Functional Medicine--The Common Sense Of Practical Health.

SEA BUCKTHORN
By Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, OR

Seabuckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides) is one of the important natural resources of the mountainous regions of China and Russia. The plant grows naturally in sandy soil at an altitude of 1,200-4,500 meters (4,000-14,000 feet) in cold climates, though it can be cultivated at lower altitudes and into temperate zones. Recently it has been extensively planted across much of northern China, and in other countries, to prevent soil erosion and to serve as an economic resource for food and medicine products. For example, Canada has invested in planting sea buckthorn, originally brought over from Siberia in the 1930s, hoping to develop a good agriculture market; Saskatchewan has ideal growing conditions, yielding a high quality product
Aside from erosion control, the plant is primarily valued for its golden-orange fruits, which provide vitamin C, vitamin E, and other nutrients, flavonoids, oils rich in essential fatty acids, and other healthful components. The leaves are now also being used for making a beverage tea; they additional contain triterpenes. The following constituents are among those that have been found in the fruits:
Constituents of Sea Buckthorn Fruit (per 100 grams fresh berries) :
Vitamin C =200-1,500 mg (typical amount: 600 mg)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)=Up to 180 mg (equal to about 270 IU)
Folic acid=Up to 80 mcg
Carotenoids, including beta carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthine; these contribute the yellow-orange-red colors of the fruit=30-40 mg
Fatty acids (oils); the main unsaturated fatty acids are oleic acid (omega-9), palmitoleic acid (omega-7), palmitic acid and linoleic acid (omega-6), and linolenic acid (omega-3); there are also saturated oils and sterols (mainly β-sitosterol)=6-11% (3-5% in fruit pulp, 8-18% in seed); fatty acid composition and total oil content vary with subspecies.Organic acids other than ascorbic (e.g., quinic acid, malic acid; ingredients similar to those found in cranberries)
Quantity not determined; expressed juice has pH of 2.7-3.3
Flavonoids (e.g., mainly isorhamnetin, quercetin glycosides, and kaempferol; these are the same flavonoids as found in Ginkgo biloba.=100-1,000 mg (0.1% to 1.0%)
The flavonoids of sea buckthorn (mainly from fruit pulp; also in the leaves) and the oils of sea buckthorn (primarily in the seeds, but also in the fleshy part of the fruit) are the two items specially extracted for medicinal use. Thus, for example, a flavonoid extract product is commonly produced that contains 80% flavonoids, with 20% of residual oils, vitamin C, and other components. Sometimes the flavonoid extract is combined with an oil extract; for example, a flavonoid-oil capsule (made from flavonoid extract and oil extract blended together in a soft gelatin capsule) is produced for use in treating cardiovascular disease.
In the oil fraction, the unsaturated fatty acids are of greatest interest; extracted oils have less of the flavonoids and almost none of the vitamin C of the fruit. The oil components from several samples have been analyzed as follows:
Main Constituents of Sea Buckthorn Oils from Seed, Fruit Pulp (juice), and Fruit Residue After Removing Juice. The fruit residue, which includes the outer peel, is rich in the colorful carotenoids and vitamin E; the seed has the highest level of the unsaturated fatty acids and sterols.
HEALTH APPLICATIONS:
Sea buckthorn has been shown to have a potent antioxidant activity, mainly attributed to its flavonoids and vitamin C content (1). Both the flavonoids and the oils from sea buckthorn have several potential applications (2). There are five areas of research that have been focal points for their use: as an aid to patients undergoing cancer therapy; a long-term therapy for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors; treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers; internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin disorders; and as a liver protective agent (for chemical toxins) and a remedy for liver cirrhosis.
Cancer therapy:
Most of the work done in this area has been with laboratory animals. A group in India headed by HC Goel (at the Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, in Delhi) has published several reports on the potential of a hippophae extract (an alcohol extract, which would mainly contain the flavonoids) to protect the bone marrow from damage due to radiation; his group also showed that the extract may help faster recovery of bone marrow cells (3). In China, a study was done to demonstrate faster recovery of the hemopoietic system after high dose chemotherapy (with 5-FU) in mice fed the sea buckthorn oil (4). The seed oil has been found to enhance non-specific immunity and to provide anti-tumor effects in preliminary laboratory studies (5, 6).
Cardiovascular diseases:
In a double-blind clinical trial conducted in China (7), 128 patients with ischemic heart disease were given total flavonoids of sea buckthorn at 10 mg each time, three times daily, for 6 weeks. The patients had a decrease in cholesterol level and improved cardiac function; also they had less angina than those receiving the control drug. No harmful effect of sea buckthorn flavonoids was noted in renal functions or hepatic functions. The mechanism of action may include reduced stress of cardiac muscle tissue by regulation of inflammatory mediators (8). In a laboratory animal study, the flavonoids of sea buckthorn were shown to reduce the production of pathogenic thromboses (9). Some simple formulas based on sea buckthorn have been developed recently for treating cardiac disorders. For example, there is a liquid preparation of sea buckthorn flavonoids with carthamus (safflower) and licorice, called Ai Xin Bao (from the Shanxi Ai Xin Biological Technology Development Center), which is intended for use in treatment of coronary heart disease and sequelae of heart attack and stroke, through improving blood circulation and restoring cardiac function.
Gastric ulcers:
Hippophae is traditionally used in the treatment of gastric ulcers, and laboratory studies confirm the efficacy of the seed oil for this application (10, 11). Its functions may be to normalize output of gastric acid and reduce inflammation by controlling pro-inflammatory mediators.
Liver cirrhosis:
A clinical trial demonstrated that sea buckthorn extracts helped normalize liver enzymes, serum bile acids, and immune system markers involved in liver inflammation and degeneration (12). In addition, sea buckthorn oil protects the liver from damaging effects of toxic chemicals, as revealed in laboratory studies (13).
Skin:
An ingredient of the oil, palmitoleic acid, is a component of skin. It is considered a valuable topical agent in treating burns and healing wounds. This fatty acid can also nourish the skin when taken orally if adequate quantities of sea buckthorn or its oil are consumed; this is a useful method for treating systemic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (14). The only other major plant source of palmitoleic acid is macadamia nuts; the oil is used to nourish the skin. Sea buckthorn oil is already widely used alone or in various preparations topically applied for burns, scalds, ulcerations, and infections. It is an ingredient in sunblock-hippophae oil has UV-blocking activity as well as emollient properties-and it is an aid in promoting regeneration of tissues (15). The fruit may also be used for benefiting the hair: the name hippophae, means shiny horse, and refers to the good coat developed by horses feeding off the plant.

