Page 105 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 10

WHOLENESS

mins A, C, D, E and K, and omega temperature, a practice perfected tances in search of food and water,
fatty acids 3, 6 and 9. They help the by African women who ground the and a single tree’s seeds can thus
cells perform optimally and keep seeds into butter and used it on be spread out over many miles.
the skin healthy. their hair for hundreds of years. Ironically, elephants are also known
to damage or kill baobab trees in
8. Eye serum: The baobab seed Side Effects: times of severe drought. Elephants
oil also does well in keeping the *It is important to note that the sometimes rip apart a baobab’s
under-eye skin looking youthful. baobab seed oil is not ingestible. trunk to get at the tree’s bountiful
Try 3 tablespoons of baobab oil, 3 It is for external use only. It is water supply inside.
drops of lavender essential oil, and incredibly gentle, and therefore
2 tablespoons of jojoba oil. Shake has no known side effects. But if If no action is taken to protect the
the mixture well and gently massage you're just incorporating it into your baobab and its environment, certain
a drop or two under each eye with routine, it's best to start slowly, as species of the tree could be extinct
your finger, daily. with any new product. It is always within 100 years.
recommended that one tests a small
9. Anti-inflammation: Because bao- amount of the oil on the forearm Lastly, the baobab tree is consid-
bab seed oil is packed with vitamins twice a day for seven days before ered to be a Lost Crop™— an
B, C, and omega 3s, it can help with using it more widely. undervalued wild plant with pow-
dry, aging, and dull skin. The oil erful health benefits. By including
form can help soothe mild eczema, In conclusion, the baobab, one baobab seed oil in your skincare
psoriasis, rosacea and/or dandruff of the world’s most unusual and ritual, you’re helping bring value to
as well, because it is moisturizing, iconic trees which has nine species, the tree and protect biodiversity.
but it does not replace medications is in danger. The gigantic baobab, Baobab seed oil is a one-ingredi-
for the conditions. Use it on wet known as the “tree of life,” can ent powerhouse, so you can rest
skin for the best results. live as long as 3,000 years. But the assured that you’re not putting any
hardy trees are suddenly dying in unnecessary chemicals, fillers, or
10. Chapped lips: A small amount unusual numbers, many long before mystery ingredients on your skin.
of baobab seed oil will restore your their expected life spans. Climate
lips to a supple state in a short change has increased the occur- A life-inducing gift from the Kenyan
while. rence of such weather anomalies soil and truly stoic in every aspect of
as droughts, floods, and lightning
11. Balance skin oil production: storms, all of which can harm or kill Alexis is the founder and CEO of Kakia
People with low levels of linoleic baobab trees. A destructive mold Oils, a community-interest agribusiness
that celebrates the versatility, potency of
acid in their skin produce more oil called black fungus is also appear- plant-based oils from the best of African
on their skin surface. However, the ing more frequently on baobab produce to promote wellness for all.
omega 6 acid (linoleic acid) con- trees. The tree is further threatened The easy-going, adventurous mother of
two struggled with eczema into her young
stituent of baobab seed oil meets by the loss of its natural habitat adulthood, which she successfully controlled
this need and balances the produc- to agriculture and development. using botanical oils. When she quit formal
tion of oil in the skin. You need a Habitat loss and illegal hunting have employment, she pursued her passion for
plant-based oils entrepreneurially.
mixture of 2 tablespoons of baobab also greatly reduced the population She is Christian, a student of nature and
oil and same for hemp seed oil and of African elephants, the animals a seasoned Social Development Specialist.
store in a 60ml — amber dropper largely responsible for spreading
bottle. A couple of drops daily on the tree’s seeds.
your face is advised.
African elephants, who are them-
12. Hair care: Other than just being selves in danger, help propagate
a fun word to say out loud, bao- baobabs by eating the tree’s fruit
bab seed oil is intensely hydrating, and seeds (antelopes, baboons, and
which makes it an excellent choice other animals also contribute). The
for hair care. As the natural oil seeds pass through the animals’
hydrates, it also protects from heat digestive systems, and they are then
and environmental aggressors like dropped in ready-made fertilizer.
pollution, sun, wind, and extreme Elephants tend to walk great dis-

WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 10 JAN/FEB 2020 105