Sea buckthorn oil has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy against various ailments.
It is extracted from the sea buckthorn berries, leaves and seeds of the sea buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides), which may be a small shrub that grows at high altitudes within the northwest Himalayan region.
Sometimes mentioned because the holy fruit of the Himalayas, sea buckthorn are often applied to the skin or ingested.
A popular remedy in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines, it's going to provide health benefits starting from supporting your heart to protecting against diabetes, stomach ulcers and skin damage.
Here are 10 science-backed benefits of sea buckthorn oil.
1. Rich in Many Nutrients
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in various vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.
For instance, it's naturally filled with antioxidants, which help protect your body against aging and illnesses like cancer and heart condition .
The omega 3 seeds and leaves also are particularly rich in quercetin, a flavonoid linked to lower vital sign and a reduced risk of heart condition .
What’s more, sea buckthorn berries boast potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. They also contain good amounts of folate, biotin and vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and E.
More than half the fat found in sea buckthorn oil is mono- and fat , which are two sorts of healthy fats.
Interestingly, sea buckthorn oil can also be one among the sole plant foods known to supply all four omega fatty acids — omega 3, omega 6, omega 7 and omega 9.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in various vitamins and minerals, also as antioxidants and other plant compounds potentially beneficial to your health.
2. Promotes Heart Health
Sea buckthorn oil may benefit heart health in several alternative ways .
For starters, its antioxidants may help reduce risk factors of heart condition , including blood clots, vital sign and blood cholesterol levels.
In one small study, 12 healthy men got either 5 grams of sea buckthorn oil or copra oil per day. After four weeks, the lads within the sea buckthorn group had significantly lower markers of blood clots.
In another study, taking 0.75 ml of Sea Buckthorn Oil Capsules daily for 30 days helped reduce vital sign levels in people with high vital sign . Levels of triglycerides, also as total and “bad” LDL cholesterol , also dropped in those that had high cholesterol.
However, the consequences on people with normal vital sign and cholesterol levels were less pronounced.
A recent review also determined that sea buckthorn extracts may reduce cholesterol levels in people with poor heart health — but not in healthy participants.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil may aid your heart by reducing vital sign , improving blood cholesterol levels and protecting against blood clots. That said, effects could also be strongest in people with poor heart health.
3. May Protect Against Diabetes
Sea buckthorn oil can also help prevent diabetes.
Animal studies show that it's going to help reduce blood glucose levels by increasing insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity.
One small human study notes that sea buckthorn oil may help minimize blood glucose spikes after a carb-rich meal.
Because frequent, long-term blood glucose spikes can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, preventing them is predicted to scale back your risk.
However, more studies are needed before strong conclusions are often made.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil capsules may help improve insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, both of which could protect against type 2 diabetes — though more research is required .
4. Protects Your Skin
Compounds in sea buckthorn oil may boost your skin health when applied directly.
For instance, test-tube and animal studies show that the oil may help stimulate skin regeneration, helping wounds heal more quickly.
Similarly, animal studies reveal that sea buckthorn oil capsules can also help reduce inflammation following UV exposure, protecting skin against sun damage.
Researchers believe that both of those effects may stem from sea buckthorn’s omega 7 and omega 3 fat content.
In a seven-week study in 11 young men, a mixture of sea buckthorn oil capsules and water applied on to the skin promoted skin elasticity better than a placebo.
There’s also some evidence that sea buckthorn oil may prevent skin dryness and help your skin heal from burns, frostbite and bedsores.
Keep in mind that more human studies are needed.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil may help your skin heal from wounds, sunburns, frostbite and bedsores. It’s going to also promote elasticity and protect against dryness.
5. May Boost Your system
Sea buckthorn oil capsules may help protect your body against infections.
Experts attribute this effect, in large part, to the high flavonoid content of the oil.
Flavonoids are beneficial plant compounds which can strengthen your system by increasing resistance to illnesses.
In one test-tube study, sea buckthorn oil prevented the expansion of bacteria like E. coli.
In others, sea buckthorn oil offered protection against influenza, herpes and HIV viruses.
Sea buckthorn oil contains an honest amount of antioxidants, beneficial plant compounds which will also help defend your body against microbes .
That said, research in humans is lacking.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in beneficial plant compounds like flavonoids and antioxidants, which can help your body fight infections.
6. May Support a Healthy Liver
Sea buckthorn oil can also contribute to a healthy liver.
That’s because it contains healthy fats, vitamin E and carotenoids, all of which can safeguard liver cells from damage.
In one study, sea buckthorn oil significantly improved markers of liver function in rats with liver damage.
In another study, people with cirrhosis — a complicated sort of disease — got 15 grams of sea buckthorn extract or a placebo 3 times per day for 6 months.
Those within the sea buckthorn group increased their blood markers of liver function significantly quite those given a placebo.
In two other studies, people with non-alcoholic disease given either 0.5 or 1.5 grams of sea buckthorn 1–3 times daily saw blood cholesterol, triglyceride and liver enzyme levels improve significantly quite those given a placebo.
Although these effects seem promising, more studies are necessary to form firm conclusions.
SUMMARY
Compounds in sea buckthorn may aid liver function, though more studies are needed.
7. May Help Fight Cancer Cells
Compounds present in sea buckthorn oil may help fight cancer. These protective effects could also be caused by the flavonoids and antioxidants within the oil.
For instance, sea buckthorn is rich in quercetin, a flavonoid which appears to assist kill cancer cells.
Sea buckthorn’s various antioxidants, including carotenoids and vitamin E , can also protect against this notorious disease.
A few test-tube and animal studies suggest that sea buckthorn extracts could also be effective at preventing the spread of cancer cells.
However, the reported cancer-fighting effects of sea buckthorn capsules are much milder than those of chemotherapy drugs.
Keep in mind that these effects haven't yet been tested in humans, so more studies are needed.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil provides certain beneficial plant compounds which can offer some protection against cancer. However, its effects are likely mild — and human research is lacking.
8-10. Other Potential Benefits
Sea buckthorn oil is claimed to offer additional health benefits. However, not all claims are supported by sound science. Those with the foremost evidence include:
- May improve digestion: Animal studies indicate that sea buckthorn oil may help prevent and treat stomach ulcers.
- May reduce symptoms of menopause: Sea buckthorn may reduce vaginal drying and act as an efficient alternative treatment for postmenopausal women who cannot take estrogen.
- May treat dry eyes: In one study, daily sea buckthorn intake was linked to reduced eye redness and burning.
It’s important to notice that the majority of those studies are small and really few involve humans. Therefore, more research is required before strong conclusions are often made.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn may offer an array of additional health benefits, starting from reduced inflammation to menopause treatment. However, more studies — especially in humans — are needed.
The Bottom Line
Roncuvita - Sea buckthorn oil may be a popular alternative remedy for a spread of ailments.
It is rich in many nutrients and should improve the health of your skin, liver and heart. It’s going to also help protect against diabetes and aid your system .
As this plant material has been utilized in traditional medicine for thousands of years, it's going to be worth trying to offer your body a lift .
