How I benefited from Shea Butter and why you can

3 min read

For most Africans, Shea butter is nothing new and used over the centuries. Shea butter is used for skin, hair, health conditions, and many more.

The Shea tree and butter 

Shea Butter is extracted from the seeds of the shea-karite tree. The Shea tree is native to most West African countries: Zaire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Sudan, Guinea, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda. 

The Shea tree can grow up as high as 15 meters or 49.2 feet. It can take forty to fifty years to mature to produce the nuts used in making the Shea butter. 

In Ghana, the Shea tree is found extensively in the Guinea savannah and less abundantly in the Sudan Savannah. The shea trees are found almost in the entire area of Northern Ghana, over about 77,670 km in Lawra, Tumu, Southern Mamprusi, Western Gonja, WA, Western Dagomba, and Nanumba with Eastern Gonja having the densest stands. The area that the tree grows in is known as the Shea belt region. This area stretches almost three thousand miles from Senegal in West Africa all the way across into Ethiopia. 

Uses

Cosmetic

Shea butter is used in the cosmetics industry and comes in two forms: Refined and Certified Organic Unrefined. Refined shea butter is beaten and added with other ingredients making it lose its natural active ingredients whilst the certified organic unrefined is unprocessed Shea butter from the seeds. There are many amazing benefits of the gift of this amazing nature to mankind for skincare.

I have personally benefited from Shea butter since childhood. Shea butter gives my skin a healthy and shining smooth look. It’s the number one body moisturizer. I have also observed the protection it gives my skin against dry or cold weather that can cause dry, itching and cracked skin. 

The Shea butter stays on the skin all day and night. I also apply Shea butter to protect my lips from dryness especially during the harmattan season and to maintain its smoothness. Having received many compliments from people about how shining, smooth and beautiful my skin looks; I’m quick to recommend Shea butter without hesitating.

Shea butter cannot be talked about without mentioning the magic it does to hair. For a healthy scalp and hair, try Shea butter and you would be amazed at the results. It treats dry and itching scalp, dandruff and breakage. You would also notice hair growth, thickness, and shine. 

Health Benefits 

Shea butter is one source of medicine to treat a swollen knee by massaging it over the affected part. It’s also used for body massage to relax the muscles. This healing wonder is a source of natural treatment for eczema, helps manage arthritis, help treat acne, aid in nasal decongestion, reduces scar appearance, treat razor bumps, lowers high cholesterol level and helps treat insect bites.

Wondering why some people have younger-looking skin even as they age? The secret is Shea butter, known to slow down the aging process, prevent wrinkles and stretch marks. 

Food

Shea butter can be heated and used as oil for cooking delicious meals just like all cooking oils. 

Shea butter has been my secret and magic to a beautiful, healthy, smooth and shining skin and hair. 

Staying healthy and beautiful is already given by nature. Find it and use it to the fullest. 

By Eli Noah