REFERENCES
Rosch D, et al., Structure-antioxidant efficiency relationships of phenolic compounds and their contribution to the antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn juice, Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 2004; 51(15): 4233-4239.
Li TSC and Schroeder WR, Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides): A multipurpose plant, Horticultural Technology 1996; 6(4): 370-378.
Agrawala PK and Goel HC, Protective effect of RH-3 with special reference to radiation induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2002 May; 40 (5): 525-530.
Chen Y, et al., Study on the effects of the oil from Hippophae rhamnoides in hematopoiesis, Chinese Herbal Drugs 2003; 26(8): 572-575.
Yu Let et al., Effects of Hippophae rhamnoides juice on immunologic and antitumor functions, 1993 Acta Nutrimenta Sinica 15(3): 280-283.
Zhong Fei, et al., Effects of the total flavonoid of Hippophae rhamnoides on nonspecific immunity in animals, Shanxi Medical Journal 1989; 18(1): 9-10.
Zhang Maoshun, et al., Treatment of ischemic heart diseases with flavonoids of Hippophae rhamnoides, Chinese Journal of Cardiology 1987; 15(2): 97-99.
Xiao Z, et al., The inhibitory effect of total flavonoids of hippophae on the activation of NF-kappa ß by stretching cultured cardiac myocytes, Sichuan University Medical Journal 2003; 34(2): 283-285.
Cheng J, et al., Inhibitory effects of total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides on thrombosis in mouse femoral artery and in vitro platelet aggregation, Life Sciences 2003; 72(20): 2263-2271.
Zhou Yuanpeng, et al., Study on the effect of hippophae seed oil against gastric ulcer, 1998 Institute of Medical Plants Resource Development, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
Xing J, et al., Effects of sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats, Fitoterapia 2002; 73(7-8): 644-650.
Gao ZL, et al., Effect of sea buckthorn on liver fibrosis: a clinical study, World Journal of Gastroenterology 2003; 9(7): 1615-1617.
Cheng T, et al., Acute toxicity of flesh oil of Hippophae rhamnoides and its protection against experimental hepatic injury, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1990; 15(1): 45-47, 64.
Yang Baoru, et al., Effects of dietary supplementation of sea buckthorn oils on fatty acids in patients with atopic dermatitis, 1999 Proceedings of the International Sea Buckthorn Congress, ICRTS, Beijing.
Ianev E, et al., The effect of an extract of sea buckthorn on the healing of experimental skin wounds in rats, Dermatology 1995; 48(3): 30-33.

