Astrocaryum murumuru, simply called murumuru, is a plant native to the Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. From its seeds a butter is extracted, almost solid at room temperature, nourishing, ideal as a massaging butter and as a treatment for skin and hair.
Properties of murumuru butter
The beneficial properties of this butter come from its high content in fatty acids, such as lauric acid, whose quantity is estimated around 46%, and myristic acid, about 27%. Myristic acid has antioxidant properties (Henry et al, J Agric Food Chem, Apr 2002) while lauric acid is considered a fatty acid with a powerful anti inflammatory and antibacterial action. Indeed, according to scientific studies (Nakatsuji et al, J Invest Dermatol, Oct 2009), it is able to counteract the action of the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, the cause of some skin illnesses such as acne, without modifying the hydrolipidic layer that protects the skin. Moreover, this butter contains antioxidants and carotenoids useful against skin aging (De Oliveira Falcao et al, Food Technol Biotechnol, Dec 2017).
Uses of the butter of murumuru
So, thanks to these characteristics, murumuru butter may be used on acne prone skin, sensitive skin and dry skin, wrinkles, eczema, psoriasis but also frizzy or brittle hair, oily scalp, since it acts by balancing the sebum, and in case of dandruff. You can use it as a basis to create hair masks, lip balms or you can include it in the formulations of DIY face and body creams, alternatively you can purchase products with this butter as an ingredient. Here for you some examples of treatments. Melt between your hands a teaspoon of butter and apply it on your scalp, then spread it on all the lengths until the ends. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with your shampoo, it will make the hair very soft and nourished but not oily. And if you have curly hair or frizzy hair you can apply a teaspoon of product on dry hair, it will help make the hair glossy. Instead, in case of eczema, dermatitis, dry and cracked skin, such as the skin of elbows or heels, or simply as a body cream, after the shower or the bath, when the body is still damp, apply a little product and massage on all the body or just on the parts that should be treated. A pinch of murumuru butter may be applied on dry and cracked lips. And for a nourishing, sebum balancing but also antibacterial mask, very useful in case of acne but also mature skin, melt in a double boiler 1 tablespoon of murumuru butter, before the full melting add a tablespoon of clay and a spray of a floral water, such as rose water. Stir and, after a little time to let it cool down, apply on the face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.
