The common sea buckthorn (botanical name Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a flowering plant belonging to the family Elaeagnaceae. This species is native to the sea cliffs as well as fixed dunes in Asia and Europe. Sea buckthorn is a deciduous herb having spines.
In normal conditions, the sea buckthorn may grow up to a height of anything between 2 meters and 4 meters. The leaves of this plant are alternate, slender and shaped like a lance, while their upper face has a silvery-green color.
The common sea buckthorn is dioecious, denoting that the male and female blooms of the plant grow on separate shrubs. The male inflorescence of this plant is composed of anything between four and six flowers, which are devoid of petals.
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On the other hand, usually the female inflorescence comprises just a single flower devoid of petals, but has an ovary and an ovule. For fertilization as well as production of fruits, it is essential to grow the male plants close to the female plants of this species.
The fruits of sea buckthorn have an oval shape or may even be somewhat spherical and grow like grapes packed together. The color of sea buckthorn fruits may range from light yellow to deep orange.
The root system of this plant is highly developed and it possesses the aptitude to hold soil even on elevated slopes. The roots have a symbiotic relation with a form of bacteria referred to as actinomycetes.
This association allows the plants to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. In addition, this also helps the roots to convert insoluble organic as well as mineral matters present in the soil to become more soluble. The rhizomes of sea buckthorn grow very fast to develop newer colonies.
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The leaves and twigs of common sea buckthorn plant are vermifuge and astringent. The young leaves and branches also enclose bioactive substances that are employed to produce oil, which is very much different from the oil yielded by the fruits/ berries.
On average the leaves and stems yield 3.0 per cent oil, which is used in the form of an ointment to heal burn injuries. The fruit of this plant yields superior quality therapeutic oil that is used to treat cardiac problems.
In addition, it is also claimed that topical application of this oil to the affected areas on the skin helps to heal burns and radiation injuries and cure eczema, while it is used internally for treating ailments related to the stomach and the intestines. As the fruit possesses astringent properties, it is also used in the form of a tonic.
Freshly extracted juice of sea buckthorn fruit is used for treating fevers, colds, fatigue and other conditions. The fruit of this plant is an excellent resource of vitamins as well as minerals, particularly vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, flavonoids as well as different bio-active chemicals.
In addition, it contains good amounts of essential fatty acids, which is somewhat strange for any fruit. Currently, scientists have undertaken studies to determine whether this fruit can be used as a food having the aptitude to lessen new cases of cancer and also in the form of a tool to stop or reverse cancerous growths.
It is worth mentioning here that this fruit juice also forms an ingredient of several medications that are rich in vitamin content as well as used to make cosmetics, for instance facial creams plus toothpastes. A decoction prepared from this fruit has been traditionally used in the form of a wash for treating skin eruptions and irritation.
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The common sea buckthorn possesses the aptitude to withstand exposure to maritime conditions and, hence, this plant may be utilized in the form of a sheltered hedge.
The plant, however, loathes pruning. Being an extremely prickly plant, sea buckthorn is able to form an impassable barrier very quickly.
The root system of this plant is widespread and its suckers grow rapidly and owing to these qualities of sea buckthorn, it is often used in schemes pertaining to soil conservation, particularly in slopes and sandy soils.
The plant's root system is suckering and fibrous and these work to prevent the sand from eroding. As sea buckthorn has a very rapid growth in exposed conditions also and its root nodules help to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, this plant can also be used in the form of a pioneering species to re-establish forests in problematic areas.
As this plant requires a sunny position for growth, the shade of the taller trees in any woodland is likely to hinder its growth and eventually the sea buckthorn plants may die due to lack of sunlight after they have helped to re-establish woodlands.
The seeds of this plant enclose about 12 per cent to 13 per cent oil that is slow-drying. The fruit is rich in vitamin content and often used as cosmetics, especially for making facial masks and others.
The sea buckthorn fruits also yield a yellow dye. In addition, the root, stems and foliage of the plant also yield a yellow dye. On the other hand, the tender leaves and shoots yield a blackish-brown dye.
The timber of the sea buckthorn shrub is sturdy, tough and extremely long-lasting. The wood is also fine-grained and is commonly used for superior quality carpentry, turning and others. In addition, the wood of this shrub is also used in the form of charcoal and fuel.
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The sea buckthorn is also used for culinary purposes, especially its fruit (berries), which can be consumed fresh or after cooking.
These fruits contain rich amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C and most people find them highly acidic in their raw state. However, it has been found that majority of the children relish consuming the sea buckthorn fruits raw.
The juice extracted from these fruits has a pleasing aroma and contains high levels of vitamins. These days the sea buckthorn fruits are being used more and more to make fruit juices and the juice is also blended with those extracted from other fruits. The fruit juice of this plant is said to offer a number of health benefits.
Some sea buckthorn species as well as cultivars produce fruits that enclose a maximum of 9.2 per cent oil. The fruit measures approximately 6 mm to 8mm across.
The acidity of the fruits decreases following a frost or when they are cooked. The fruits begin to ripen from the end of September and generally keep hanging from the branches throughout the winter, provided birds do not eat them earlier.
