Hippophae Rhamnoides, Sea Buckthorn, produces a highly nutritious berry that has earned a super fruit status. The fruit and seed oil is full of Omega 3, 6, 9 and 7, a recently discovered rare fatty acid. The fruit contains a host of antioxidants and nutrients that heal and is a top source of vitamins and minerals. It has been claimed to be particularly good for the function of the skin and brain including memory.
The fruit grows naturally in the Himalayan Mountains on a shrub or tiny tree, but is adaptable to growth in zones 3 to 8 in the US. It is a plant that fixes nitrogen and grows well in barren soil and probably in your backyard. The berries may be dried or canned for year-round use.
The berries are soft, yet flavourful. These can be used for making a wide range of jams, jellies, cookies, and flavored beverages with sugar or natural sweeteners. Some people like eating them straight from the bush, but most prefer them sweetened.
After learning about these nutritious berries and having stored my pantry with them, I wondered if I needed the highly refined vitamins that I had stashed. Here’s just a handful of sea buckthorn’s nutritious and medicinal benefits:
1. Nutrition Benefits
One tiny berry contains 12 times the vitamin C of an orange. Sea buckthorn is considered one of the planet’s most vitamin-packed diets. It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
2. Fights Inflammation
The berries lower levels of C-reactive protein in all parts of the body associated with inflammation, and fight inflammation.
3. Treats High Cholesterol
Sea buckthorn berries and oil have natural heart protective properties. It naturally lowers cholesterol levels.
4. Promotes Healthy Bowel Function
In sea buckthorn, the fatty acids help to lubricate the intestine and facilitate daily digestion, preventing and treating constipation.
5. Dry Eye Relief
Internal use of sea buckthorn oil helps to reduce dry eye inflammation and discomfort including scratching and burning. It also increases the production of fluid which helps to ease the symptoms of dry eyes.
6. Has Anti-oxidant and Antibacterial Properties
Oral use of sea buckthorn is good for your skin and it also has antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
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7. Prevents Excess Fat Storage
It has been shown that omega-7 oils in buckthorn seeds prevent excess fat storage, and help with weight loss.
8. Treats Symptoms of Menopause
Eating sea buckthorn berries and oil treats menopausal symptoms. This lubricates the body from inside outwards.
9. Protects the Liver and Pancreas
Sea buckthorn oil helps the body normalize liver and bile enzymes, and reduces fat accumulations in the liver that create a fatty liver.
10. Boosts the Immune System
This also helps to decrease the amount of aflatoxins in the liver and to reduce their body damage. Aflatoxins can damage both the pancreas and the liver, or other body systems. Sea buckthorn oil prevents the damage done by such toxins and can prevent possible diseases of the liver or pancreas.
The carbohydrates, antioxidants and other beneficial substances packed into these berries provide a strong boost for the immune system. These also assist the immune system in coping with inflammation and bacterial invasions.
11. Calms Inflamed Skin and Treat Wounds
Sea buckthorn is a remedy to skin that is inflamed or irritated. Use it on damaged skin to relieve burning, itching, and scarring. Use the oil to treat marks on burns, sunburns, wounds and skin.
12. UV Protection
Sea buckthorn is well known for protecting the skin from UV rays.
13. Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Sea buckthorn is advantageous for the heart and circulatory system. The oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties reduce heart illnesses.
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14. Treats Gastrointestinal Disorders
These small berries are good for the whole body, even the gastrointestinal system. The oils lubricate the system while the berries are reducing inflammation and calm upsets. These treat numerous gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers and GERD.
15. Treats Gout
The nutritionally packed berries diminish the causes of gout and treat the disease.
16. Cures Infections
The berries are filled with compounds which destroy bacterial infections. The berries and oils are taken orally or applied topically, and they combat harmful bacteria and speed healing.
17. Soothes the Nervous System
The berries and seeds are filled with fatty omega acids that enhance the functioning of the brain and nervous system including the unusual omega-7 oil.
18. Treats Asthma Symptoms
By reducing the inflammation and lubricating the body, sea buckthorn naturally reduces asthma symptoms.
19. Prevents and Fights Diabetes
Sea buckthorn oil stimulates the body’s insulin levels and helps to keep the blood sugar levels within a reasonable range. This also lowers the body’s C-reactive protein and inflammation which reduces the risk of diabetes growth.
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20. Improves Brain Functioning and Mental Clarity
Another benefit of the omega fatty acids found in the oil of the seeds and berries, along with the vitamin B-12 present, is improved brain function and mental processes. Reduced inflammation is also helpful to brain function and mental clarity.
How to Get the Health Benefits: Dosing and Best Use
Eating a small daily serving of sea buckthorn berries is a healthy idea to get the full benefits of these wonderful berries. It takes your body time to show the full effects, so expect to see the full effects in about 30 days time. Don’t give up too fast, it is really working and meanwhile it is amazingly nutritious.
Alternatively you can take 1000 mg of sea buckthorn oil a day as a replacement for one or two capsules. You can make your own oil by grinding the seeds or berries and using steam distillation, or you can buy from a reputable source of prepared oil supplements.
Both seed oil and fruit oil can be used internally or externally but when taken internally, the seed oil has the best advantages. Fruit oil works best for external use.
Although sea buckthorn oil has been used for centuries, it is always best to consult your doctor before use especially if you have a medical condition or are taking prescription medicines.
