Shea Butter - Has anyone ever used it much before??

[Ghost in the Machine]

I got some from a friend of mine yesterday and tried it for the first time. I'm really amazed at the effects it had on me... usually after a 12+ hour day of being on my feet, my feet and ankles are swollen, my back hurts really bad and my neck muscles around my surgery area are severely stiff and strained, and feel like they are in knots... in other words, sometimes I feel like death would be a welcomed relief.

Yesterday, as soon as I got home and got my shoes off, I rubbed some on my feet and ankles. I swear I could feel some relief immediately. It was soothing, almost like Ben Gay or Icy Heat without the smell. I had my kids rub some on my back and on my shoulders and it seemed to help almost immediately too.

About an hour later, after I took my shower, I had the kids rub some more on my back and neck & shoulders. Today I have been virtually pain free, which is a *very* rare occurance for me, and I have enjoyed it immensely.

Usually after working 26 to 28 hours on staurday and sunday I spend the biggest part of monday in bed, too sore to move. Today I was able to clean my house, do some laundry and start cleaning out the extra room, which is slap full of junk in boxes that I'm getting ready to put on ebay and take out to flea markets.

Has anyone else had a good experience with this stuff? This isn't some "store bought" shea butter. This is 100% pure, unrefined shea butter straight from Ghana, where my friend goes as a missionary and evangelist pastor. He imports it and sells it at the flea market on weekends, using the money to fund his missionary works in Africa.

[DainBramaged]

1. Yup, have it in Dial's bath lotion

A huge difference in how my muscles feel at the end of the day. I shower as soon as I get home now.

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. I was amazed by the way it worked so quickly... I'm calling it a "miracle" right now...

Honestly, they've tried just about every drug known to man trying to do something for me, and NOTHING has worked so far. I get better relief from a few hits off of a doobie than all the morphine, oxycontins and other pain pills they've tried on me, but this stuff was just wonderful! I just got some more rubbed in a little while ago... hoping for another pain free day tomorrow. I'll see how that goes tomorrow though....

[DainBramaged]

3. I could not believe how much better my joints feel because of it

Must be some of us are affected by it's properties.

[KG]

4. oh. you're sposed to bathe in it?

no wonder it tasted like crap on toast. :eyes:

[Ghost in the Machine]

10. It's actually edible when refined... refining removes bitterness from it

:hi:

[Sanity Claws]

5. I've used it as a moisturizer

I didn't know it relieved pain.
What brand did you use? Was it pure shea butter or mixed with other things?

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. What I've got is pure, unrefined butter imported straight from Ghana

Commercial refining destroys a lot of the healing properties of it...

Shea butter is a staple of African pharmacopoeia. It is used as a decongestant for its draining properties and as an anti-inflammatory against arthritis and for soothing strains. It is also a wonderful healing agent, accelerating cicatrisation of wounds and burns. After one application, you can feel the product being absorbed by your skin immediately. Because of its amazing skin care and healing properties, shea butter has been used for centuries in parts of Africa.

[NewWaveChick1981]

6. It's weird...shea butter has drying effects on me.

:shrug: I have tried several different products (high end as well as low end), and it's always ended up drying my skin. The 100% shea butter I used was in a tub and was commercially processed, so maybe the kind you're talking about would work better.

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. commercial procesing and refining destroys the natural healing agents

found in the pulp... what I've got is pure, unrefined shea butter. They smash the seeds to get the butter, then use only hot water to remove impurities. It also loses effectiveness when mixed with other compounds in commercial applications...

[MissMillie]

7. I just purchased a body wash that has shea butter in it

I'm liking it so far.

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. I think I'm hooked on it already... or at least thoroughly convinced that it works

I've been virtually pain free for 2 days in a row now since using this stuff.... i've been lucky up to this point to have 2 pain free days in the same MONTH..... I'm swearing by it, for now...

[1gobluedem]

8. I love shea butter

My skin gets really dry in the winter and shea butter has been great for it. Plus I love the smell; so fresh.

I heartily recommend it.

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. It's some great stuff...

I have a callous on my heel that has been there forever... from always wearing work boots or something... and I have tried everything on it, even abrasive stones and cornhuskers lotion, to no avail... in 3 days of using this stuff, my callous is very smooth and almost gone.

[Sanity Claws]

12. Where did you get it?

I don't think I've ever seen it available in its unrefined state.

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. A friend of mine brings it in from Ghana

He does missionary work in Africa and brings the stuff back and sells it here to support and fund more missionary work...