Sea buckthorn oil: benefits and recommendations for use

Sea buckthorn is a wild deciduous shrub, sometimes growing to the size of a tree and forming dense, thorny impassable thickets. The sea-buckthorn picks up the banks of rivers and reservoirs, the slopes of ravines, and roadside embankments. Sun-loving plant elects for its habitat regions with a temperate climate, but it can also be found in mountainous areas at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level.

On our continent, wild sea buckthorn is most common in the regions of Siberia and the Urals. Quite often, sea buckthorn can be found at the dacha plots - this unpretentious plant serves as a hedge and is famous for its high annual yield of valuable berries.

The height of the shrub can be from three to six meters, but specimens known to biologists that reach more than ten meters in height - everything depends on the presence of favorable growth conditions for the plant. Branches of wild buckthorn have thorns up to 2-3 centimeters long, but there are varieties of this plant and without thorns.

The leaves of the shrub are arranged in a regular manner, they are 5-10 centimeters in size and very narrow - up to 1 centimeter wide. Externally, the leaf looks silver-green due to the fact that it is covered with a kind of scales, cast silver in the rays of the sun.

It is noteworthy that in spring this plant leaves appear somewhat later than the flowering phase begins. The flowers are collected in inflorescences that look like an ear, and they are located at the base of the twigs. Pollination of flowers occurs with the help of insects or the plant is self-pollinated by the wind. Sea buckthorn is propagated by grafting or with the help of seeds. Birds most often are carriers of sea buckthorn seeds for quite a long distance - because they love to eat ripe sweet fruits of the plant.

Sea buckthorn is valued for its juicy and sour-sweet fruit - from the point of view of biology, its fruit is a drupe, which consists of a seed-nut covered with pulp. The berries ripen by the end of August, and the most ripeness is reached in September - but then it becomes impossible to remove them from the branches without damage, the berries just burst under the fingers.

Ripe berries are round and oblong, with a very short - 2-3 millimeters, stem. They have small brown dots, specks and rich orange color, sometimes even with a reddish tinge. There are a lot of berries on each branch - they literally stick around it, which is why the plant in Russia got its name.

Sea-buckthorn fruits produce sea-buckthorn oil used in the medical field, cooking and cosmetology. The value of sea buckthorn fruit lies in their multivitamin, antibacterial and regenerative properties of properties. Natural beneficial ingredients in berries are found in rather large quantities - the chemical composition of the fruit contains more than 180 components, including:

• organic acids - salicylic, malic, ascorbic, succinic, oxalic;
• amino acid essential complex - lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, valine, leucine, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, tryptophan and others;
• the amino acids of the replaceable group — glycine, proline, alanine, tyrosine, lycopene, quercetin, arginine, cryptoxanthin, cystine, glutamic and aspartic acid, and others;
• unsaturated fatty acids - oleic, linolenic, gadoleic, nerve, linoleic, palmitoleic, stearidonic, arachidonic, erucic and others;
• saturated fatty acids - myristic, behenic, stearic, pentadecanoic, arachidic, palmitic, lignoceric and others;

• vitamin complex - thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), tocopherols (E, ß-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol), ergocalciferol (D ), nicotinic acid (PP), phylloquinone (K), ascorbic acid (C) and others;
• trace elements of minerals - magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, manganese, boron, selenium, copper, molybdenum, rubidium, chromium, waist, nickel, copper and others;
• phytosterols - ß-sitosterol, δ-5-avenasterol, stigmasterol, caspersterol;
• flavonoids - caspferol, rutin, isomentin;
• tanning components - alkaloids, coumarins;
• carbohydrate compounds - galactose, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose, di- and monosaccharides, starch, pectin;
• cellulose;
• purines

If you take 100 grams of fresh sea buckthorn berries and conduct a comparative chemical analysis, we find that they are most rich in vitamin C (200 mg), vitamin E (5 mg), ß-carotene (430 mcg), lutein (1450 mcg), lycopene (3980 µg), boron (116 µg), vanadium (24 µg), iron (6.3 µg), manganese (900 µg), copper (230 µg), rubidium (45 µg) and chromium (500 µg). It has been reliably proven that the content of ascorbic acid in sea buckthorn is several times higher than in lemons, black currants or orange.

