THIS ISSUE CONTAINS:

BUSINESS TRIP TO GHANA

USES OF SHEA butter: OTHER TRADITIONAL USES OF SHEA butter IN AFRICA

WHAT IS IN PREMIUM SHEA butter THAT TREATS ECZEMA?

WHAT IS IN PREMIUM SHEA butter THAT TREATS SKIN DAMAGE FROM HEAT?

WHAT IS THE TRUE SMELL/ODOR OF PURE, UNREFINED SHEA butter?

WEAH URGES LIBERIAN POLL RE-RUN

BUSINESS TRIP TO GHANA

Sekaf International team made a business trip to Ghana, West Africa in the month of October. During our visit, we toured our Shea butter processing facility. We used the opportunity to educate our cooperative women with the latest American Shea butter Institute (ASBI) recommendations for processing higher quality shea butter. Pictures of the tour will be posted on PHOTO GALLERY page of our web site.

USES OF SHEA butter: OTHER TRADITIONAL USES OF SHEA butter IN AFRICA
As a cosmetic, it is used as a moisturizer, for dressing hair (Dalziel, 1937, Ezema & Ogujiofor, 1992) and for protection against the weather and sun.

It is used as a rub to relieve rheumatic, joint pains and it is applied to activate healing in wounds and in cases of dislocation, swelling and bruising.

It is widely used to treat skin problems such as dryness, sunburn, burns, ulcers and dermatitis (Vuillet, 1911; Bonkoungou, 1987) and to massage pregnant women and small children (Marchand, 1988)

Having a high melting range of between (32-45 degrees Celsius) and being close to body temperature are attributes that make it particularly suitable as a base for ointments and medicines (Bonkoungou,1987)

It is also used to treat horses internally and externally for girth galls and other sores. The healing properties of shea butter are believed to be partly attributable to the presence of allantoin, a substance known to stimulate the growth of healthy tissue in ulcerous wounds (Wallace-Bruce 1995).

It is used as "white oil" to anoint the dead in Niger (Castinal, 1945), and is placed in traditional ritual shrines.

Refuse water from production of shea butter is used as termite repellent (Dalziel, 1937).

In Burkina Faso, shea butter is used to protect against insect (Callosobruchis maculatus) damage to cowpeas (Vigna sp.). Research has shown that after treatment with shea butter a reduction occurs in the life span and fertility of the insect and hence infestation rate. Shea butter, however, is not as effective as cottonseed or groundnut oil (Pereira, 1983; Owusu-Manu, 1991).

WHAT IS IN PREMIUM SHEA butter THAT TREATS ECZEMA?

The Anti-inflammatory agents found in Shea butter are responsible for treating Eczema. The use of Shea butter for the treatment of Eczema is one of the most cherished benefits of Shea butter.

Eczema is an inflammatory condition often caused by some type of allergen. The Anti-inflammatory agents found in Shea butter are also responsible for lessening the sting after an insect bite.

WHAT IS IN PREMIUM SHEA butter THAT TREATS SKIN DAMAGE FROM HEAT?

Moisturizers and the Anti-inflammatory agents (Sterols, Cinnamic Acid, Triglycerides and Fatty Acids Triterpines) found in Shea butter are responsible for treating skin damage from heat such as from cooking.

WHAT IS THE TRUE SMELL/ODOR OF PURE, UNREFINED SHEA butter?

The true odor of unrefined Shea butter is a rather unique and characteristic aroma smell. Several factors contribute to the aroma of Shea butter. The greatest of all factors is the phelolic compounds.

Refined Shea butter does not have the characteristic aroma of unrefined Shea butter.

Reference
Case Study
Research by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) into the cultivation and processing of shea nuts as an alternative to cocoa products.

AFRICA TODAY
WEAH URGES LIBERIAN POLL RERUN
Liberian presidential candidate George Weah has called for a rerun of Tuesday's election, saying it was marred by vote-rigging. Click here to read more http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4430486.stm