Just a few uses of African Shea Butter

That good ole african shea butter nut has uses almost too many to name. But hey, we'll give it a shot. Chances are you've been using cocoa butter for some of these uses.

Karite butter or Shea butter, as it is popularly called in the West, is manufactured in Africa. The color or this formulation can range from anywhere between cream to ivory white. Traditionally doctors in Africa used it for treatment of all kinds of skin and scalp ailments and allergies. If you are looking to get into the soap manufacturing or skin care products manufacturing you cannot but be aware of what african shea butter is.

In the time past, various uses to which shea butter was out included treatment of skin eczema and other problems like blemishes and discoloration, sprains and muscle cramps, arthritis and various inflammations and also as a sunscreen.

Non-saponifiable fatty acids, especially oleic and stearic acid are major components of a african shea butter formulation, which makes it very useful for various skin problems. They hydrate the skin and help prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging. Shea butter effectively combats various skin problems by restoring the lipid balance in the skin and hence rejuvenates the epidermal cells.

The non-saponifiable fatty acids also make shea butter an excellent component for soap manufacturing. Soft and gentle on your skin and body, shea butter is becoming an important component of a whole range of beauty products like shampoos, creams, soaps and various cleansers and cleansing agents for your skin.

Shea butter is also an effective antidote for stretch marks. Stretch marks are a bane for a lot of people, especially women. When you gain a substantial amount of weight, during pregnancy for example, your epidermal cells are unable to stretch beyond a point and get ruptured resulting in stretch marks. Stretch marks most often occur in places like thighs, buttocks, stomach etc. There are a wide range of cosmetics and creams in the markets these days that claim to be effective in getting rid of stretch marks but african shea butter is one of the few things that are really effective.

Hey let me stop right there. My fingers are burning from the typing. I know some are saying but wait there is more ! I know. Maybe next time !