Hence, it is recommended that the fruits should be consumed prior to a frost, as the taste as well as the quality of the fruits start deteriorating rapidly after the frosts.
The common sea buckthorn is native to Europe, especially Britain, southern Norway and eastern regions of Spain. It is also found growing naturally in certain regions of Asia like the Himalayas and Japan. Generally, this species is found growing close to the coasts, frequently developing into a dense coppice at sea cliffs and fixed dunes.
This species possesses the aptitude to thrive in almost all types of soils, even in poor soils, provided the soil is not extremely arid. This plant has an excellent growth beside water bodies and its growth is quite satisfactory in damp soils.
Once the plants become established, they are able to withstand drought conditions. Sea buckthorn needs a sunlit position for proper growth.
While the seedlings do not grow well in shady places, even the mature shrubs wither away quickly if grown under the shade of taller plants.
This species thrives excellently in sandy soils and can withstand exposure to maritime conditions. Generally, these plants are found growing naturally close to coastal areas, but they grow better when cultivated inland. They can withstand very low temperatures, up to roughly -25°C.
The sea buckthorn is an extremely ornamental plant and at times it is grown, particularly in the northern regions of Europe, for its fruits, which are edible. In fact, some named varieties of the fruits also exist.
One variety of free-forming sea buckthorn fruit is called 'Leikora', which has been developed for ornamental purposes. Plants belonging to this genus have been attracting a lot of attention from the various breeding institutes, as they contain loads of nutrients that can help to support as well as prop up our overall health.
The common sea buckthorn usually has a very sluggish growth rate. Working in symbiosis with specific bacteria in the soil, this association leads to the formation of bacterial nodules or lumps on the roots and helps in fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere. While a portion of this nitrogen is used by the plant itself, some can be utilized by other plants in the vicinity.
These plants also produce lots of suckers, particularly when they are cultivated in sandy soils. The sea buckthorn is dioecious in nature and the male and female flowers are produced by different plants.
In order to obtain the flowers, fruits and seeds of this species, you need to grow the male and female varieties in close vicinity to facilitate fertilization.
However, it is not possible to distinguish the sexes of these plants before they start flowering. Nevertheless, the male plants produce buds during the winter and these have a conical shape.
While the buds produced by the male plants are conspicuous, those of the female plants are relatively small and spherical in shape. It has been found that the plants belonging to this genus are very resilient to honey fungus.
If you are propagating common sea buckthorn by its seeds, they should ideally been sown in a cold frame and place in a sunny position during spring. Generally, the seeds germinate quite quickly and satisfactorily.
However, keeping the seeds in cold stratification for about three months before sowing them will help to enhance the rate of germination. On the other hand, you may also sow the seeds immediately when they are ripe in a cold frame during autumn.
When the seedlings have grown sufficiently large for handling, prick them out carefully and plant them in separate containers. Continue growing the young plants in a greenhouse at least for the first winter of their existence.
Plant them outdoors in their permanent positions during the later part of spring. In spring, the male seedlings possess noticeable auxiliary buds, whereas the female plants are clear and soft during this time of the year.
Propagating this plant by its cuttings is quite difficult. Nevertheless, this is the easiest means of vegetative propagation. If you are using semi-mature wood for propagation, the cutting should be made during June and July and planted in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of sea buckthorn should be undertaken in autumn. This is also a difficult process. Ideally, the cuttings should be done during the autumn end or early spring prior to the opening of the buds.
Store up the cuttings in a mixture of sand and peat till April. Subsequently, cut the wood into small pieces each having a length of about 7 cm to 9 cm and plant these pieces inside a plastic tent and heat them from the bottom.
Usually, it will take about two months for new roots to emerge from the cuttings. Once the roots appear, you may plant the cuttings directly outdoors in the permanent positions during autumn.
The common sea buckthorn may also be propagated by means of its sucker division. Undertake the division of the suckers in winter and plant them directly outdoors into their fixed positions. Normally, the sucker divisions establish satisfactorily and quite fast. They require layering during autumn.
The common sea buckthorn fruit contains elevated amounts of vitamin C. In addition, this fruit also encloses rich amounts of vitamin E, carotenoids, amino acids, polyphenols, beta-sitosterol and various dietary minerals.
Flavonols form the major constituents of the polyphenols present in the common sea buckthorn fruit, while its minor constituents include catechins or flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids.
Among the seven flavonoids that have been identified so far in this fruit, isorhamnetin 3-O-glycosides are present in maximum amounts.
Even the leaves and twigs of the plant enclose about 4 per cent to 5 per cent tannins.
There are a number of reports which claim that the fruit of sea buckthorn is toxic for humans. Although the fruit may be highly acidic, it is certainly not toxic. Nevertheless, pregnant women should avoid this fruit.
Preparing sea buckthorn oil at home is simple and satisfying. All you need are a few ingredients and a little patience to enjoy this healthy addition for many weeks. In this article, we will present a step-by-step guide on how to prepare sea buckthorn oil yourself and suggest how you can use it in your everyday life to take maximum advantage of its valuable properties. Thanks to this, you will be able to enrich your diet and skin care with a natural product that works wonders.