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Article Title:Seabuckthorn Seed Oil:An Herb Store of Natural remedies by Itself
AUTHOR by Xingwu Liu
SOURCE from .naturalhealthweb
FACTS rearranged into notes to facilate easy reading by MICHAELSNE[Medical Laboratory Technologist,University Malaya]
Summary: Cardiotonic, stomachic, dermatropic, antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation, anti-constipation, healthy cholesterol maintaining, blood vessel softening, blood fat reducing, pro-blood circulation and pro-natural healing, SBTSO has a wide range of uses both internal and external, including the prevention and cure of cardiovascular disease, cancers, ulcers, burns, and immune disease, gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease, urinary disease such as yeast infection, and gynecological disease, skin disease, etc. As SBTSO protects the white blood cell against damage by radiation and chemotherapy and speeds up regeneration of tissue cells and promotes natural healing, it can provide essential help to those under going radiation and chemotherapy for cancer patients.
THE SEABUCKTON PLANT:
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
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Seabuckthorn Seed Oil (SBTSO) provides:
Immune Building Factors:
The plant contains more than 100 nutrients and bioactive substances, which are Immunity Enhancer and Antioxidant , such as linolenic acid, vitamins E, A, carotene, polyphenols, flavonoids and trace elements including iron, copper, manganese, selenium, etc.
· This group serves and function as well-coordinated and well-proportioned immune building factors
· --regulates and improves the immune system in different processes and at different levels,
· restores and strengthen disturbed immune system, thus effectively preventing diseases and speeding up recovery.
· Experiments show that SBTSO substantially enhances the immunity of cells and body fluids, promotes phagocytosis of macrophage, and markedly restores natural killer cell level.
· SBTSO is a pure natural antioxidant store.
-----Its rich content of flavonoids, glucosides, phenols, terpenes, vitamins E, A, C, b-carotene, and trace elements including iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, etc.,
---- These are all antioxidants with very low molecular weight to neutralize free radicals. With collective power they are even more effective.
· SBTSO can also activate superoxide dismutase
----whose role in the body is to eliminate free radicals.
· --As a natural immune enhancer, it maintains the stability of the immune system and keeps the supervisory role of the system normal,
· ----thus eliminating the mutant and dead cells caused by free radicals, and enhancing phagocytosis of macrophage and killing cancerous cells.
GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH:
· Containing numerous anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer substances, the pharmaceutical effects of SBTSO is direct and clear.
· The concerted and mutual promoting actions of the more than elements have positive effects on the endocrine, circulation, immune, and nervous systems and this in turn creates a most favorable condition for the digestive system.
· First, the oil provides a protective coating inside the stomach, intestines and duodenum,
· thus preventing pathogens from harming them, and keeping pathogenic changes from spreading.
· The anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties of b-sitosterol-b-D-glucosides, usorlic acid and betaine promote ulcer healing, prevent spread and inhibit erosion. by :b-carotene, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids stimulate cell metabolism at site and repair injuries.
· Meanwhile, SBTSO has remarkable inhibiting effects on gastric acid and abnormal increase of gastric proteinase, thus keeping the ulcer from spread and metastasis.[ Comment by implicated facts:Therefore under check and control]
LIVER HEALTH:
· SBTSO reduces liver damage by alcohol, parasetamol and carbon tetrachloride, and prevents fatty liver. This is because it increases metabolism of cholesterol and fat.
CELEBRAL-CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH:
· SBTSO actively reduces blood fat level on the one hand and nurture the blood vessels and improve the quality of the vessels.
· Of the rich unsaturated fatty acids,
---oleic acid reduces cholesterol; linoleic acid regulates blood pressure and reduces serum cholesterol and prevents arrhythmia;
---and linolenic acid (1)reduces blood pressure,(2) dissolves accumulated fat (3)and promote metabolism.
Together they also inhibit platelet agglutination and prevent thrombosis. ------Sitosterol is one of the materials forming cell membrane and it stimulates metabolism. Sitosterol combines cholesterol with foods, and thus reducing serum cholesterol content.
---- b-sitosterol also effectively prevents arteriosclerosis.
----Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant, promoting metabolism, preventing oxidation of high-density cholesterol in the serum, thus inhibiting and reducing cholesterol settlement along the blood vessel wall.
--- Phosphatides and triterpenoids inhibit cholesterol formation and help its removal.
SBTSO has tonic effects to cerebral cardiovascular systems.
Total flavonoids (1)increase blood flow of the coronary artery and(2)nutrients in the blood supply to heart muscles,(3) lower oxygen consumption, (4)strengthen muscle contraction,
thus improving the heart function and to increase the anti-hypoxia under normal or below normal blood pressure.
Sitosterols (1)soften the blood vessels, and increase their tenacity, (2)improve its elasticity, thus preventing hardening (arteriosclerosis).(3) Vitamins E and other antioxidants remove wastes including peroxides and ailing and dead cells from the blood, and void damages the wastes may do to the artery walls.
