One legedary Story about Seabuckthorn:
Legend said that before 12 century BC, the ancient Greeks were surprised to find that some sick horses let loose to die a natural death, became strong and energetic again. The source of this magic was traced to a kind of shrubbery. They name the shrub Hippophae rhamnoides L, meaning trees that make horse shine.
Sibu Yidian [1] - the classic Tibetan medical book written in the eighth century AD - devotes thirty chapters to the amazing medicinal and nutritional uses of Sea Buckthorn. Sibu Yidian places great emphasis on the ability of Sea Buckthorn “to tonify Yin and strengthen Yang.”
Historically, other cultures have also found healing, health and balance from Sea Buckthorn. In India, it is an important part of traditional Ayurveda. It is absolutely essential in the Chinese Pharmacopeia.
In Mongolia, it has long been seen as a source for indefatigable life energy - which is why, it is said, Genghis Khan and his armies drank the juice of the Sea Buckthorn berry to increase stamina and speed up the healing of wounds.
Sea buckthorn has a rich history of use in treating numerous medical conditions. It has been called a wonder plant in many Asian countries, including China, India, and Pakistan. The berries have been used for more than 1,000 years in Tibetan and Indian systems of medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has been used to aid digestion and treat cough, circulatory disorders, and pain. (1 , 6 , 7)
Because of their hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects, the fruits are added to prescriptions in Indian and Tibetan medicine to treat pulmonary, GI, cardiac (eg, ischemic heart disease), blood, hepatic, and metabolic disorders. Ancient Tibetan medical literature documents the use of sea buckthorn for fever, inflammation, toxicity, abscesses, cough, colds, clearing sputum, laxative effect, tumors (particularly in the stomach and esophagus), and gynecological diseases. (1 , 2) The flowers are used as a skin softener in Tajikistan.( 1) In Mongolia, extracts from the leaves and branches of the plant are used medicinally to treat colitis and enterocolitis in humans and animals. In Middle Asia, the leaves are used to treat GI and skin disorders, and topically applied to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (1 , 2 , 6) In Russia, the oil from the seeds and fruits was used topically to treat chronic dermatoses, eczema, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, burns, frostbite, and cervical erosion. Oil from the fruit has been used to treat thrombosis. Oil extracts have been used in ophthalmology to treat keratitis, trachoma, conjunctivitis, and injuries or burns of the eyelid. (1))
Reference:
1. Technology Daily. Pharmacological Studies on Seabuckthorn. April 22th, 1999.
2. Mingyu Xu, Xiaoxuan Sun, Wenxin Tong. Medical Research and Development on Seabuckthorn. HIPPOPHAE. 1994, Vol. 7 (1): 32-39.
3. Zeb A. Important therapeutic uses of sea buckthorn (Hippophae): a review. J Biol Sci 4:687-693, 2004
4 Cenkowski S et al. Quality of extracted sea buckthorn seed and pulp oil, Can Biosystems Engin 48:3.9-3.16, 2006
5. Zeb A. Chemical and nutritional constituents of sea buckthorn juice. Pakistan J Nutr 2004 3(2):99-106
6. Yaonian Qi, Buochuan Zhou, Jing Li, Yuanqi Bao, Yalin Xue. Report on Biochemical Components of Different Type of Seabuckthorn. HIPPOPHAE, March, 1999. Vol. 9 (1): 32-36
7. B. Aluokumofu. Pharmacological Effects of Seabuckthorn Oil. HIPPOPHAE. Sept. 1992, Vol. 5 (8).
8. Pengyuan Zhou, Jingli Jiang. Health Benefits from Seabuckthorn. HIPPOHAE. Sept. 1992,No. 5 (3): 20-25.