Sea Buckthorn 

Hippophae is the genus of sea buckthorns, deciduous shrubs in the family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea buckthorn may be hyphenated to avoid confusion with the unrelated true buckthorns (Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae). It is also referred to as sandthorn, sallowthorn or seaberry. It produces orange-yellow berries, which have been used over centuries as food, traditional medicine, and skin treatment in Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, and northern Europe, which are its origin regions.

Sea buckthorn is a shrub native to India, China, Russia and areas of Europe. It contains many medicinal compounds, as well as nutrients that include:

• Vitamins
• Amino acids
• Fatty acids
• Minerals

The leaves, flowers, seeds, and berries of sea buckthorn are used in teas, oils, or concentrates for a wide variety of health issues.  

For hundreds of years, sea buckthorn has been used in India, Russia and China for its medicinal and nutritional qualities.

Sea buckthorn is thought to remove free radicals -- molecules that can damage cells. Most scientific evidence is from animal studies. Though not proven in human clinical trials, people say they take sea buckthorn specifically to try to:

• Treat stomach or intestinal problems
• Improve blood pressure or blood cholesterol
• Prevent or manage blood vessel or heart disease
• Complement cancer treatment
• Boost immunity and prevent infections
• Treat obesity
• Improve symptoms of cirrhosis
• Improve eyesight or dry eyes
• Treat respiratory problems such as asthma, colds, and pneumonia

People also use sea buckthorn as a sunscreen or cosmetic, and for a variety of skin problems such as:

• Radiation damage
• Exanthemata, a skin rash usually found in children
• Bedsores, burns, or cuts
• Acne, dermatitis, or dry skin