Sea buckthorn oil has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy for various ailments.
It is extracted from the berries, leaves, and seeds of the sea buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides), which is a small shrub that grows at high altitudes in the northwest Himalayan region. You can apply it to your skin or take it orally
Sometimes referred to as the holy fruit of the Himalayas, it’s a popular remedy in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines. It’s said to provide health benefits ranging from more radiant hair and skin to a lower risk of cancer and heart disease.
1. Rich in many nutrients
Sea buckthorn is rich in various vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. It’s naturally full of antioxidants, which help protect your body against aging and illnesses like cancer and heart disease
Its berries are especially rich in vitamins A, C, K, and E. They also contain considerable amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and zinc
In addition, its seeds and leaves are rich in phytosterols, a plant compound with many benefits — including blocking cholesterol from your diet from being absorbed in your body. This is one way in which sea buckthorn oil is though to reduce your risk of heart disease
This oil can be sourced from the sea buckthorn seeds or berries and is considered the most valuable component of the plant
It contains a high proportion of palmitoleic acid, which is also found in the fat of human skin. As such, this oil is thought to speed wound healing and keep your skin healthy
Interestingly, sea buckthorn oil may also be one of the only plant foods known to provide all four omega fatty acids. What’s more, more than half of the fat found in this oil is mono- and polyunsaturated fat, which are two types of healthy fats
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in various vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants and other plant compounds that may support your health.
2. May promote heart health
Sea buckthorn oil may benefit heart health in several ways.
For starters, it’s rich in phytosterols, which are plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions that help protect your body from damage and disease, including heart disease
These compounds also help block the absorption of cholesterol from your diet, which can help prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol from creating blockages in your blood vessels and arteries
Additionally, sea buckthorn oil is a good source of quercetin, an antioxidant that’s directly linked to a lower risk of heart disease
Although one older study further suggests that sea buckthorn oil may help reduce heart disease risk by preventing the formation of blood clots, more recent studies are needed
In a 30-day study, taking 0.15 teaspoons (0.75 mL) of sea buckthorn oil daily helped reduce blood pressure levels in people with high blood pressure. Triglycerides and total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels also dropped in those who had high cholesterol
However, the effects on people with normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels were less pronounced
One review also determined that sea buckthorn extracts may reduce cholesterol levels in people with poor heart health — but not in healthy participants .
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil may aid your heart by reducing blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, and protecting against blood clots. That said, its effects may be strongest in people with poor heart health.
3. May reduce blood sugar levels
Sea buckthorn oil may help prevent diabetes and support healthy blood sugar.
Animal studies show that it may help reduce blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity
Overall, the better your body is able to secrete insulin, and the more sensitive your cells are to it, the lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Still, few human studies have examined the blood sugar-lowering effect of sea buckthorn oil directly.
In one of the few recent studies, 38 people with impaired blood sugar regulation — a risk factor for type 2 diabetes — drank 3 ounces (90 mL) of sea buckthorn fruit purée or a placebo for 5 weeks.
Their fasting blood sugar levels were significantly lower after taking the sea buckthorn fruit purée than the placebo. However, the drop in fasting blood sugar levels after 5 weeks was only 0.14 mmol/L, which is considered quite small
Furthermore, this study was quite small. Overall, more comprehensive research is needed.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn may help improve insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and blood sugar levels, all of which may protect against type 2 diabetes — though more research is needed.
4. May boost your immune system
Sea buckthorn oil may help protect your body against infections.
Experts attribute this effect, in large part, to the high flavonoid content of the oil. Flavonoids are beneficial plant compounds that may strengthen your immune system by increasing resistance to illnesses
In one test-tube study, sea buckthorn oil safeguarded against influenza, herpes, and HIV viruses
Sea buckthorn oil also contains a good amount of antioxidants, which may also likewise defend your body against microbes
That said, research in humans is lacking.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in beneficial plant compounds like flavonoids and antioxidants, which may help your body fight infections. However, more research is needed.
5. May support liver health
Sea buckthorn oil may contribute to a healthy liver.
That’s because it contains healthy fats, vitamin E, and carotenoids, all of which may safeguard liver cells from damage
In one older study, sea buckthorn oil significantly improved markers of liver function in rats with liver damage
In another older, 6-month study, people with cirrhosis — an advanced form of liver disease — who took 15 grams of sea buckthorn extract 3 times per day increased their blood markers of liver function significantly more than those given a placebo
Although these effects seem promising, more recent human studies in humans are needed.
SUMMARY
Compounds in sea buckthorn may aid liver function, though more research is necessary.
6. May have anticancer effects
Compounds like flavonoids and antioxidants in sea buckthorn oil may have anticancer effects.
For instance, sea buckthorn is rich in quercetin, a flavonoid which appears to help kill cancer cells
Sea buckthorn’s various other antioxidants, including carotenoids and vitamin E, may also offer protection
A few test-tube and animal studies suggest that sea buckthorn extracts may help prevent the spread of cancer cells
Research in animals further suggests that sea buckthorn may safeguard healthy cells from the effects of radiotherapy, which is a common cancer treatment
Keep in mind that these effects haven’t been tested in humans, so more studies are needed.
SUMMARY
Sea buckthorn oil provides certain plant compounds that may protect against cancer. However, human research is lacking.