Sea buckthorn - the gold of Siberia, is called so due to its richness in nutrients, but also because of its health-promoting effects. This unique plant has been used for centuries in both folk medicine and care.
Additionally, these fruits are a real vitamin bomb, they contain vitamin C - in 100 grams of fresh sea buckthorn berries you will find even several times more of it than in citrus fruits. Thanks to this, sea buckthorn is a great support for the immune system, especially in the autumn and winter, when we really need immunity.
In addition to vitamin C, sea buckthorn also contains vitamins E, A, K and those from group B. However, these are not the end of the impressive properties of this herb. Sea buckthorn is one of the few plant sources of omega-3, omega-6, omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids, which support the proper functioning of the heart and circulatory system. Sea buckthorn, thanks to its fatty acids, is also extremely helpful in skin care. Sea buckthorn oil has long been used in regenerating and rejuvenating cosmetics.
It not only supports the health of the skin and the immune system, but also has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks to this, regular consumption of sea buckthorn fruit or products can help alleviate inflammation in the body, supporting the fight against chronic diseases such as rheumatism or arthritis.
Sea buckthorn fruit is also an excellent source of flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant effects and protect the body from free radicals. Antioxidants are very important not only because of free radicals. In our diet, flavonoids also support heart health, regulating blood pressure and supporting circulation. Thanks to this, sea buckthorn can be a natural support for people with hypertension or heart problems.
Sea buckthorn, thanks to its versatile properties, has been classified as a "super food", and it's no wonder. In addition to the vitamins and fatty acids mentioned above, the fruit of this plant also contains microelements such as iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium, which support the proper functioning of the body on many levels. By eating these fruits, we satisfy a large part of our body's needs.
Sea buckthorn berries are a great addition to your diet, but they can also be used for skin care in the form of oil. That's why we're going to teach you how to make sea buckthorn oil step by step, so that everyone can make this wonderful remedy at home.
Start by preparing 200-300 g of fresh sea buckthorn berries. Wash them thoroughly under cold running water, then spread them out on a clean towel to dry. When the berries are dry, put them in a clean jar. Now add 2/3 teaspoon of alcohol (e.g. spirit or vodka) to the jar and close the jar tightly. Leave it to macerate for 4-6 hours, shaking occasionally so that the berries mix well with the alcohol.
After this time, pour 300 ml of olive oil over the berries until it completely covers the berries. If you prefer, you can use soybean or sunflower oil instead of olive oil - both are great. Close the jar again and leave it in a warm place for 3-4 weeks. Shake the jar every day so that the oil can absorb all the valuable ingredients from the sea buckthorn.
After 3-4 weeks, you will notice that an orange layer of sea buckthorn oil is forming on the surface. This is a sign that the maceration process is over. Strain the whole thing through clean gauze to separate the fruit from the oil. Pour the finished oil into a dark bottle - it is worth keeping the cork down, which will help prevent the oil from going rancid. Remember that sea buckthorn oil can be stored for a maximum of 3 months.
The use of sea buckthorn oil in cosmetics is wide. Thanks to its moisturizing and regenerating properties, this oil is often used in the production of creams, balms and face masks. It is perfect for the care of dry, sensitive and mature skin, as well as for the treatment of wounds, burns and other skin problems. Sea buckthorn oil can help to alleviate inflammation, irritation and even eczema, making it a great solution for people with problematic skin.
Regular use from the inside will help support the digestive system, improving digestion and supporting the liver. This oil is especially recommended for people struggling with anemia, allergies, and those who want to lower cholesterol. It also helps in the fight against cancer, showing a protective and regenerative effect on cells.
Another use of sea buckthorn oil is its role in aromatherapy. Its intense, fruity scent has a relaxing effect and can be used in diffusers or as an ingredient in massage oils. It can also support the fight against stress and improve mental well-being.
You can't forget about its use in the kitchen. Sea buckthorn oil, with its intense, slightly sour taste, is perfect as an addition to salads, smoothies, and as an ingredient in sauces and marinades. It can be used to drizzle over dishes, giving them not only a unique taste, but also enriching them with valuable nutrients.
Sea buckthorn oil is versatile and valuable, offering many health benefits, both internal and external. Thanks to its properties, it can become an indispensable element of a healthy diet and daily care. Regardless of whether you use it for health, cosmetic or culinary purposes, sea buckthorn oil will certainly enrich your life with many beneficial effects.
Preparing sea buckthorn oil is a great way to introduce a versatile, natural supplement to your diet and care. Regular use of sea buckthorn oil will help improve the condition of your skin, strengthen your immunity and support your digestive system.
Remember to store the oil in a dark bottle in a cool place, which will preserve its properties for longer. We encourage you to experiment with its use in the kitchen and cosmetics to discover all its beneficial effects. Let sea buckthorn oil become a permanent part of your healthy lifestyle.
