Shea butter
Butryspermum paradoxum, B.parkii and B.paradoxa - All translate simply to Shea butter.
Hi everyone,
today I would like to talk about Shea butter, I love this butter and this is why you will see it usually as my first ingredient in my balms and body butters. So let us take a look at this wonderful tree, its history, traditional uses and its effects.
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of African shea tree. The tree is native and grows in the wild of the dry savanna belt of West Africa, from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the East. It is regarded as a sacred tree by many local communities and ethnic groups. The Shea tree is considered to possess spiritual protective powers and plays very important roles in religious and cultural ceremonies. It has been declared to hold potentials to help improve nutrition, increase food supply in the annual hungry season, encourage rural development, and to promote sustainable land care.
Traditionally many parts of the tree are utilised to treat enteric (gut) infections, skin diseases and wound infections. The bark is used to suppress cough and also to treat leprosy. Shea butter is used by local healers as a therapeutic to treat rheumatism, inflammation of the nasal cavity, congestion, leprosy, cough, stretch marks, insect repellent, and minor bone dislocation. The low quality butter and by-products of processed nuts are used a waterproof to protect walls of earthen houses during the rainy season. This is pretty amazing yeah!!!
Effects of Shea butter
Emollient and skin moisturiser:
Shea butter melts on contact with the skin, acts as a "refatting" agent, absorbs nicely into the skin, possesses good water-binding properties. In an article titled 'Winter Itch', Shea butter was recommended for repairing dry, inflamed, damaged skin caused by dermatitis and as a night time moisturiser for the hands and feet. In another study by Poelman and co workers, it was found that daily application maintains an excellent moisturisation of the superficial layers of the skin. It has also been shown to decrease transepidermal loss (amount of water that is evaporated through the skin, water loss). It has also been demonstrated to be effective as an emollient for eczema.
Anti-aging properties:
It has been demonstrated that Shea butter helps tissue cell regeneration and softens the skin. In a clinical study involving 30 volunteers, Renard reported that Shea butter reduced various aging signs and in a separate study showed it prevented photo-aging. In another animal study it demonstrated to boost collagen production. Collagen and elastin are the major structural components of our skin which change as we progress through life.
Anti-inflammatory properties:
The anti-inflammatory effects of Shea butter have been demonstrated through inhibition of specific pathways; which we do not need to get into, unless you would like too! We just need to know it reduces inflammation and will reduce reaction to skin irritants.
Interesting fact:
Although the Shea nut is related to Brazil nut which cross-reacts with hazelnut, almond and peanut, no reports of allergy reaction have been reported either through topical application or oral use of Shea butter.
So I conclude that I have picked a really effective, nourishing, regenerating butter to use as the main ingredient in balms and butters. I hope you found this article interesting and look forward to sharing more with you.
See you soon
Lisa
Naturally Foxy Skincare
I acknowledge references below:
Malachi Oluwasey Israel. Effects of Topical and Dietary use of Shea Butter on animals. American Journal of Life Sciences. Vol. 2, No.5, 2014, pp303-307
Soladoye M O, Orhiere S S, Ibimode B M (1989) Ethanobotanical Study of two Indigenous Multipurpose plants in the Guinea Savanna of Kwara State
Ferry MP, Gessain M, GEEAIN R (1974) Vegetative propagation of Shea, Kola and Pentadesma. Cocoa research institute
Loden M, Andersson A C (2008) Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin. British Journal of Dermatology. Vol.134, issue 2, pp 215-220.
Hi everyone,
today I would like to talk about Shea butter, I love this butter and this is why you will see it usually as my first ingredient in my balms and body butters. So let us take a look at this wonderful tree, its history, traditional uses and its effects.
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of African shea tree. The tree is native and grows in the wild of the dry savanna belt of West Africa, from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the East. It is regarded as a sacred tree by many local communities and ethnic groups. The Shea tree is considered to possess spiritual protective powers and plays very important roles in religious and cultural ceremonies. It has been declared to hold potentials to help improve nutrition, increase food supply in the annual hungry season, encourage rural development, and to promote sustainable land care.
Traditionally many parts of the tree are utilised to treat enteric (gut) infections, skin diseases and wound infections. The bark is used to suppress cough and also to treat leprosy. Shea butter is used by local healers as a therapeutic to treat rheumatism, inflammation of the nasal cavity, congestion, leprosy, cough, stretch marks, insect repellent, and minor bone dislocation. The low quality butter and by-products of processed nuts are used a waterproof to protect walls of earthen houses during the rainy season. This is pretty amazing yeah!!!
Effects of Shea butter
Emollient and skin moisturiser:
Shea butter melts on contact with the skin, acts as a "refatting" agent, absorbs nicely into the skin, possesses good water-binding properties. In an article titled 'Winter Itch', Shea butter was recommended for repairing dry, inflamed, damaged skin caused by dermatitis and as a night time moisturiser for the hands and feet. In another study by Poelman and co workers, it was found that daily application maintains an excellent moisturisation of the superficial layers of the skin. It has also been shown to decrease transepidermal loss (amount of water that is evaporated through the skin, water loss). It has also been demonstrated to be effective as an emollient for eczema.
Anti-aging properties:
It has been demonstrated that Shea butter helps tissue cell regeneration and softens the skin. In a clinical study involving 30 volunteers, Renard reported that Shea butter reduced various aging signs and in a separate study showed it prevented photo-aging. In another animal study it demonstrated to boost collagen production. Collagen and elastin are the major structural components of our skin which change as we progress through life.
Anti-inflammatory properties:
The anti-inflammatory effects of Shea butter have been demonstrated through inhibition of specific pathways; which we do not need to get into, unless you would like too! We just need to know it reduces inflammation and will reduce reaction to skin irritants.
Interesting fact:
Although the Shea nut is related to Brazil nut which cross-reacts with hazelnut, almond and peanut, no reports of allergy reaction have been reported either through topical application or oral use of Shea butter.
So I conclude that I have picked a really effective, nourishing, regenerating butter to use as the main ingredient in balms and butters. I hope you found this article interesting and look forward to sharing more with you.
See you soon
Lisa
Naturally Foxy Skincare
I acknowledge references below:
Malachi Oluwasey Israel. Effects of Topical and Dietary use of Shea Butter on animals. American Journal of Life Sciences. Vol. 2, No.5, 2014, pp303-307
Soladoye M O, Orhiere S S, Ibimode B M (1989) Ethanobotanical Study of two Indigenous Multipurpose plants in the Guinea Savanna of Kwara State
Ferry MP, Gessain M, GEEAIN R (1974) Vegetative propagation of Shea, Kola and Pentadesma. Cocoa research institute
Loden M, Andersson A C (2008) Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin. British Journal of Dermatology. Vol.134, issue 2, pp 215-220.