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Sea Buckthorn? Can Sea Buckthorn Skin Creams Make a Difference?

Sea Buckthorn

 Sea buckthorn (Hipphophae rhamnoides) is a medicinal plant long used in herbal medicine. In addition, people sometimes use sea buckthorn fruit in sweet treats, including jams, pies, and drinks.

Available in supplement form, sea buckthorn extract contains various essential fatty acids and antioxidants (including vitamin C, vitamin E, and anthocyanins).1 

 As a result, proponents claim that sea buckthorn offers a wide range of health benefits.

This article explains sea buckthorn's uses, dosages, and side effects.

What Is Sea Buckthorn Used For?

In herbal medicine, sea buckthorn has long been used to stimulate the digestive system, enhance heart and liver health, and treat skin disorders. Today, sea buckthorn is touted as a natural remedy for the following health problems:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Eczema
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Inflammation
• Rosacea

In recent years, sea buckthorn oil has gained popularity as an ingredient in skin-care products. When applied topically, sea buckthorn oil is thought to have many benefits, including:1

• Moisturizing the skin
• Easing irritation
• Treating acne
• Healing aging-related damage

There is currently a lack of clinical trials testing the effects of sea buckthorn. However, preliminary research suggests that sea buckthorn may offer several health benefits.

Eczema

Older studies suggest that sea buckthorn supplements may help treat atopic dermatitis (eczema). For example, a 1999 study in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry tested sea buckthorn pulp oil on 49 people with atopic dermatitis.2 Researchers observed significant improvement among those who took supplements every day for four months.

However, more recent research suggests that supplements like sea buckthorn provide no benefit.

Wound Healing

Animal-based research suggests that sea buckthorn may promote wound healing when applied topically. For example, in a 2009 study in Food and Chemical Toxicology, scientists discovered that topically applied sea buckthorn seed oil helped speed up the healing of burn wounds in rats.

Diabetes

In a small 2010 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that sea buckthorn may help keep blood sugar in check and protect against type 2 diabetes.5 In an experiment involving 10 healthy, normal-weight volunteers, the study's authors discovered that adding sea buckthorn berries to meals helped prevent a post-meal spike in blood sugar.

Sea buckthorn fruit is likely safe when consumed in amounts typically found in food. The fruit is also likely safe when taken by mouth for medicinal purposes.

However, little is known about the safety of consuming sea buckthorn extract. Therefore, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider if you're considering the use of sea buckthorn supplements.

Be especially careful to get medical advice before using sea buckthorn in children. In addition, talk to a healthcare provider if you have health conditions, including:

• Low blood pressure
• Bleeding disorders
• Are about to undergo surgery
• Are taking medications
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

It's important to remember that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. 

Reference: Verywell Health.