Have you heard about Shea tree before? Well, the Shea tree is the tree from which the nuts used to grind into Shea butter is found. Its scientific names are Vitellaria paradoxa and Butyrospermum parkii. The Shea tree is such a unique tree.
What is so unique about it?
The Shea tree can grow as high as 15 meters or 49.2 feet. It can take as long as 40 to fifty years before it matures and is able to produce the nuts needed to make Shea butter. Shea tree grows uncultivated in nineteen countries across the African continent, namely Nigeria, Senegal, Zaire, Ghana, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Uganda, Togo, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Sudan, Central African Republic Bissau, Mali, Cameroon, Chad, Chad.
In Ghana, it occurs much 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 km in Wa, Nanumba with Eastern Gonja, Southern Mamprusi, Tumu, Western Gonja, Western Dagomba, Lawra having the densest stands.
The area that the tree grows in is known as the Shea belt region. This area stretches almost 3000 miles from Senegal in West Africa all the way across into Ethiopia.The Shea tree is very unique in terms of its individual size followed by the area that it stretches. What’s even more impressive and common in Africa is the byproduct formed when the nuts are released from this special tree. It’s Shea Butter.
In the Western countries, Shea is most often connected with cosmetics. This "butter" has many uses and comes in two forms: Refined and Certified Organic Unrefined. Shea butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored fat extracted from the nut of the African Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). Shea butter is derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in Africa and also as a prophylactic. Occasionally the chocolate industry uses Shea butter mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different
The English word "shea" comes from s’í, the tree's name in the Bamana language of Mali. The French name karité comes from ghariti, its equivalent in the Wolof language of Senegal. In some parts of West Africa, shea butter is referred to as Ori. Shea butter is a triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. Most of us may have heard of Shea butter growing up. Little did we know of its importance. But as we grew older, a few of us have learned about the importance of Shea butter and the role it plays in the World Market and our economy today.
Today, most women, including African women spend comparable amount of money on Cosmetic Products that only contain about 5% of Shea Butter with the other 95% composed of synthetic compounds that gives a desired texture and scent.
Comparing the price of Shea Butter in Africa against the price of an imported jar of cosmetic product (usually body cream)containing 5% or less of Shea Butter, wouldn't it be more ideal to buy that less costly Shea butter and add your own preferred infused scent? In addition, the benefits of Shea butter are many.
Benefits of Shea Butter
Shea butter is known to work well against stretch marks. It also benefits those suffering from dry skin, dermatitis and sunburn, quick skin healing and containing cinnamic acid, which protects the skin against the harmful Ultraviolet rays of the sun. Since Shea butter is well tolerated by the skin, it usually does not trigger off any allergic reactions. This makes it ideal for use by people with sensitive skin.
Medicinal Uses
Shea butter is used as a base for medicinal ointments and has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties. It has internationally been accepted to be an effective treatment for conditions such as fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretch marks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. It is also being used as a sun blocking lotion; although the level of protection against the sun's ultraviolet radiation is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately SPF 6.
In Nigeria, Shea butter is used for the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion. This is due to its hydrating properties which help in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. The anti-aging benefits of Shea butter have been recognized internationally and there is a mind-boggling range of Shea butter products available these days.
Shea butter benefits continues in our next publication. send your questions,suggestions and contributions to tinobet@yahoo.co.uk
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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