ABOUT SEA BUCKTHORN
An ancient plant, native to Scotland, packed with nutrition

IN THE UK FOR ALMOST A MILLION YEARS
Fossil records show that sea buckthorn was recorded in the late Beestonian stage and was widespread throughout the United Kingdom during the Hoxnian interglacial period (around 480,000 years ago).
Sea buckthorn is a hardy, and very thorny, pioneer plant that thrives in conditions where other plants cannot survive due to salinity, temperature, altitude, or soil pH. It is able to enrich the soil through its ability to fix nitrogen and its roots are excellent at capturing water runoff. Despite being native to parts of South East Scotland, its paleoethnobotany here has largely been lost in the mists of time…
HISTORICAL MENTIONS
Sea buckthorn has been treasured since ancient times for its endurance-enhancing and medicinal properties:
Earliest Uses: Paleolithic hunter-gatherers in N.E Tibet and also Portugal used sea buckthorn as a food source. In Ancient Greece, athletes like Pheidippides used sea buckthorn berries, believed to boost stamina for their marathon journeys, and Alexander the Great fed sea buckthorn to his soldiers and horses during his desert campaigns to restore strength and vitality.
Classical & Ancient Medicine: Theophrastus and Dioscorides wrote about sea buckthorn's health benefits, and the Tibetan medical text Somaratsa (8th century) highlighted its healing powers. During the Tang Dynasty, it became essential to Tibetan medicine, while in Roman times, Pliny the Elder recommended sea buckthorn as a gallbladder cleanser.
Medieval to Modern Times: Genghis Khan (ca. 1162–1227)relied on sea buckthorn to fuel his armies, and 7 centuries later in the 1940s, Russian scientists started to research its bioactive compounds.This led to sea buckthorn-based foods and creams for radiation protection for Russian cosmonauts and Chernobyl survivors. Sea buckthorn also became the official drink of the Chinese Olympic team in 1992, and even Everest climbers and the Indian Army use it to help with high-altitude endurance.
Today, sea buckthorn cultivation and research are widespread across Europe, with breeding programs in Canada, Eastern Europe, Germany, and the Netherlands, and courses at Finnish universities. The International Sea buckthorn Association continues to promote global research, sharing insights into sea buckthorn’s exceptional health properties.
From marathon runners and ancient warriors to space missions and Olympic athletes, sea buckthorn endures as a timeless source of resilience and strength.

SEA BUCKTHORN IN THE MEDIA
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Love Your Local Larder, August 2023 - Discover the exceptional sea buckthorn plant, with Seabuckthorn Scotland
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The Scotsman, Sept 2021 – Scotland’s Larder: Kirstie Campbell of Sea Buckthorn Scotland
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Askmen, May 2021 – Why is everyone so obsessed with sea buckthorn oil for their skin?
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Greek Reporter, March 2021 - Sea Buckthorn: The Superfood that Fueled Alexander the Great
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East Lothian Courier, March 2021 - Concern at 'obliteration' of sea buckthorn at Archerfield
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The Beet, Nov 2020 – Sea Buckthorn boosts immunity, clears skin and fights cancer. How to take it
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Whetstone Magazine, Oct 2020 – Fire in the Dark, Sea Buckthorn in Winter
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Nibble Scotland, June 2020 – Did Sea Buckthorn give Pegasus wings?
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Korea Biomedical Review - Korean researchers found substance inhibiting COVID-19
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The Scottish Field, Jan 2020 - #DryJanuary or #TryJanuary you decide!
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Bloomberg, July 2019 - Sea Buckthorn Is the Latest Superfruit to Crack Michelin-Starred Menus