Latin Name
Hippophae rhamnoides L.
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Common Names
Sea buckthorn, Siberian pineapple, Sea Berry, Sandthorn or Swallowthorn
Habitat
It is native from northwestern Europe, through central Asia to the Altai Mountains to western and northern China and the northern Himalayas.
Historic Uses
- Used in ancient Greece as a fodder for horses to promote weight gain and a shiny coat. In fact, the generic Latin name "Hippophae" literally translates to "shiny horse".
- Sea buckthorn has been used for centuries in both Europe and Asia as food; and for its pharmaceutical properties.
- Anecdotal reports indicate sea buckthorn was used in ancient times to:
- Lower fever, reduce inflammation, counteract toxicity and abscesses, and clean the lungs.
- Treat colds and coughs.
- Treat tumours and growths, especially of the stomach and the oesophagus.
Current Uses
Functional Food
- Juice from sea buckthorn berries is a common drink in many parts of Asia and Europe. The juice is very high in protein, vitamins C and E, and organic acids.
- The leaves, either fresh or dried, can be steeped to yield a nutritional tea.
- The leaves, young branches and fruit pulp can be used as animal fodder.
Medicinal
- Topical application of sea buckthorn oil has been reported for skin therapy including sun, heat, chemical and radiation burns, eczema and poorly healing wounds. Russian cosmonauts used sea buckthorn cream for protection from cosmic radiation.
- Oil from the sea buckthorn 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.
Agronomic and Environmental
- Sea buckthorn is a remarkably hardy bush that rapidly develops an extensive root system capable of fixing nitrogen. Thus, it is suitable for growth on marginal soils, eventually improving them to where they can support the growth of other plants. It is quite tolerant of salt-spray adjacent to highways. Sea buckthorn has been used for:
- Soil erosion control and land reclamation projects
- Wildlife habitat enhancement (figure 1) and farm stand protection
- Ornamental bushes