Flex Now Joint Formula [Discontinued] by BSP Pharma

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Preliminary clinical research in adults and children with congestion associated with primary allergic rhinitis shows that applying shea butter 2-4 grams to the inside of the nose as needed over 4 days clears the airways and improves breathing. Improvements appear to occur within 30-90 seconds of application, and the effects last for 5-8.5 hours. Following 2-4 additional applications, congestion improves for 12-24 hours. The improvement in nasal congestion achieved with shea butter is reportedly preferable to petroleum jelly and similar to the effects of xylometazoline nasal drops (28336).
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Preliminary clinical research shows that shea butter might help with symptoms of atopic dermatitis in children and teens. Applying a cleanser and cream containing a lipid complex with shea butter extract (Ezerra; Hoe Pharma) to the affected areas at least twice daily for 4 weeks improves itching by 10% and quality of life by 20% when compared with baseline in children with eczema. However, there were no benefits in approximately 25% of the patients (98620). Topical application of a cream containing shea butter, spent grain wax, and Argania spinosa kernel oil (Stimu-Tex AS) twice daily for 4 weeks is as effective for reducing symptoms of redness, swelling, dryness, and itching as a cream containing hydrocortisone 1% in children with mild to moderate eczema (98901).
• Hypertension. Observational research in a Ghanaian population has found that cooking with shea butter is associated with a 2.4 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure, a 1.8 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure, and 25% lower odds of hypertension when compared with cooking with vegetable oil (102047). More evidence is needed to rate shea butter for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Shea butter has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (29975).

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used topically and appropriately, short-term. A cream composed of lipid complex and shea butter has been applied with apparent safety for up to 4 weeks (98620). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of shea butter when used orally in medicinal amounts or when applied topically, long-term.

CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Shea butter has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (29975).

CHILDREN: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used topically and appropriately, short-term. Shea butter 2-4 grams has been applied to the inside of the nose with apparent safety for up to 4 days (28336). Topical products containing shea butter, either alone or with other ingredients, have been applied to the skin with apparent safety twice daily for up to 4 weeks in children 2-15 years of age (98620,98901).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: LIKELY SAFE
when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Shea butter has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (29975). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of shea butter when used in medicinal amounts during pregnancy and lactation; avoid using.

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General ...Topically, shea butter appears to be generally well tolerated (28336). No adverse effects have been reported in clinical studies (28336,98620,98901).

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