The raw nuts are harvested off the ground, dehusked and sundried 4-5 days.

The almonds are then cracked and further dried. After cracking and drying, the twice ground kernels are then pounded to release the oil. Water is added and the product is kneaded to the "chocolate" stage.

While being kneaded, small amounts of water are added along the way. The quality of hand kneaded shea butter cannot be matched by mechanical means.

The oil is scooped off, washed several times and clarified over a fire and cooled.

In Ghana, this is how shea is sold - in glorious, hard- earned balls. Click here to see Larry's unedited shea story

And here's why we use it. Shea butter is nature's own skin healer and has been used by healers for thousands of years for a multitude of skin ailments. Not only does it moisturize and protect, it helps heal damaged skin from rashes to stretch marks to sun damage.

Natural Nipple Butter Natural Nipple Cream is a rich, plant-based balm made with organic olive oil infused with organic herbs and rich butters. This luscious nipple cream blend helps protect and moisturize nipples to prevent them from becoming sore and cracked. (And it contains NO lanolin!) Learn More

Earth Mama Bottom Balm This wonderfully soothing, cooling balm often is made with healing organically grown herbs and butters. It helps relieve itch and shrink swollen tissues of prenatal and postpartum hemorrhoids and helps speed healing of postpartum vaginal bruising. It's a blessing-in-a-jar for new mamas and mamas-to-be. Learn More

Angel Baby Bottom Balm And of course, our bestselling Angel Baby Bottom Balm. Suffice to say, our favorite (and oft-heard) feedback is "it's the only thing that works!" Shea butter is also added to our Mint Herbal Lip Balm

Shea butter (aka Butyrospermum parkii) is amazing stuff. Here are just a few of its talents:

+ Naturally rich in vitamins A, E, F and essential vitamins needed for good skin balance

+ Helps heal scars, burns, and stretch marks by promoting skin's natural elasticity

+ Helps heal skin irritations such as psoriasis, eczema, diaper rash and chapping

+ Contains allantoin and helps heal sunburn and sun damage. Recently curcuminoids, anti-cancer compounds have also been found in shea butter.

There is one known health warning about shea butter: People who have nut allergies and latex allergies may be sensitive to shea butter.

So who wouldn't want some? (I guess the nut & latex allergy people.) It's a tried and true gift from the earth.