Sea Buckthorn... say whaaa?

While enjoying my time before starting my new job next week, I tuned into Dr. Oz  and was happily surprised to see  Dr. Andrew Weil on to talk about his "Anti-Inflammatory Diet". If you have never heard of Dr. Weil, he is an MD who focuses primarily on Integrative Medicine. According to Wikipedia, he believes in the use of Western medicine in combination with alternative therapies including herbal remedies, vitamin supplements and spiritual strategies (2).

One of the elements of his Anti Inflammatory Diet I had never heard of was a fruit called Sea Buckthorn. 

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Dr. Weil praised Sea Buckthorn for its high antioxidant content, thus contributing to reducing systemic inflammation. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals which can damage healthy cells through oxidation.  Many other foods also contain antioxidants including: blueberries, coffee,  kiwi, cherries, dark chocolate, almonds, pistachios, red wine, spinach, sweet potatoes and broccoli. The Web MD overview states:

Sea buckthorn is an herb. The leaves, flowers, and fruits are used to make medicine.

Sea buckthorn leaves and flowers are used for treating arthritis, gastrointestinal ulcers, gout, and skin rashes caused by infectious diseases such as measles. A tea containing sea buckthorn leaves is used as a source of vitamins, antioxidants, protein building blocks (amino acids), fatty acids and minerals; for improving blood pressure and lowering cholesterol; preventing and controlling blood vessel diseases; and boosting immunity.

Sea buckthorn berries are used for preventing infections, improving sight, and slowing the aging process.

The seed or berry oil is used as an expectorant for loosening phlegm; for treating asthma, heart disorders including chest pain (angina) and high cholesterol; for preventing blood vessel disease; and as an antioxidant. Sea buckthorn oil is also used for slowing the decline of thinking skills with age; reducing illness due to cancer, as well as limiting the toxicity of chemical cancer treatment (chemotherapy); balancing the immune system; treating stomach and intestinal diseases including ulcers and reflux esophagitis (GERD); treating night blindness and dry eye; and as a supplemental source of vitamins C, A, and E, beta-carotene, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. (1)

How could something with so many benefits, that is being widely used in other countries, such as China and Russia, be relatively unheard of in the United States? There is little scientific evidence on Sea Buckthorn, thus there are no recommendations on appropriate doses. This does not mean it is not safe, though as with any dietary supplement, these products are not monitored by the FDA. Dr. Weil recommended a 1 oz shot of pure Sea Buckthorn juice mixed with soda water daily. After a quick google search for Sea Buckthorn, there is a wealth of .com sites offering various Sea Buckthorn products, including juice and oil.

The Verdict: Though these little orange berries appear to be very high in antioxidants, they are EXPENSIVE. Most websites advertised the juice for about $1.00 per oz, sold in various size bottles. Eating a diet rich in other antioxidant rich foods (including those mentioned above) would be more economically friendly. In addition, considering there is little research on the efficacy of Sea Buckthorn, I would save my money for now.


References:
1. Web MD (2009). Sea Buckthorn: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-765-SEA%20BUCKTHORN.aspx?activeIngredientId=765&activeIngredientName=SEA%20BUCKTHORN

2. Wikipedia (2012). Andrew Weil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Weil