5-serotonin and betaine protect the cerebral cardiovascular functions by comprehensive regulation and coordination of the nervous, endocrine and the immune systems.
Cancer :
· Several substances in SBTSO show anti-carcinogenic effects.
· First, it is the combined action of many anticancer factors. b-carotene, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpene, alkaloid and trace elements are anticancer in property. Together they exert concerted effects that are far more potent than just the sum total of their individual effects.
· Anti carcinogenic factors in SBTSO (1)cut short the cancer process and (2)stimulate the immune functions and (3)activities of globulin C,(4) increases antibodies, enhances phagocytosis of macrophage,
thus strengthening the body’s resistance to cancerous mutations!!
· it also can improve life quality of the patients by (1)reducing the adverse effects of operation,(2) chemotherapy and radiation. (3)provides the patient with a rich and comprehensive supply of nutrients,(4) improves blood circulation and removes stasis,(5) and eliminates waste,(6) promotes tissue growth and (7)avoids infection,(8) improves gastrointestinal functions,(9) restores liver and kidney functions, (10)increases the self- repairing ability of the traumatized organs and cells, (11)promotes the functions of the spleen and bone marrow and blood generation,(12) and protects the heart, spleen, liver, kidney against the damaging effects of radiation.
Anti-ageing and Skin Health:
· Free fatty acids, carbohydrates, phytosterol, phosphatide, vitamins E and A, and carotenoids in SBTSO are organically combined together providing more protection and nutrition to the skin.
· The free fatty acids for an instance, are easily absorbed by the skin, which it helps keep slightly acidic, and inhibits fungus and mould.
· Linoleic acid and linolenic acid (1)promote repair of tissue damage, and(2) the hydrocarbon prevents excessive moisture loss of the skin, softens and lubricates the skin and (3)keep it smooth and fair.
· Sitosterol improves microcirculation in the skin.
· Phosphatide (1)forms a protective film to prevent moisture loss and(2) keep invaders at bay, and (3)acts both as a moisture regulator and an antioxidant.
· The miracle properties of stimulation to tissue regeneration and epithelial healing with analgesic and anti-inflammation effects but without leaving scars, make SBTSO a most welcome remedy for burn, cuts, frostbites, bed sores, etc.
Sub-health condition[Note: Medical Check Up May Not Show Positive Result But Sickness Could Have Already Set In:
· is defined as a state between health and disease when all necessary physical and chemical indexes are tested negative by medical equipments and things seem normal,
· but the person experiences (1)all kind of discomfiture and even pain. (2)This is a critical state of health in which our body systems are not well coordinated and balanced,(3) some systems may break down soon and (4)pathogens may invade and diseases take place.
· The danger is we do not really know what is wrong and we neglect it.
· SBTSO provides various nutrients and bio-active substances the body needs, such as
--- unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, amino acids, vitamins and trace elements.
--- They regulate and harmonize the endocrine, circulatory, autonomic nerve and digestive systems.
---These with antioxidant and free radical resistant properties, may effectively restore health and get rid of sub-health conditions.
----Anti-radiation Computer operators, cell phone users, medical personal related to X-ray, electronic or nuclear workers, astronauts, pilots, stewards stewardesses, etc., may be subjected to radiation,
---and Vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, malic acid and selenium promote self reparation of damaged tissues and cells.
-----As a whole SBTSO stimulates bone marrow and blood generation and thus protects the heart, spleen, liver and kidney from radiation damage;
Woman’s Health
· SBTSO provides comprehensive nutrients and has multi-effects on the endocrine, circulation, nervous, immune and reproductive systems by regulating and coordinating them.
· It also has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infection and anti-inflammation properties and both internal and external use
· can be effective for menstruation pain, cervical erosion, cervicitis and vaginitis,
· and is very helpful to facilitate midlife changes.
Children’s Health:
· Children need comprehensive and well-balanced nutritional structure to grow strong and healthy.
· SBTSO provides rich vitamins A, E, D, K, etc., trace elements including iron, zinc, calcium, copper, manganese, selenium and iodine which are easy to absorb without any hormones.
· At the same time, it contains various immune regulating factors that increase children’s resistance against diseases and viruses without side-effects.
Therefore it is a smart choice to add SBTSO to the diet of children including infants.!!
It is no exaggeration that SBTSO is a great herb store of natural remedies by itself, and if you decide to take just one supplement this is

Seabuckthorn: The Story of a Superfood

The experience from Dr. Marcus Elliott on seabuckthorn and other people .just and iceberg at the tip!

The Sibu Story - http://www.mysibu.com/

Sibu is one of the seabuckthorn companies.

The Beauty of the City - UlaanBaatar - The World Bank
The World Bank's Netherlands-Mongolia Trust Fund for Environmental Reform allowed a range of green urban initiatives to be executed through the project office of the World Bank-financed Urban Services Improvement Project in the Ulaanbaatar Municipality. This work included the community-based plantings of vitamin C rich plants such as seabuckthorn and blackcurrant in the plots of the poor tented ger districts of town, the upgrading of parks which are few and far between in Ulaanbaatar and much used by the inhabitants, as well as a tree and shrub nursery.