Natural Treatments for Common Illnesses

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

The sea buckthorn is a spiky shrub that grows in thickets alongside rivers, in swamp regions on sands and rubbles, especially in saline geologic formations. The sea buckthorn is harvested during August – September. It is recommended to harvest the sea buckthorn fruits prior to the first freezing, which causes a severe decrease of the C vitamin content.

The fruit contains twice the vitamin C content then the dog rose fruit and 10 times the amount found in citrics. In ripe fruits the content surpasses 400 – 800 mg per 100 g of fresh juice. Other vitamins present in the fruit are A, B1, B2, B6, B9, E, K, P, F. we can also find cellulose, beta-carotene (in a far superior percentage then the carrot), phosphorus microelements, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and sodium, complex oils etc.

The beneficial effects of the plant have been known since the old ages. In China, for example, the traditional medicine recommends it in digestive diseases. On the European continent there are notes concerning the importance of the sea buckthorn since Dioscorid and Theophast. Presently the following are used from the sea buckthorn: fruit, buds, leafs and even bark teas, fruit syrups and fruit oils. The later is the most valuable from the medical point of view.

The sea buckthorn oil is used in treating affections like: the gastric and duodenal ulcer, allergies, diarrhea, rashes, rheumatism and neural, endocrine, circulatory and hepatic affections. It has a refreshing and slightly narcotic effect. It is successfully used in alcoholism, anemia, asthenia and stress. It is also used in geriatrics with spectacular effects.