Sea Buckthorn
Havtorn (Danish), tindved (Norwegian), havtorn (Swedish), tyrnimarja (Finnish), krushina (Russian), sanddornmark (German), pulp d’argousier (French), polpa d’olivello spinoso (Italian)
Sea buckthorn berries are very much a favourite in Finland, but can also be found further south in Europe and also in Asia, including Siberia.
The small tree grows wild in Britain close to the sea, along the coastal areas of Scandinavia, in the Alps, and in Russia and China. It has been introduced and is now grown in Canada
The plant bears clusters of orange berries that are insipid in taste raw, but are quite good stewed or made into jams. With the development of a spineless cultivar (Novost altaya) in Russia and experiments carried out elsewhere, including Scotland, suggest that these berries may become more popular in the future.
Sea buckthorn has long been known to treat such stubborn skin conditions as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, and burns, including radiation burns. Sea buckthorn products include creams, soaps, and teas.
The nutritional content of the berries include a high level of beta-carotene and at least 15 other carotenoids, vitamins C and E, 18 amino acids, at least 20 other trace elements, and essential fatty acids. It is the source of the rare omega-7 fatty acid.
