned afflictions in addition to being easily absorbed into the skin without blocking or closing the pores. Shea butter is also anti-inflammatory and is helpful in treating rheumatism and other connected illnesses. You can use it to treat eczema, psoriasis, and tingling caused by an over exposure to sunlight
Other Skin and Muscle Benefits
The butter is traditionally used in treating dry skin, red spots, skin with white spots (discolored skin), scars, and wrinkles. Lately, scientists have also discovered other benefits such as relaxing stiff muscles, relieving arthritis pain and accompanying swelling, and protecting skin from the sun.
Hydrating
What makes this Butter so great for the skin is its high concentration of fatty acids, namely stearic acid and oleic acid. These nutrients are essential for skin, helping it to maintain an optimal level of hydration; this gives the skin a desirable elasticity. Shea butter also helps restore skin’s natural lipid balance by stabilizing the lipid content of skin cells. Due to the high content of fat, it is an important ingredient in many soap products.
Hair Benefits
Shea butter is used for making shampoo, creams, and treatments for healthier hair. If you have damaged hair, it will prove more effective than the cocoa butter and jojoba oil. Shea butter can be used unprocessed, which is its natural state. It is said that organic shea butter activates capillary circulation, thus helping to give more oxygen to hair, reducing the hair loss, and eliminating toxins resulting from metabolism.
