Ever wonder what Shea Butter is and where it comes from? Well, this miracle butter has a very interesting source.
According to Reference.com, Shea butter is a natural fat that is extracted from the fruit of the Shea or Karite tree which is native to 19 African nations spanning from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east.
The Shea tree, also called the Karite tree [from the French name for the tree which means “tree of life”], typically produces fruit 20 to 30 years after it sprouts and can keep producing the seeds that are transformed into Shea butter for up to 200 years. The tree is completely fire resistant.
The oil that becomes Shea Butter is extracted from the fruit or nut of the tree through a lengthy process that involves boiling and roasting the seeds which are then ground into a paste then kneaded like dough, and left to sit until the oil reaches it’s well known yellowish- tan hue.
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According to SheaButterGuide.com, unlike its highly refined white counterpart, raw Shea butter contains high amounts of vitamin A and E as well as the same moisturizers that are produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin making the moisturizing properties of Shea butter second to none.
It is often used in the treatment of dry skin and hair, eczema, stretch marks, skin allergies and rashes and arthritis in addition to a host of other ailments.
Author:
Chanel Polk
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