Just wanted to tell you about a fantastic product that I use:

The Karite Tree (known as the tree of life) grows wild in the dry savannah belt that stretches from Senegal in the West to Sudan in the East and onto the foothills of Ethiopia. Most people associate shea butter only with West Africa but it occurs in 19 countries in Africa. These are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaire and Guinea.

It has been used for thousands of years and is still made today in the same way it has always been.

It is an ingredient used in many top class skin care products around the world.

HOW IS IT MADE?:

The Karite Tree produces its first fruit at 20 years and reaches full maturity at 45 years. This amazing tree will produce nuts for up to 200 years once it reaches maturity.

The fruit of the Karite Tree is apparently very sweet and lovely to eat. ( would love to try this myself!!) The seeds taken from the middle of this fruit are used to create the butter.

Shea nuts are contained in pods or shells and these are cracked open by hand releasing nuts or kernels. They are then dried in the sun to remove moisture and then crushed or cracked. The cracked nuts are then boiled whilst constantly being stirred to release the shea butter from the nut. It is then kneaded until it turns into a buttery ivory coloured paste.

This work is mostly done by women who actually do all the work by hand. The tradtional way in which shea butter is produced ensures the preservation of the natural healing and moisturising properties.

USES:

Known popularly for its moisturising and emolient properties, Shea Butter is also used as an anti inflammatory agent.

Shea butter is used as a cooking oil in Africa and sometimes used in the Chocolate industry as a substitute for cacao butter.

It is reputed to be great for the following conditions:

A preventative for stretch marks
Barrier cream to prevent & help nappy rash in babies.
Dry Skin
itchy skin, skin rashes, eczema and dermatitis
Sunburn
small skin wounds,
sun damaged skin
insect bits
great for rough, dry skin on feet
muscle aches, fatigue and tension
wrinkles and signs of ageing
skin allergies
hair conditioner and scalp moisturiser
tropical ulcers

Other uses include the conditioning of the wood and the skins of many different African drums. It has also been used in traditional ceremonies.

In Nigeria shea butter has been known to be used in the management of sinus. The person suffering will rub a large amount of shea butter around the nostrils. It is said that the emolient properties of shea butter relaxes the tension in the face and eases respiration.

WHAT’S IN IT?

Shea butter’s ability to heal comes from the array of vitamins and minerals contained in this product. Shea butter naturally contains Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E help to soothe, hydrate, and balance the skin. They also assist with wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Vitamin F contains essential fatty acids, which helps to protect and revitalise damaged skin and hair. Shea Butter is such a great moisturiser for dry skin, and therefore makes it a brilliant product for revitalising dull or dry skin on the body or scalp. It promotes skin renewal, increases circulation and accelerates wound healing. Shea butter has a high content of unsaponifiables and cinnamic esters, which have antimicrobial and moisturising properties..

Shea butter yields many positive results for so many people. No wonder it has remained such a popular and important item used for thousands of years. It is now available to a world wide market and becoming increasingly popular in its rawest form as more and more people discover the natural healing properties and moisturing benefits.

We are yet to truly discover the treasure trove of knowledge, natural medicines and raw products that African people have discovered and known about and used successfully for centuries.