You might need Shea Butter if . . .

• You have delicate skin.
• You have dry skin that has also become raw.
• You want healthier skin.
• Your skin looks puffy.
• You want more luxurious, healthy hair.

Benefits of Shea Butter

• It is used on the most delicate skin, including babies.
• Shea butter has antibacterial properties, allowing it to help heal minor abrasions.
• It is high in fatty acids and vitamins E and A. This leaves your skin hydrated and allows it to absorb more nutrients for self-repair.
• It has anti-inflammatory properties.
• The fatty acids help make your hair healthier and give it a natural shine without being oily.

Common ways to use Shea Butter

It is often used in skin care but sometimes in the herbal world in salves, lotions and balms. Shea can be mixed in with other ingredients or used by itself.

How is Shea Butter Made

Shea butter comes from the shea tree, which is found in Africa. A shea tree takes about 20 years to mature enough to become fruitful. However, it can continue to bear fruit for up to 200 years. Shea trees are so important to the economy in Africa that the government enforces laws protecting them.

The nut from the tree is then boiled, cracked, and extracted. Once they are extracted, they are ground into a powder and roasted. Once roasted, it is then boiled. The oil from the shea nut rises to the top. Once it cools, it solidifies in the water and can be removed. The entire process can take 4-7 days. Often, the art of making shea butter is passed down from generation to generation of women in Africa. While most people in the village know how to make the shea butter, the women typically do it. It is often up to 60% of their income.

The consistency of the shea butter will often be different from batch to batch due to the fatty acid content of the fruit. This cannot be controlled. Refined shea butter can range in texture from hard and brittle to soft. This happens because the oleic acid content is higher or lower than the overall fatty acid content.

Safety Concerns

Drug Interaction: If you have any health concerns or are taking any prescription medication, please consult with your healthcare provider before adding new herbs to your diet.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Other Concerns: When using pure shea butter there are virtually no concerns.

Select Studies About Shea Butter

Nutritional composition of shea products and chemical properties of shea butter: a review - PubMed (nih.gov)

Shea is very high in vitamin C, and shea butter is extremely high in fatty acids.

Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells - PubMed (nih.gov)

Shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties on a molecular level and has been used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory in Africa.