Know2eat

Sea buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides

Herbs & Botanicals

What sea buckthorn may help with

Ranked by how strong the human evidence is — best supported first.

Best supportedBlood lipid profileNot enough evidence· 3 sources

Then, in order

4 things to know first — allergies, interactions and limits

About Sea buckthorn

Berry and seed oils from a hardy shrub, notable for containing palmitoleic acid (omega-7) alongside vitamin E, carotenoids and vitamin C. Berry pulp oil and seed oil differ in fatty acid profile.

Sea buckthorn is marketed heavily for skin and dry eye on the basis of a small number of Finnish trials, several of them from the same group and supported by producers. The oil has an unusual fatty acid profile, but the leap from composition to clinical effect is where the evidence thins out considerably.

Sold as
Berry oil softgel, Seed oil, Juice, Powder, Topical oil
Standardised to
Sometimes standardised to palmitoleic acid or total carotenoid content — a product without this marker may not resemble what was studied.
Also known as
Seaberry, Sandthorn, Hippophae

What the research used

The amounts, forms and durations published trials of Sea buckthorn actually administered.

These are the amounts published trials administered — not a recommendation, and not a dose to copy. Trial participants were screened, supervised and given a characterised preparation. What is in a retail bottle is frequently not what was studied, and the amount that suits one person is not general advice.

  • Studied for Dry eye symptoms

    2 g

    Not enough

    Sea buckthorn oil, divided doses · 3 months

    From a small Finnish trial reporting reduced redness and burning without changes in tear film measures. Independent replication is limited.

  • Studied for Skin and metabolic markers

    1–5 g

    Not enough

    Berry or seed oil, or dried berry powder · 4 weeks to 3 months

    Small trials with varied preparations and endpoints, several supported by producers, which makes the results difficult to generalise.

This is general information about food, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace guidance from a clinician who knows your history.

When it was taken

Each window says whether a trial compared it against an alternative, or whether it is convention and pharmacology. Most timing advice is the second kind.

None of the timings below were directly compared in a trial. They reflect how the research happened to dose, or what the pharmacology implies — which is not the same as a timing being better.

  • With food

    Limited

    An oil rich in fat-soluble compounds, so taken with a meal on absorption grounds. Not compared in trials.

    Timing was not directly compared. This reflects convention or how the compound behaves in the body, not a trial showing this window works better.

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Not enough

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how promising the supplement sounds. How we rate evidence.

Blood lipid profile

Heart Health
Not enough evidence

There is not enough consistent human research on sea buckthorn and blood lipids. Reported changes are small and not replicated.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Skin structure and hydration

Skin Health
Not enough evidence

Evidence is limited for sea buckthorn oil and skin hydration or elasticity. Trials are small, short and often producer-supported.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 2 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Things to know

Interactions, contraindications and dose limits, most serious first. Concentrated extracts interact with medication in ways the whole plant does not, so this section carries more weight here than it does on a food page.

  • Interaction

    Bleeding and blood pressure

    Interacts withWarfarin, antiplatelet drugs, antihypertensives

    Sea buckthorn has been reported to slow platelet aggregation and lower blood pressure, so caution applies with anticoagulants and antihypertensives, and around surgery.

  • Worth knowing

    Digestive upset with oils

    Loose stools and stomach discomfort are the usual complaints at the gram-level doses used in trials.

  • Allergy

    Berry allergy

    Allergic reactions to sea buckthorn berries and oil have been reported, though they are uncommon.

  • Avoid

    Pregnancy

    Concentrated oils and extracts have not been studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Evidence ratings on this page: 2 not enough evidence.

Supplements are sold in the US without pre-market review of efficacy or safety. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to take Sea buckthorn, or a dose to follow.