Oil obtained from the fruits of sea buckthorn, is famous for its high content of omega-3 fatty unsaturated acids - 100 grams of their berries contain up to 1,770 grams, which accounts for its high antioxidant capacity. A sufficiently large amount in oil and fat-soluble vitamin E - according to scientific studies revealed that tocopherol in sea buckthorn oil contains twice as much as in wheat germ, which is the record for the content in the greatest amount of this vitamin among other products of plant origin.

It should be noted, and the high content of carotene components in the composition of sea buckthorn - because of them ripe berries have such a rich bright orange color. On the content of carotenoids, the oil from the fruits of this plant is the absolute and unsurpassed leader in the plant world, and the value of carotenoids for the human body is very significant. For example, it is necessary to ensure the normal functioning of the organs of vision.

In traditional medicine, and a little later, in the official medical practice, sea buckthorn oil began to occupy not the last place. Most often, this product is used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases and pathological processes of the human body. Indications for use in medicine oils from the fruits of sea buckthorn following.

Sea buckthorn oil is used as a biologically active component in the diet, using it one by one teaspoon in the morning and before going to bed. Medicinal properties of the drug can significantly improve the elasticity of the muscle tissue lining the vascular wall, thereby eliminating the effect of permeability and fragility of the vascular and capillary network.

The components that make up the sea buckthorn are able to dissolve atherosclerotic deposits in the walls of blood vessels and prevent the occurrence of thromboembolism. Due to its pronounced antibacterial properties, sea buckthorn preparations eliminate inflammatory processes not only in the wall of blood vessels and capillaries, but also in the fibers of the heart muscle, the myocardium.

Quite often, sea buckthorn oil is prescribed for use in combination with drug therapy in the treatment of high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, thrombophlebitis, rheumatic heart disease, ischemia and angina.

Sea buckthorn berries oil is used one teaspoon, diluted in a glass of warm water, half an hour before eating, and besides, even before going to bed.The oil reduces the concentration of gastric acid, envelops the mucous membranes of the walls of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, stimulates the active metabolism of fatty components in the liver.

This medicinal herbal remedy is used for violations of the stomach, intestines, it contributes to the scarring of ulcerations and erosions, increases the elasticity of tissues, and also disinfects them. Against the background of sea buckthorn intake, the enzymatic activity of the pancreas is activated, this improves the digestibility and digestibility of food, relieves pain, eliminates flatulence and normalizes stool, and also regulates the amount of glucose in the blood in diabetes.

Often, sea buckthorn is taken for violations of the outflow of bile from the gallbladder, as well as to prevent recurrence of the disease in duodenitis and the formation of stones in the gallbladder. Candles with sea buckthorn oil perfectly help with hemorrhoids, colitis, cracks of the sphincter of the anus, as well as ulcers in the large intestine. In irritable bowel syndrome, sea buckthorn oil removes spastic pain, improves intestinal motility, and also helps eliminate inflammation in it and normalizes stool.

Sea buckthorn oil impregnates tampons for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in women. Typically, the course of therapy takes up to 10-15 daily procedures, this method is effective for vaginitis, cervical erosion, colpitis, endometritis, endocervine. Therapy courses are carried out repeatedly with interruptions in 1-1.5 months. This method of treatment gives a steady positive result. The method of such treatment is absolutely harmless, including for the body of a pregnant woman, as well as a nursing mother.

During feeding, women often have the problem of nipple cracks - sea buckthorn oil compresses quickly restore the integrity of the skin and prevent the development of inflammation and suppurative processes - mastitis. The intake of oil inside stimulates lactation, but at the same time milk can change its taste and the child can refuse it.

