Sea buckthorn is a valuable natural gift of autumn. Its beneficial qualities have been known since ancient times. Sea buckthorn is used in folk medicine, cooking and cosmetology. Its berries are a real treasure of healing qualities.
General information about sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn belongs to the family of suckers. This shrub loves the sun's rays, is very unpretentious and frost-resistant. Sea buckthorn is widely cultivated in ordinary home gardens. Sea buckthorn is especially popular.
Most often, the berries of this shrub are yellow or bright orange, but there are special varieties with original red and pink fruits.
Depending on climatic conditions and habitat, sea buckthorn can grow to the size of a small tree, but most often it looks like a shrub. In comfortable conditions, sea buckthorn can grow and bear fruit for more than a dozen years.
Sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant, so there are both female and male versions of sea buckthorn. It is interesting that berries do not grow on the "male sea buckthorn".
The roots of the plant can spread in different directions to a distance of 8-12 meters. In order to prevent damage to other garden plantings, sea buckthorn is often fenced with a fence dug into the ground, or every year they dig up soil near the shrub and chop off long roots.
Sea buckthorn is planted in spring and harvested in the first half of autumn. Sea buckthorn berries are very healthy, but they have a peculiar taste. They are most often used in cooking or traditional medicine.
Useful properties of sea buckthorn
Fresh ripe sea buckthorn berries are just a treasure of healing substances, vitamins and elements. They contain flavonoids, beneficial acids, glucose, tannins and fructose.
The use of sea buckthorn fruits increases immunity, strengthens the heart and blood vessels. Sea buckthorn is recommended for the prevention of stroke and heart attack.
List of medicinal properties of sea buckthorn:
- has an anticarcinogenic effect;
- has an analgesic and healing effect;
- strong antiseptic;
- strengthens the immune system and saturates the body with vitamins;
- has a mild laxative effect for constipation;
- strengthens blood vessels and heart muscle.
Contraindications to the use of sea buckthorn:
- individual intolerance;
- chronic diarrhea;
- acute form of diseases of the stomach and gallbladder;
- kidney or bladder stones;
- hypotension.
You should stop taking sea buckthorn preparations if you experience itching and rashes, shortness of breath, swelling, bitterness in the mouth and profuse salivation after use.
In case of problems with potency in men and a decrease in libido in women, you should take sea buckthorn berries, 30-40 grams daily.
A good way to provide yourself with delicious fresh berries for the whole year is to freeze them. The medicinal qualities of sea buckthorn are not lost during freezing and heat treatment.
Natural sea buckthorn oil is widely used for medicinal purposes. It is used in both traditional and folk medicine. It is not at all necessary to engage in self-squeezing; you can buy this unique product in almost any pharmacy.
Sea buckthorn oil has contraindications for admission: individual intolerance and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in an acute form.
During chemotherapy, patients are advised to take sea buckthorn oil three times a day before meals.
Also, this remedy heals and restores the liver well.
Externally, sea buckthorn oil is used to restore the skin after burns and frostbite, as well as in the formation of bedsores.
In the field of gynecology, sea buckthorn oil is prescribed for the treatment of colpitis and erosion. For a runny nose, you can drip 1-2 drops of oil into each nostril several times a day.
For angina with severely inflamed tonsils, it is very useful to lubricate the sore throat with natural sea buckthorn oil. Redness and inflammation will subside much faster.
For medicinal purposes, not only berries are used, but also sea buckthorn leaves. Various medicinal decoctions and tinctures are made from them. Dried leaves are added to tea, which makes it not only healthy, but also very aromatic.
Anti-inflammatory and restorative decoctions are prepared from the bark of the plant.
During pregnancy, there is no special prohibition on the use of sea buckthorn preparations.
Doctors often recommend that expectant mothers take oil, eat jam or drink sea buckthorn teas, especially during a cold. This natural medicine very rarely causes allergies in newborns, so sea buckthorn can also be consumed while breastfeeding.
It is very useful to drink sea buckthorn juice. It is rich in useful acids: succinic, oleic and ursular. Regular use of sea buckthorn juice saturates the body with vitamins and energy, tones up, improves blood circulation, strengthens the nervous system and cleanses the body of harmful substances.
Sea buckthorn in cosmetology
Natural sea buckthorn oil is actively used in cosmetology. It can be added to a cream or used neat for very dry skin. Oil masks are indicated for irritation, acne or redness of the skin.
Sea buckthorn oil is great for massage. It perfectly warms up the muscles and does not leave a sticky oily layer on the skin.
Oil baths strengthen nails and make the plate stronger and more elastic.
Also, cosmetics with sea buckthorn treat problem hair well. You can buy ready-made cosmetic products or make your own oil masks for your hair. To do this, you need to apply sea buckthorn oil to the scalp and hair along all lengths. Then put on a warm cap (plastic bag and scarf) and leave for 2-3 hours. Then rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water. This mask is best done 1-2 times a week.
Sea buckthorn in cooking
Sea buckthorn is widely used in cooking. Compotes, preserves and fruit drinks, jam, jelly are made from it, and berries are put in pies and muffins.
Sea buckthorn juice is a good marinade for fatty meats. Sea buckthorn "lightens" the meat without leaving a sour taste. The recipe is quite simple, just add salt, pepper and juice to the steaks for 1-2 hours. Then you can cook them in the way you are used to.
Also, sea buckthorn can be harvested for the winter: cook jam and compotes from it or freeze it.
Light alcoholic drinks are also prepared from sea buckthorn, they are added to cocktails.
The value of sea buckthorn is great. Take advantage of this natural miracle cure and improve your health.
