Sea buckthorn grows in some of the harshest cold, high-altitude regions of Europe and Asia, and has been used medicinally across Tibetan, Mongolian, and later broader European traditions for centuries. Ancient Greek accounts even reference sea buckthorn leaves being fed to horses to improve their coat condition, reportedly the origin of the plant's genus name, Hippophae ("shining horse").
Sea buckthorn's modern research interest centers substantially on its distinctive fatty acid profile, particularly a notably high concentration of omega-7 (palmitoleic acid), driving a specific body of human research into dry eye and skin health.
Sea buckthorn has genuinely solid human clinical trial evidence for one specific application: dry eye. A well-designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the University of Turku in Finland, involving 100 participants, found 3 months of oral sea buckthorn oil supplementation significantly improved tear film osmolarity and dry eye symptoms compared to placebo. A separate trial in Sjögren's syndrome patients similarly found symptom relief.
Supporting evidence extends to related applications: a randomized controlled trial found 12 weeks of oral sea buckthorn oil improved skin parameters alongside relief from dry eye and vaginal dryness symptoms, a genuinely relevant finding given the shared underlying mechanism. Given a real, well-designed, adequately-powered randomized controlled trial for its primary application, replicated in additional smaller trials, "Moderate" is the accurate rating.
Berries eaten fresh (rarely, given intense tartness), juiced, or pressed into oil; leaves traditionally brewed as tea.