For the treatment of prostatitis in men, sea buckthorn is used in the form of rectal suppositories and tampons moistened with oil. The drug significantly improves blood circulation in the prostate, increases the response of the immune forces of the body, reduces inflammation and reduces pain. When prostate candles from sea buckthorn are often prescribed before and after surgery to prevent postoperative complications and speed up the recovery period.

During surgical intervention in the postoperative period, sea buckthorn oil is used in the form of gauze dressings impregnated with the preparation in order to accelerate the healing process of the tissues and to maintain the purity of surgical sutures. With the oil of this plant, the scar tissue at the site of the suture is formed more elastic, with this process there is no extensive growth of granulomatous cells that make the scar visually coarse and thick.

In addition, the benefits of this herbal remedies noted in the treatment of extensive trophic ulcers, gangrene, fistulas and nonhealing abscesses - oil helps to soften them. Sea buckthorn is used to restore the integrity of the skin during thermal or chemical burns, various tissue damage during frostbite, necrosis, as well as radiation or chemical lesions of the skin.

It has been observed that ingestion of sea buckthorn oil can inhibit the growth of atypical tumor cells.

When conducting radiation therapy, sea buckthorn oil, taken in one teaspoon, diluted in half a glass of warm water, on the second or third day gives an obvious effect - a surge of cheerfulness is noted, strength is restored, and overall well-being improves. In addition, the autoimmune ability of the organism increases, with the help of which the ability to cope with the disease is increased and the accession of secondary infections is prevented.

In case of inflammatory disease of the middle ear - otitis, or in the presence of dense sulfur plugs, sea buckthorn oil drips 2-3 drops into the ear or insert a cotton wool soaked in with the preparation, and after 20-25 minutes, remove it. In otolaryngology, sea buckthorn is used in the treatment of diseases of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses - the oil has an anti-inflammatory bacteriostatic effect.

Its use is advisable for rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, inflammation of the tonsils, with lacunar tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis. The nasal cavity is treated with oil, and steam inhalations and rinsing with warm solutions are also prescribed.

Due to the fact that sea buckthorn fruits contain a huge amount of carotene, it helps to maintain visual acuity for a long time, and also protects the eye shell from the environment.

Ophthalmologists recommend using sea buckthorn oil for the prevention and treatment of age-related macular dystrophic changes in glaucoma, trachoma, cataracts, keratitis, and retinopathy caused by diabetes. In addition, it is advisable to use sea buckthorn in complex therapy, combining it with mendicament preparations, for inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye, injury to the cornea, various types of burns, and also radiation injuries.

Sea buckthorn oil is often used for complex treatment of psoriasis, dermatosis, neurodermatitis. The anti-inflammatory and bactericidal property of this herbal remedy helps to cope with such an unpleasant disease as a lichen (ringing, chubby, pink, shingles), and is also effective in complex treatment of skin tuberculosis. It is prescribed for systemic lupus erythematosus, pyoderma, Daria syndrome, heylitah.

In addition, the oil helps in the treatment of herpes, in the treatment of acne, furunculosis, and it is also effective for sunburn. Often, oil is used to treat bedsores in bedridden patients and diaper rash in infants.

During the treatment procedure, the surface is treated with an antiseptic, after which oil is applied to the affected skin area with a pipette. Next, impose a sterile napkin and parchment paper and bandaged - such a compress is left for 2 days, and then the dressing is changed. The duration of therapy is from one to one and a half months.

Sea buckthorn oil is used internally to prevent hypovitaminosis, as the drug contains a rather rich multivitamin and mineral composition of the components. In newborns, the oil is treated with the oral cavity to prevent thrush. For cosmetic purposes, sea buckthorn oil is used to prevent premature aging of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles.

The use of sea buckthorn oil is recommended for people who work at enterprises in an environment contaminated with radioinucleotides in order to prevent their accumulation in the body.For pregnant women, doctors recommend using Balsam Fruit Oil to lubricate the nasal passages to prevent colds and viral diseases during periods of seasonal epidemics.

