Sea Buckthorn Health Benefits

Preliminary findings suggest that Sea Buckthorn (particularly extracts of the oil, juice, leaves and bark) may help improve a wide variety of health conditions, including heart disease, cholesterol balance, high blood pressure, stroke, gingivitis, eye diseases, immune function and red blood cell production after chemotherapy.

Nutrient and phytochemical properties of Sea Buckthorn berries, particularly oils, have exceptional properties as antioxidants possibly relevant to inhibiting inflammatory disorders, cancer and numerous other diseases. The seed and pulp oils have been specifically studied for nutritional properties under different methods of processing.

The fruit of the plant has a high vitamin C content - about 12 times greater than the amount found in oranges which makes it one of the most enriched plant sources of vitamin C. The fruit also contains dense contents of carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids, dietary minerals, β-sitosterol and polyphenolic acids.

RESEARCH
There are five areas of research that have been focal points for their use: as an aid to patients undergoing cancer therapy; a long-term therapy for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors; treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers; internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin disorders; and as a liver protective agent (for chemical toxins) and a remedy for liver cirrhosis.

CANCER THERAPY
Most research in this area has been done with laboratory animals. A group in India has published several reports on the potential of a Sea Buckthorn extract to protect the bone marrow from damage due to radiation. Their studies also showed that the extract may help speed up recovery of bone marrow cells.

Protective effect of RH-3 with special reference to radiation induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2002 May

A study conducted in China suggested faster recovery of the hemopoietic system after high doses chemotherapy in mice fed the Sea Buckthorn oil.

Study on the effects of the oil from Hippophae rhamnoides in hematopoiesis
Chinese Herbal Drugs 2003

Preliminary laboratory studies have also found that the seed oil enhances non-specific immunity and provides anti-tumor effects.

Effects of Hippophae rhamnoides juice on immunologic and antitumor functions
1993 Acta Nutrimenta Sinica

Effects of the total flavonoid of Hippophae rhamnoides on nonspecific immunity in animals
Shanxi Medical Journal 1989

More well-designed clinical studies with Sea Buckthorn are needed to determine its effectiveness on cancer patients in humans.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
In a double-blind clinical trial conducted in China, 128 patients with ischemic heart disease, patients showed a decrease in cholesterol levels and improved cardiac function with less angina than those receiving the control drug. The study indicated no harmful effect in renal or hepatic functions.

Treatment of ischemic heart diseases with flavonoids of Hippophae rhamnoides,
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 1987

Sea Buckthorn oil may result in reduced stress of cardiac muscle tissue by regulation of inflammatory mediators.

The inhibitory effect of total flavonoids of hippophae on the activation of NF-kappa ß by stretching cultured cardiac myocytes
Sichuan University Medical Journal 2003

In a laboratory animal study, the flavonoids of Sea Buckthorn were shown to reduce the production of pathogenic thrombosis in mice.

Inhibitory effects of total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides on thrombosis in mouse femoral artery and in vitro platelet aggregation
Life Sciences 2003

Formulas containing Sea Buckthorn have been developed recently for treating cardiac disorders. One such formula is a liquid preparation of Sea Buckthorn flavonoids with carthamus (safflower) and licorice, called Ai Xin Bao which is intended for use in treatment of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, by improving blood circulation and restoring cardiac function.

GASTRIC ULCERS
Laboratory studies suggest that Sea Buckthorn is effective in the treatment of gastric ulcers. It is believed that it normalizes output of gastric acid and reduces inflammation by controlling pro-inflammatory mediators.

Antiulcerogenic effect of Hippophae rhamnoides
Phytother Res. 2001 Nov

Effects of Sea Buckthorn seed and pulp oils on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats
Fitoterapia 2002

LIVER CIRRHOSIS
In one clinical trial, researchers found that that Sea Buckthorn extracts helped normalize liver enzymes, serum bile acids, and immune system markers involved in liver inflammation and degeneration. In other studies, Sea Buckthorn oil was shown to protect the liver from damaging effects of toxic chemicals.

Effect of Sea Buckthorn on liver fibrosis: a clinical study
World Journal of Gastroenterology 2003

Acute toxicity of flesh oil of Hippophae rhamnoides and its protection against experimental hepatic injury
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1990

CONCLUSION

There is a vast amount of experimental data confirming the important properties of Sea Buckthorn. It has the potential to play an important role in human health, but the studies are from from conclusive, and much more research on humans will be required. With such exceptional nutrient density, Sea Buckthorn is sure to be a focus of intense research and product development for years to come.

