Sea Buckthorn: Benefits, Uses, How to Eat It, and Its Therapeutic Effect on Skin Diseases
Sea buckthorn is a plant in the genus Hippophae of the family Elaeagnaceae. The roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit of sea buckthorn all have excellent medicinal value. In ancient China, Tibetan and Mongolian doctors used sea buckthorn fruit as a common medicine for treating diseases. So what are the benefits and effects of sea buckthorn? How should you eat it for the best results?
I. Introduction to Sea Buckthorn
Sea buckthorn, also known as vinegar willow, yellow sour thorn, sour thorn willow, black thorn, and sour thorn, is a thorny deciduous shrub in the genus Hippophae. It is native to the temperate and cold temperate regions of Asia and Europe. Sea buckthorn can prevent wind and fix sand, and its fruit can be eaten or used to make beverages. In addition, sea buckthorn fruit also has value in beauty care and medicine. China is the country with the most sea buckthorn resources in the world, mainly distributed in North China, Northeast China, and Northwest China, with the largest distribution in Shanxi Province.
As a deciduous shrub, sea buckthorn ranges in height from two meters to four meters. Its branches are rough, its outer bark is black, and its leaves are lanceolate. It blooms three years after planting, is dioecious, and spreads seeds through the wind. The root system of sea buckthorn is very well developed, and its roots form a symbiosis with Frankia. A single fruit weighs between 270 and 480 mg and is rich in vitamin C, E, B12, carotenoids, flavonoids, and fatty acids.
II. Benefits and Effects of Sea Buckthorn
1. Nutritional value of sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn has very high nutritional value. Its fruit, leaves, and seed oil all have excellent medicinal and nutritional value. The specific nutritional components are shown in the table below:
| Sea buckthorn fruit | Sea buckthorn leaves | Sea buckthorn oil |
| ① Per 100 g of sea buckthorn fruit pulp: Vitamin C: 500mg-400mg Vitamin E: 250mg-400mg Vitamin B1: 0.05mg-0.3mg Vitamin B2: 0.03mg-0.15mg Vitamin B1 20.2mg-0.88mg Vitamin K group compounds: 115mg Vitamin P group: 20mg-350mg ② Contains active substances such as amino acids, fatty acids, linoleic acid, sea buckthorn flavonoids, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) ③ Contains 7 kinds of flavonoid substances such as isorhamnetin, glycosides, quercetin, and kaempferol, as well as trace elements |
Sea buckthorn leaves contain 15.75% crude protein, 9.48% crude fat, 14.04% crude fiber, and 54.84% nitrogen-free extract | Sea buckthorn seeds contain 10%—12% oil, and the fruit pulp contains 14%—18% oil. Sea buckthorn oil contains 206 kinds of active substances beneficial to the human body, and also contains large amounts of vitamin E, vitamin A, flavonoids, and more |
2. Benefits and effects of sea buckthorn
(1) Sea buckthorn has an expectorant and cough-relieving effect: Sea buckthorn is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine. It is sour and astringent in taste and warm in nature. It enters the spleen, stomach, lung, and heart meridians and has the effects of resolving phlegm, relieving cough, promoting blood circulation, and dispersing blood stasis. In ancient China, Tibetan and Mongolian doctors listed sea buckthorn as an important medicinal plant, used for relieving cough, calming asthma, promoting blood circulation, and dispersing blood stasis.
(2) Sea buckthorn has the effect of improving the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems: Medical research shows that sea buckthorn seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins and has good effects in lowering cholesterol, relieving angina attacks, and preventing and treating coronary atherosclerosis, thereby effectively improving the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.
(3) Sea buckthorn has the effect of strengthening the spleen and promoting digestion: Sea buckthorn is warm in nature and enters the spleen and stomach meridians. Sea buckthorn seed oil contains a variety of anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer components and lipid compounds, and has a certain supportive effect on gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gastritis, chronic diarrhea, and ulcerative colitis.
(4) Sea buckthorn has the effect of delaying aging: Sea buckthorn is rich in SOD active ingredients and has a strong antioxidant effect, with a certain supportive effect on delaying aging.
(5) Sea buckthorn has the effect of accelerating wound healing: Sea buckthorn seed oil has the effect of promoting tissue regeneration and epithelial tissue healing, and has a good supportive effect on burns, scalds, cuts, and frostbite.
In addition to its medicinal value, sea buckthorn also has very high economic value. Sea buckthorn has a well-developed root system and the characteristic of bearing nitrogen-fixing root nodules. It is extremely tolerant of drought, barren soil, and salinity and alkalinity. Therefore, it is used as an excellent tree species for windbreaks and sand fixation, water and soil conservation, and soil improvement, and has been promoted for planting in many regions across the country.
Note: Although sea buckthorn has good benefits and effects, it should still be used under the guidance of a doctor, and it cannot directly replace medication for treatment. It only has a supportive therapeutic effect on some diseases.
III. How Should Sea Buckthorn Be Eaten for the Best Results?
1. Eating sea buckthorn fruit raw: Sea buckthorn fruit is sweet and sour, and fresh sea buckthorn fruit can be eaten directly raw.
2. In addition to being eaten raw, sea buckthorn fruit can also be processed into juice, fruit wine, jam, preserved fruit, jelly, beverages, health products, and more.
3. Dried sea buckthorn fruit and sea buckthorn leaves can be eaten directly, brewed as tea, or used in congee and soups.
4. Sea buckthorn fruit oil and sea buckthorn seed oil are yellow to orange-red transparent liquids and are a type of vegetable oil. They can be eaten directly and are usually made into capsule products or used for skin care. Generally, those seeking liver protection choose sea buckthorn seed oil; those seeking stomach care choose sea buckthorn fruit oil, which contains more vitamin E and carotene than seed oil and has a brownish-red color.
IV. Who Is Sea Buckthorn Suitable For?
Sea buckthorn is suitable for middle-aged and elderly people, people with high blood pressure, people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and beauty-conscious women. Although sea buckthorn has medicinal value, it should still be taken under the guidance of a doctor to see whether it is suitable, and it must not directly replace medication for treatment. Make sure to use medication safely.
V. Can Sea Buckthorn Treat Skin Diseases? Is the Claim About Expelling Dampness and Cold True or False?
As to whether sea buckthorn can treat skin diseases and expel dampness and cold, according to the editor's research, there is no experimental proof that it can treat them. It may have some supportive effects, but if treatment is desired, it still needs to be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Conclusion: As a plant that is both medicine and food, sea buckthorn not only has high medicinal value and edible nutritional value, but also has a certain economic value. It is hoped that more valuable plants can be explored in the future.