Sea buckthorn oil is not harmful, but it can bring not only benefit. In case of violation of the dosage and non-compliance with the recommendations related to contraindications, this very powerful herbal remedy can cause some harm to the body.

Possible side effects that occur when taking drugs from sea buckthorn:

• increased separation of saliva, as well as slight sore throat with steam inhalation with sea buckthorn oil;
• feeling of bitterness in the mouth, which occurs immediately after taking the drug, which after some time passes on its own;
• burning sensation when applied to the skin or mucous membranes;
• may cause swelling, itching and allergic rash on the skin;
• dyspeptic symptoms when taking oil inside or rectally.

If you simultaneously take a large amount of sea buckthorn oil, you will experience symptoms of overdose of the drug, which will be expressed by nausea, vomiting, and loose stools. In severe cases, headache, convulsions, loss of consciousness - up to shock. Often overdose manifests itself in the form of skin rashes. If this happens to you or close people, it is necessary to urgently take measures to provide first aid - flush the stomach, take activated charcoal, and then go to a doctor.

Before you decide on the use of sea buckthorn oil as a drug, read the list of contraindications:

• idiosyncrasy and allergic predisposition to the drug;
• inflammatory processes in the cavity of the gallbladder, in the acute phase;
• acute attacks of pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis;
• acute forms of liver disease - hepatitis, cirrhosis;
• concomitant use with blood-thinning drugs, as well as with anti-inflammatory drugs;
• lactation period;
• children under 6 years old;
• heavy bleeding when used topically;
• profuse separation of pus from the wound surface.

In the pharmacy network, sea buckthorn oil can be found, produced in the following dosage forms:

• oil solution for oral and topical use;
• rectal suppositories;
• vaginal suppositories;
• capsules for oral administration.

The oil obtained from the ripe fruits of sea buckthorn is applied externally, rectally and orally (that is, inside). Through years of medical practice, the recommended methods and dosages for the use of this biologically active product have been developed.

In the treatment of pathological processes localized on the skin, as well as for varicose veins, oil is used in the form of gauze dressings. To do this, the treated surface must be freed from dead necrotic tissue, treated with an antiseptic solution and put oil on the skin surface, then make a cotton-gauze compress, which must be fixed on the patient's body using medical bandages.

The treatment is carried out for a long time, until a sufficient amount of fresh granulation tissue appears. In this case, the bandage should be replaced with a fresh one every second day after application.At the same time, when treating with external methods, the oil can also be taken orally to enhance the therapeutic effect.

Locally sea buckthorn oil is used for anal fissures for the treatment of external hemorrhoids, as well as for rectal hemorrhoids with internal nodes. In proctology, a tampon is inserted into the anus or applied to the anal fissure.

In the treatment of gynecological diseases, the drug is used to eliminate the inflammatory processes of the vagina, the body of the uterus or its cervix. During the treatment procedure, tampons, well soaked in sea buckthorn oil, are applied to the area to be treated and left in the problem area for 20-25 minutes or vaginal suppositories are used. Sea buckthorn oil treats nipple cracks, placing compresses of gauze soaked in medicine on the nipple circumference.

Rectal sea buckthorn oil is used in the form of ready-made suppositories, which are injected into the rectum. As a rule, adults make such a procedure 2 times a day, adolescents and children from six to fourteen years old - 1 time per day. The course of treatment is usually 10-15 days. If one course is not enough, it is repeated 6 weeks after the end of the previous stage of treatment.

In the treatment of prostatitis in men candles with sea buckthorn prescribed on a regular basis, courses. The treatment is carried out by combining sea buckthorn with the main medicinal drugs.

Sea buckthorn oil, if applied correctly, treats many diseases of internal organs. Most often, this drug is prescribed for oral administration by adults, but as practice shows, it can also be used by children from the age of six.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sea buckthorn oil is considered one of the most effective herbal preparations For ulcerative lesions of the mucous and submucosal layer of the stomach or duodenum, oil is taken orally one teaspoon three times a day half an hour before the start of a meal.

