Sea Buckthorn
Health Applications
As Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council stated: If there ever was an herb that could qualify for the next generation of herbal luminaries, I would nominate Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).
This high praise is fully justified for the Sea Buckthorn contains over 190 nutritional compounds. Sea Buckthorn is indeed a Synergistic Giant. While the nourishing and healing qualities of Sea Buckthorn are relatively new to the West, they have been well known in the East for hundreds of years. The earliest mention of Sea Buckthorn was in the Tibetan medical classic "'rGyud Bzi" in the eight century. Word has it that Genghis Khan fed the leaves and berries to his legendary horses during his dramatic conquest of Asia. In fact, a component of Sea Buckthorn's botanical name, Hippophae means "bright shiny horse."
Skin: An ingredient of the Sea Buckthorn oil, palmitoleic acid, (an average of 35%) is a component of skin. It is considered a valuable topical agent in treating burns and healing wounds. This fatty acid can also nourish the skin when taken orally as well as applied topically. This is a useful method for treating systemic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis.
Sea buckthorn oil is already widely used alone or in various preparations topically applied for burns, scalds, ulcerations, and infections. It is an ingredient in sunblock- oil has UV-blocking activity as well as emollient properties - and it is an aid in promoting regeneration of tissues.
If there is one word that best describes Sea Buckthorn it is ANTIOXIDANT. The fruit, seed and leaves of Sea Buckthorn contain an impressive array of antioxidant compounds. The concentration of vitamin C in the Sea Buckthorn berries reaches 2500mg/100g, depending on the species. The berries are also a rich source of vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols including beta sitosterol; stanols, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and polar lipids. The leaves are an equally rich source of important antioxidants including beta carotene, vitamin E, flavonoids, catechins, elagic acid, ferulic acid, folic acid and significant values of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The dried Sea Buckthorn leaves also provide an important source of protein at 24%.
Because of Sea buckthorn's potent antioxidant activity, both the flavonoids and the oils from Sea Buckthorn have several potential applications. There are five areas of research into Sea Buckthorn that have been focal points for their use: as an aid to patients undergoing cancer therapy; a long-term therapy for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors; treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers; internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin disorders; and as a liver protective agent (for chemical toxins) and a remedy for liver cirrhosis. (Written By Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, OR.).
In addition to its carotenoid and vitamin E content, the oil from the Sea Buckthorn berry contains on average 35% of the rare and valuable palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7). This rare fatty acid is a component of skin fat and is known to support cell tissue and wound healing. The seed oil is characterized by its high oleic acid content (17%) and its one to one ratio of omega 3 (alpha linolenic) and omega 6 (linoleic) at approximately 34% and 31% respectively. The synestry between the two omegas is critical because they selfcheck each other in a delicate balance to regulate thousands of metabolic functions through prostaglandin pathways. Nearly every biologic function is somehow interconnected with the delicate balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3.
Until recently, most of the research into the medicinal, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical properties of Sea Buckthorn has originated in China and Russia where studies have been ongoing since the 1950's. Preparations from the fruit, seeds, leaves and bark of Sea Buckthorn have demonstrated great promise in the treatment of the mucous membranes including ulcers and gastro-intestinal disorders as well as vaginal problems. Additional studies have shown that Sea Buckthorn oils and juice have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and have a cholesterol lowering activity. Certain compounds in the bark and leaves are anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumoregenic.
The sea buckthorn oils are effective in the treatment of burns, bedsores and such skin conditions as dermatitis, eczema, rosacea, acne, psoriasis and the effects of sun damage. Thus there is a particulary high content of Sea Buckthorn fruit and seed oils in Beyond Organic Skincare's Organic Rescue Salve.
The powerful synergies and antioxidant properties of Sea Buckthorn fruit, leaves and oils support the immune system, eye health, are anti-senescent, reduce cholesterol, support cardiovascular health, muscle nourishment, strengthens cell walls, regulate endocrine function, regulate blood lipids, and have significant anti-inflammatory activity and pain reduction. It is generally accepted in the cosmetic industry that Sea Buckthorn oils have unique anti-aging properties and stimulate tissue regeneration.
There is no doubt that the future holds great promise for Sea Buckthorn. This ancient plant with its powerful and healing synergies has much to contribute to this planet and its inhabitants. We can look forward to a continued revelation of Sea Buckthorn's many gifts through the increasing interest and research into its abundant and valuable properties. Thank you Sea Buckthorn!
Susan McLoughlin is the President of Sea Buckthorn International Inc. Peachland, BC Canada.
Newsflash June 07
28/06/2007 - Regular consumption of sea buckthorn berries reduced levels of a protein that is associated with inflammation, diabetes and heart disease, say Finnish scientists. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A total of 254 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive sea buckthorn or placebo product during the study, which 233 of them completed.
Results
There were no significant differences in the number or duration of CC or DTI between groups (CC: relative risks (sea buckthorn vs placebo) for the number and duration were 1.15 (95% CI 0.90-1.48) and 1.05 (95% CI 0.87-1.27), respectively). In the sea buckthorn group, as compared to the placebo, the serum CRP concentrations decreased significantly (difference in median change -0.059 mg/l, P=0.039). The number of UTI was too small to draw solid conclusions, but the results indicate the subject merits further investigation.
Conclusion
Sea buckthorn berries did not prevent CC or DTI. However, a reductive effect on CRP, a marker of inflammation, and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, was detected.