Shea butter
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{{redirect|Karite|the religious movement|Karaite Judaism}}
'''Shea butter''' or '''Shea nut butter''' is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored natural [[fat]] extracted from [[fruit]] of the [[shea]] tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a [[moisturizer]] and an [[emollient]]. Shea butter is also edible. It is used as a [[cooking oil]] in [[West Africa]], as well as sometimes being used in the [[chocolate]] industry as a substitute for [[cocoa butter]].
The [[shea]] or karite tree, formerly ''Butyrospermum paradoxum'', is now called ''[[Vitellaria paradoxa]]''. It produces its first fruit (which resemble large plums) when it is about 20 years old and reaches its full production when the tree is about 45 years old. It produces nuts for up to 200 years after reaching maturity.
Many vernacular names are used for ''Vitellaria'', which is a reflection of its extensive range of occurrence—nearly 5,000km from [[Senegal]] (west) to [[Uganda]] (east) across the [[Africa]]n continent. The nomenclature history and synonymy of the shea tree followed a very tortuous evolution since the oldest recorded specimen collected by a European—[[Scottish people|Scottish]] explorer [[Mungo Park]]—dated [[May 26]], [[1797]]. It eventually arrived at the name ''vitellaria'' with subspecies ''paradoxa'' and ''nilotica''. It usually grows to an average height of about 15m with profuse branches and a thick waxy and deeply fissured bark that makes it fire resistant.
The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry [[savannah]] belt of West Africa from Senegal in the west to [[Sudan]] in the east, and onto the foothills of the [[Ethiopia]]n highlands. It occurs in 19 countries across the African continent, namely [[Benin]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Chad]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Ghana]], [[Guinea Bissau]], [[Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Mali]], [[Niger]], [[Nigeria]], Senegal, [[Sierra Leone]], Sudan, [[Togo]], Uganda, [[Zaire]] and [[Guinea]].
In Ghana (FAO, 1988a), it occurs extensively 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 square kilometers in Western Dagomba, Southern Mamprusi, Western Gonja, Lawra, Tumu, Wa and Nanumba with Eastern Gonja having the densest stands. There is sparse shea tree cover found in Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, and the Eastern and Volta regions in the south of the country.
== Properties ==
Shea butter is known especially for its [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]] properties as a [[moisturizer]] and [[emollient]]. It is also a known [[anti-inflammatory]] agent.<ref>{{cite journal
| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15779163&dopt=Abstract
| title=Inflammatory ointment from shea butter and hydro-alcoholic extract of Khaya senegalensis barks (Cailcederat)
| author=Thioune O, Ahodikpe D, Dieng M, Diop AB, Ngom S, Lo I
| journal=Dakar Med.
| date=[[2000]]
| volume=45
| issue=2
| pages=113–6
| accessdate=2007-02-10
}}</ref>
Shea butter is marketed as being effective at treating the following conditions: fading [[scars]], [[eczema]], [[Burn (injury)|burns]], [[rash]]es, acne, severely dry skin, [[blemish]]es, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the [[irritation]] of [[psoriasis]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Shea butter provides natural [[ultraviolet]] [[sun]] protection, although the level of protection is extremely variable, ranging from none at all to approximately SPF 6. Sun-sensitive persons should not rely on shea butter for protection. Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling.
Shea butter is comparatively richer than other emollients but scarcity of supply results in an erratic market price.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
== Uses ==
Shea butter can be found in many high end moisturizing [[skin]] products. Shea butter is known for its skin softening effect. It is also used in [[hair conditioner]]s to add and maintain [[moisture]] in dry brittle [[hair]], in addition to revitalizing<!-- What does revitalizing mean here? Can it be changed to something clearer as to what it claims (i.e. clearer as to how one would measure it) and less like advertising speak? --> and preventing breakage.
Shea butter is used in some indigenous ceremonies. Followers of the [[Holy Spirit Movement]] rebel group of Uganda smeared their bodies with shea butter in the belief that it would stop [[bullet]]s.
Handcrafted shea butter is used in Togo, West Africa for ceremonies among the [[Fulani]] ethnic group.
Many carvers of [[djembe]] shells and other African [[drum shell]]s use shea butter to condition the wood. Shea butter is also used to condition the goat or cow skin heads of these drums.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{fatsandoils}}
[[Category:Cooking fats]]
[[Category:Skin care]]
[[Category:Anti-inflammatory agents]]
[[Category:Vegetable oils]]
[[de:Sheabutter]]
[[fr:Beurre de karité]]
[[ja:シアバター]]