Sea Buckthorn (Sha Ji)

Botanical Name: Hippophae rhamnoides

Sea buckthorn is rich in nutrients and antioxidants that support heart health, treat diabetes, and help to improve skin conditions. As it becomes better known in the West it is becoming recognized as a superfoodl. It contains 190 bioactive constituents.

Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – Sea Buckthorn is Crazy Nutritious! It is also highly valued for…

Remember to check with your doctor before trying new medicines or herbal remedies, especially if you are taking other medication where drug interactions are possible.

Below is an overview of sea buckthorn, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of sea buckthorn.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Leaf, Flower, Seed Oil, Berry

Flavors/Temps: Sour, Astringent, Warming

Caution: Considered safe, it can be taken up to 6 months as a medicine. Some people may experience headaches or dizziness.

Key Constituents: Flavonoids, Quercetin, Carotenoids, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C (10X more than orange), and E (3rd highest source in plant world), Amino acids, Fatty acids, omega-3, omega-6, omega-7, and omega-9, Minerals (including: Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus)

History/Folklore: The pulp from the fruit and oil from the seeds of sea buckthorn are extracted for medicinal use. It is currently being studied for use in helping relieve the side effects of cancer treatment, promoting heart health, treating gastronomical ulcers, liver protection, and internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin disorders. China produces 90% of the world’s supply of sea buckthorn. Its juice is commonly sold as a beverage.

In ancient times, leaves and young branches were fed as a remedy to horses to support weight gain and improve the appearance of the animal’s coat. Thus the genus name, Hippophae, derived from hippo (horse) and phaos (shining).

During the Cold War, Russian and East German horticulturists developed new varieties with larger berries to improve harvesting and increase yields. They use the berries for their astronauts and an extract to protect their skin from UV radiation burns while in space. More recently experimental crops have been grown in the U.S., including the states of Arizona and Nevada.

Sea buckthorn oil contains fats, vitamin E, and carotenoids that help protect liver cells from damage.

More than half the fat found in sea buckthorn oil is healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fat.

When the berries are pressed, the resulting sea buckthorn juice separates into three layers, a top thick orange cream, a middle layer that contains many of the fruit’s saturated and polyunsaturated fats, and bottom layer of sediment and juice. The top two layers are often used for cosmetic and liniment products, and the bottom layer is used for syrups and juices. Sea buckthorn juice is common in China, Germany, and Scandinavian countries.

While more studies are needed, the plant’s ability to improve energy and fatty acid metabolism, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters, indicates that it may be useful for helping to counter depression and lethargy.

Sea buckthorn is an exceptionally hardy plant able to withstand winter temperatures as low as -45 degrees F. It has an extensive root system that inhibits soil erosion and nitrogen fixing properties for soil enrichment, making it useful for reclaiming land to create wildlife habitats. In Northwest China, the shrubs have been planted on the bottoms of dry riverbeds to increase water retention in the soil, thus decreasing sediment loss.

The fruit is an important food source for birds. 51 bird species out of the 360 that live in sea buckthorn areas depend on the plant for food and shelter. The leaves and tender branches are a rich source of protein.