The course of treatment is long, daily oil should be taken for 28-30 days. If you want to take gelatin capsules, inside of which contains sea buckthorn oil, then at one time such capsules should be consumed up to 8-10 pieces, and you need to take them in the morning and evening, within two weeks. Sea buckthorn helps with cholecystitis, this oil is good for the liver, it is also used for weight loss and even for bronchitis from cough.

Reviews of modern cosmetologists about the benefits of using sea buckthorn for cosmetic purposes almost unanimously agree that the oil of this plant has a beneficial effect on the skin, hair and nails. This biologically active product should be used both at a young age and for mature skin, and the method of application of sea buckthorn is local and external. Sea buckthorn fruit oil is actively adopted by many cosmetic industries, producing products for skin care, hair, nails.

In order to get the maximum benefit from a factory-made preparation, an instruction is attached to help with it, which describes in detail the frequency of use and the duration of the course.

The use of sea buckthorn oil solution for cosmetic purposes is advisable in the following cases:

• eliminates irritation, reduces inflammation, reduces itching and pain;
• reduces the impact of aggressive environmental factors, including ultraviolet sunlight;
• prevents atrophic processes in different layers of the epidermis;
• reduces the number of existing fine wrinkles and prevents the formation of new ones;
• softens the skin epidermal layer, filling it with nutrients and moisturizing;
• narrows enlarged pores on the face;
• dries pustular eruptions and prevents their spread, disinfecting the skin;
• removes free radicals, improves complexion, prevents premature onset of age-related changes in the epidermal layers of the skin;
• has the ability to lighten the skin on several tones, eliminating age chloasms, pigment spots and small freckles;

• prevents the appearance on the skin of various tumors in the form of papillomas, warts, prevents the development of melanoma;
• significantly increases the resistance of the epidermis to a bacterial infection;
• heals well small wounds, cracks, abrasions, as well as copes with burns and stretched skin (strichia);
• nourishes nails, hair, strengthening them and preventing stratification and thinning, while increasing their growth.

Oil from the fruits of sea buckthorn in cosmetology, depending on the goal, can be applied as follows:

• for lubrication of the skin by external use, for example, with sunburn or after a chemical peel;
• in the composition of the cream used for skin care;
• The composition of the masks used for the skin of the face, body or skin and hair of the head;
• in the form of an oil extract applied to the skin or hair;

• contained in lotions;
• Sea buckthorn components are included in herbal shampoos;
• used as a massage tool for the skin;
• in the form of an oil solution for application to the eyebrows and eyelashes in order to enhance their growth and density;
• as part of products that prevent cracking of the skin on the lips during cheilitis.

The use of oil from the fruits of sea buckthorn in cosmetology has been carried out for a long time, and effective practitioners have come down to our times, which are successfully used to this day. Most often this remedy has no contraindications for use, however one should not exclude the possibility of individual intolerance to products with sea buckthorn. To make sure that the product is safe, it is necessary to apply it in the amount of one or two drops on the wrist, and then lightly rub it over the skin with light circular movements.

Modern pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies in sufficient quantities produce oil from the fruit of sea buckthorn. In almost every pharmacy, you can freely, without presenting a prescription from a doctor, purchase medicinal products containing the components of this medicinal plant.

In order for sea buckthorn products to maintain their effectiveness as long as possible, some storage recommendations should be observed: oil and other dosage forms must be kept from exposure to ultraviolet sunlight, and contact with moisture must be avoided. The temperature regime that is optimal for the preservation of the components of sea buckthorn oil should be in the range of 8 to 15 degrees. These requirements are the same for new, not yet opened packages, and for dosage forms used after opening.

The shelf life of sea buckthorn products depends on the form of the drug release. Thus, gelatin capsules with oil are stored for up to 12 months, the oil solution is up to 18 months, and suppositories are stored for up to 24 months subject to the storage rules.