History of the Reishi Mushroom

In Chinese, they are called “”ling-zhi.”" Reishi is a large, dark, mushroom with a glossy exterior. Reishi differs from the supermarket varieties in that its texture is similar to wood. In traditional Chinese medicine, Reishi is in the most highly rated herb category in terms of multiple benefit and absence of side effects. It is the only known source of a group of triter penes known as ganoderic acids, which have a molecular structure similar to steroid hormones. It has the most active polysaccharides (long “”chains”" of sugars) among medicinal plant sources. Reishi also contains ergosterols, complete proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

Wild Reishi is scarce and suffers from adverse environmental conditions such as insect infestation, lack of proper nutrients, non-optimum temperatures, and lack of humidity. The timing of the harvest cannot be controlled, and the mature Reishi has already lost most of its digestible active ingredients. The active ingredients in the dried mushroom may also have lost much of their beneficial biological activity. The 6 different types of Reishi (differentiated by color: red, purple, blue, yellow, black, white) recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia are actually one species grown under different conditions. In 1972, a Japanese researcher who pioneered the growing of Reishi demonstrated that by varying the conditions of growth, Reishi of 6 different colors can be grown from the same species.

Reishi are polypore mushrooms. Mushrooms are the fruiting body and reproductive structure of a higher order fungus organism, much like an orange is the fruit of an orange tree. The actual mushroom organism or “”tree”" is a fine thread-like network called mycelium. This mycelium is for the most part subterranean, living in soil, logs and other organic litter.

Unlike green plants, which produce many of their own nutrients by photosynthesis, mushrooms primarily source their nutrients from dead organic matter or soil. Mushrooms and their mycelium are nature’s original recyclers. Without them, the Earths’ surface would be piled high with dead, decaying material. Mushrooms rise out of the mycelium when the right nutrients are amassed and the right environmental conditions are present. Mushrooms release spores at maturity. The wind spreads them and when they land in suitable locations, the cycle recommences.

Numerous studies of Reishi mainly in China, Korea, Japan and the United States show effectiveness of Reishi for a very wide range of diseases and symptoms. But the studies have not given indisputable explanation on its healing mechanism because none of its presumed and known active components taken alone have given better results as a whole than the intake of Reishi itself.

Its effectiveness applies to many areas so it is difficult to classify each of them and conduct research in each field. It is perhaps more comprehensible at this time, to explain Reishi’s “”miraculous powers”" from the Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view.

In the West, we have separated and classified each disease meticulously, and have specialized in each of them to such a degree that it seems today as if each disease is autonomous and standing alone.

Oriental Medicine, resulting from knowledge accumulated through 4000 years of human observation, asserts that health can be maintained by sustaining the right balance within the body and that diseases can be cured by restoring this balance through nutrition, including medicinal herbs, exercise and mental peace. In other words, a disease is believed to be the tip of an iceberg, the result of the underlying imbalance of the body which must be restored.

The 2000 years old medicinal book “”Seng Nong’s Herbal Classic”", considered today as the oldest book on oriental herbal medicine, classifies 365 species of roots of grass, woods, furs, animals and stones separates herbal medicines into 3 categories. The first category, called superior, includes herbs effective for multiple diseases and mostly responsible for maintaining and restoring the body balance. They have no unfavorable side effects. The second category, middle, comprises tonics and boosters and their consumption must not be prolonged. The third category, low, must be taken usually in small dosages and for specific ailments. This category includes some poisonous herbs. Reishi, ranked number one of the superior medicines, was the most exalted medicine in ancient times.

All observations show that Reishi has no side effects and can be consumed in high dosages and in parallel with other medications. Its main properties are the cleansing of blood, enhancement of the immune system and the lessening of nervous tension. These properties are conducive to normalizing and balancing the body and as a result preempt cure a multitude of diseases from within.

Dragon Fruit Nutritional Information

Nutritional information

The typical nutritional values per 100 g of raw pitaya (of which 55 g are edible) are as follows:

• Water 80-90 g
• Carbohydrates 9-14 g
• Protein 0.15-0.5 g
• Fat 0.1-0.6 g
• Fiber 0.3-0.9 g
• Ash 0.4-0.7 g
• Calories: 35-50

• Calcium 6-10 mg
• Iron 0.3-0.7 mg
• Phosphorus 16 - 36 mg

• Carotene (Vitamin A) traces
• Thiamine (Vitamin B₁) traces
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B₂) traces
• Niacin (Vitamin B₃) 0.2-0.45 mg
• Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 4-25 mg