Introduction to Seabuckthorn

The seabuckthorn, is a kind of fruit that mostly found in the northwestern Europe, the central Asia to the Altai Mountains to western and northern China and the northern Himalayas. This fruit has been used in the old Greece as forage for horses to promote weight gain and a shiny coat. In fact, its another name in  Latin called “Hippophae” literally translates to “shiny horse”.

Seabuckthorn has been used for centuries in both Europe and Asia as food; and for its pharmaceutical properties. Base on hearsay indicate seabuckthorn was used in old to lower fever, reduce inflammation, counteract toxicity and abscesses, and clean the lungs. The seabuckthorn can also treat colds, coughs, tumours and growths, especially of the stomach and the oesophagus.

The benefits from Seabuckthorn

Today, seabuckthorn has been made as common drink in many parts of Asia and Europe, which is high in protein, vitamins C and E, and organic acids. The seabuckthorn leaves, either fresh or dried, can be saturated to yield a nutritional tea. Besides, the leaves, young branches and fruit pulp can be used as animal fodder.

Topical application of seabuckthorn oil has been reported for skin therapy including sun, heat, chemical and radiation burns, eczema and poorly healing wounds. Russian cosmonauts used seabuckthorn cream for protection from cosmic radiation. Oil from the seabuckthorn fruit is rich in vitamin E, carotenoids, phytosterols and essential fatty acids, all of which have beneficial medicinal properties for the treatment of internal and topical maladies.

Seabuckthorn is a remarkably hardy bush that rapidly develops an extensive root system capable of fixing nitrogen. Thus, it is capable for growth on marginal soils, slowly improving them to where they can support the growth of other plants. It is quite tolerant of salt-spray adjacent to highways. Seabuckthorn has been used for:

• Soil erosion control and land reclamation projects
• Wildlife habitat enhancement and farm stand protection
• Ornamental bushes

The seabuckthorns are deciduous shrubs that typically range from 0.5 to 6 m in height with equivalent spread, but may reach up to 18 m in central Asia. They can survive temperatures as low as – 40°C, and are both drought and salt tolerant. Sea buckthorns require full sunlight for good growth and cannot tolerate shady conditions near larger trees. The branches are dense, stiff, and very thorny with both terminal and axillary twig spines. The seabuckthorn fruit can be different in both shape and colour, but are typically globose to egg-shaped berries ranging from yellow to bright orange in colour. The combination of fruit shape and size, together with the contrast between the colour of the fruit and leaves, contributes to the ornamental value of this plant.

Many have seen the beneficial factors that the seabuckthorn can provide, especially those that have suffered from critical illness. Visit www.seabuckthorn4u.com for more information.