SEA BUCKTHORN, Natural Vitamin Tree

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Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), also called the “vitamin tree,” is a berry that has been used as a food and medicine throughout Europe and Asia. Sea buckthorn is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, over 60 types of antioxidants and 190 phytonutrients such as carotenoid and flavonoid. Sea buckthorn is particularly rich in vitamin C, with the average amount of 400-600mg and as high as 2,000mg.

Anecdotal reports suggest that sea buckthorn was used in ancient times to lower fever, reduce inflammation, counteract toxicity and abscess, and clean the lungs.

Research studies show that sea buckthorn has considerable antioxidant capacity and promising application in skin health. Its flavonoids and plant sterol have been shown to protect our cells from free radicals and oxidative stress. Vitamin C present in sea buckthorn is essential for skin health and collagen synthesis.

Topically, sea buckthorn oil is used as a sunscreen, for healing wounds, acne and eczema. Russian cosmonauts used sea buckthorn cream for protection from cosmic radiation.

• Beveridge T, Li TS, Oomah BD, Smith A. Sea Buckthorn Products: Manufacture and Composition. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1999;47(9):3480-3488.
• Gutzeit D, Baleanu G, Winterhalter P, Jerz G. Vitamin C content in sea buckthorn berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. Rhamnoides) and related products: a kinetic study on storage stability and the determination of processing effects. Journal of Food Science 2008;73(9):C615-C620.
• Larmo P, Alin J, Salminen E, Kallio H, Tahvonen R. Effects of sea buckthorn berries on infections and inflammation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. European Journal of clinical nutrition 2007;62:1123-1130.
• Li T, Beveridge T. Sea Buckthorn: Production and utilization. Chapter 11. Chemical composition and some physical properties. NRC Research Press. 2003.
• Natural Medicines Professional Database. Sea Buckthorn. 2013.
• Yang B, Kalimo KO, Mattila LM, Kallio SE, Katajsto JK, Pettola OJ, Kallio HP. Effects of dietary supplementation with sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seed and pulp oils on atopic dermatitis. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 1999;10(11):622-630.

This page is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient.