Shea butter comes from the Shea tree and contains Vitamin A and Vitamin E. According to the American Shea Butter Institute, shea butter can be used to treat wrinkles, dermatitis, blemishes and eczema. It can also be used to treat insect bites, frostbites and sunburns. You can get shea butter in two forms: refined and unrefined.
The Difference in Refined and Unrefined Shea Butter processes
A hand or expeller method is used to extract shea butter from the nut and keep it in an unrefined state. Both of these methods will ensure the vitamins and minerals of the butter stay intact.
When a chemical, usually hexane, is used to make refined shea butter, it will cause most of the vitamins and minerals to be lost.
If you have unrefined shea butter you can expect it to have a smoky and nutty aroma. Not all consumers like this earthly scent and sometimes it can be overpowering.
Refined shea butter has undergone chemical processing and often has fragrances added to it. Manufacturers will add fragrance to the butter to make it more appealing to consumers. Synthetic fragrances may be used as well as essential oils.
Unrefined shea butter has a variety of colors and textures. It may be beige, light or dark green or even gray to dark tan. Unrefined shea butter is smooth and creamy in texture.
Refined shea butter will be white to beige in color and may have some or none of it’s original aroma.
In it’s natural form, shea butter is more costly than a refined butter. During the refining process, manufacturers will often add in other ingredients and use less the butter. This allows them to sell the shea butter at lower prices.
The Benefits of Refined and Unrefined Shea Butter
Unrefined shea butter has many vitamins and minerals intact and can be used to treat skin problems like:
- Rashes
- Dryness
- Peeling
- Blemishes
- Insect Bites
- Diaper Rash
- Stretch Marks
- Scars
- Cracked Skin
You can also use shea butter as a hair conditioner and as a lip balm. Pets can also use the butter for healthier coats.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
References:
American Shea Butter Institute. "What is Shea Butter? "(accessed October 18, 2010)
NaturalNews.com. "The Numerous Topical Benefits of Unrefined Shea Butter "(accessed October 18, 2010)
Consumer Health Digest. "Shea Butter" (accessed October 18, 2010)
Tamara Laschinsky - Health and wellness advocate, author, researcher and owner of Natural e GREEN: Natural Health & Wellness store!
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