In addition to the factory dosage forms, homemade sea buckthorn fruit oil is also successfully used.Today, gardeners often grow sea buckthorn at the dacha plots. The yield of this shrub is quite high, the berries for the future are harvested in various ways, one of which is the preparation of healing oil.

Independently you can get sea buckthorn oil as follows: first, you need to squeeze the juice out of ripe berries, and do not throw out the cake remaining after squeezing, but dry it in an oven warmed to 50-65 degrees. During the drying of the cake, you need to ensure that it does not burn and does not become too hard - from time to time you need to get the raw materials out of the oven and mix. After the cake is sufficiently dried, it must be grind - for this purpose, use a coffee grinder, blender or meat grinder.

The resulting raw material is poured warmed to 60 degrees of any food refined vegetable origin (sunflower, corn, olive). The mixture in the container should be closed with a lid and left in a dark place for 10-15 days to infuse. Next, the oil is filtered from the cake and poured into a container of dark glass with tight lids for later storage.

For the treatment of gastritis and ulcerative processes in the stomach or intestines, sea buckthorn oil is prepared differently. The difference in the preparation is that the prepared dried and crushed cake is poured with heated oil and the resulting composition is placed for one hour in the oven at a temperature of 50-65 degrees.

Then the mixture is taken out and passed through a juicer. The resulting composition is necessary to fill the new fresh portion of the prepared crushed meal and repeat the procedure. So do up to 6 times, gradually increasing the concentration of biologically active components in the oil. At the final stage of the process, the mixture is filtered and poured into storage tanks. The oil obtained in this way is suitable for use within 12 months.

There is another recipe for making sea buckthorn oil at home. They are used in cases where it is necessary to obtain a finished product as soon as possible and with the highest concentration of vitamin and other biologically active components in unchanged form. However, in the end, the yield of the finished product with this method of preparation is very small.

The essence of cooking is as follows: enumerated, washed and dried berries are placed in a container and squeezed juice from them. The husks are separated and the juice is left in the container, and the wider the neck of the container, the better. The juice obtained during the spinning is left in the tank for a day, placing it in a cool place where there is no access to sunlight. After a day on the surface of the pressed juice you will see a small oil layer - it must be carefully collected with a clean spoon and put into another container with a tight lid and preferably of dark glass. The oil collected in this way is completely ready for use and does not require any additional manipulations.

In the process of cooking, fresh juice is squeezed out of the berries, and the husks are dried in the oven. After the cake has been dried, it is necessary to separate the stones from the dried pulp, for this purpose, they crush the cake with their palms and manually pick the obtained nuts. Next, the bones need to be crushed to a fraction similar to flour - for this it is best to use a coffee grinder.

The obtained flour from sea buckthorn seeds should be placed in a container and 2/3 pour hot oil to 70 degrees.Then the neck of the container is tightly closed with a lid or wrapped with parchment paper and the container is removed to a cool place without access of sunlight for about two months. During this time, the container must be shaken from time to time so that the composition is evenly mixed. After two months, the composition must be filtered, and the resulting oil is poured into a clean storage container in order to use the oil for its intended purpose.

There is another interesting way to make homemade sea buckthorn oil. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that you can use frozen berries as a raw material and you can begin the process of cooking oil at any time convenient for you. This recipe uses cake and bones of sea buckthorn fruits.

After squeezing the juice, the cake must be dried in an oven at a temperature of up to 65 degrees, then it is necessary to separate the stones from the oil cake and grind them to a fraction similar to flour. Then the crushed bones need to be mixed with the cake and pour into this mixture the previously squeezed juice. Now, add the vegetable oil heated to 50-65 degrees to the resulting composition and mix the mixture well.

The next stage of preparation will be heating the mixture in a water bath. This process is carried out over low heat for about three hours. Then the container must be moved to a dark and cool place so that the composition can infuse. After three days on the surface of the container, you will see a layer of oil - it must be carefully removed with a spoon and placed in a dry and clean container for storage.

See the following video for the benefits of sea buckthorn oil.