Despite its name, you don’t find sea buckthorn oil in the sea. It’s actually derived from sea buckthorn, a shrub that belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family and grows in the mountainous and coastal areas of Asia and Europe. Its botanical name, Hippophae rhamnoides, means “tree that makes the horse shine,” referring to its ability to improve horses’ health and make their hair shiny and smooth.

Sea buckthorn is believed to have originated from the Himalayas, but was also used by the ancient Greeks and other European cultures. It not only appears in ancient Tibetan texts, but is also mentioned in the Indian Materia Medica, early Chinese formularies, and ancient Greek mythology.

Sea buckthorn has a long history of use in folk medicine, dating back thousands of years. Tibetan doctors during the Tang dynasty used it to help relieve various health problems.It is renowned in Ayurvedic medicine as far back as 5,000 BC and the ancient Greeks used it to treat various health issues. buckthorn is known to help relieve cough, promote blood circulation, aid digestion, and alleviate pain. Sea buckthorn oil was even cited in the blood-stained histories of Genghis Khan, proving that the benefits and uses of sea buckthorn have been well-known for a very long time.

Sea buckthorn oil is extracted from the berries and seeds of the sea buckthorn plant, and both the berries and seeds are great for the skin and provide internal benefits. Sea buckthorn can be found as a tea containing healthy bioflavonoids, though it’s less nutrient-dense in tea form than in oil form.

Sea buckthorn oil contains powerful phytonutrients, anti-inflammatory properties. Taken internally, Sea Buckthorn oil is known to have liver cleansing effects.

Used for centuries in Asia and Europe, sea buckthorn oil is particularly prized for its potential anti-aging action. Sea buckthorn oil is also well-known  for its healing and rejuvenating effects on the skin. When used topically, it’s a great natural cleanser and exfoliator. It can also help heal burns, cuts, wounds, sunburn, rashes, and other types of skin damage.

There are two kinds of sea buckthorn oil: seed oil and fruit oil.They are both derived from the small, nutrient-rich and yellow-orange berries, which are about one-third the size of a blueberry.The seed oil is extracted from the small dark seeds, while the fruit oil comes from the fleshy pulp. Although they share some characteristics in their nutrient profile, sea buckthorn seed oil and fruit oil have pronounced differences. Fruit oil is dark red or red orange and quite viscous, while seed oil is yellow or pale orange and more fluid. Both oils, though, have a musky scent.

Sea buckthorn berry is becoming more popular because of its impressive nutritional profile. It contains over 190 nutrients and phytonutrients, including vitamin C, which is 12 times higher than that of an orange. Both sea buckthorn seed and fruit oil are rich in nutrients such as carotenoids, tocotrienols, and tocopherols. They are loaded with antioxidants like phenols, terpenes, and glucosides; vitamins A, C, and E; beta-carotene; plant sterols; and trace elements such as copper, iron, selenium, and manganese.
This berry also has as much vitamin E as wheat germ, three times more vitamin A than carrots, and four times more superoxide dismutase (SOD), an important enzyme that helps prevent free radical damage, than ginseng.The major fatty acids in seed oil are omega-3 and 6, particularly linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid (comprising 70 percent).

Using sea buckthorn oil daily can help slow down the signs of aging by nourishing the tissues in your skin and body. Sea buckthorn oil has been shown to improve skin conditions such acne, dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, scars, sun damaged skin and stretch marks.