Sha Ji
StarHippophae rhamnoides L.
☯ TCM Properties
Resolves Phlegm and Stops Cough; Promotes Digestion and Resolves Food Stagnation; Invigorates Blood and Dispels Stasis; Warms and tonifies the Spleen; Generates Fluids
Traditional Chinese Uses
Sha Ji (sea buckthorn) is a warm, sour herb recognized in Chinese medicine for activating Blood circulation, eliminating stasis, and supporting Lung and digestive health. It is used for Blood stasis conditions including traumatic injury, chest pain from Qi and Blood obstruction, and menstrual irregularities. Its digestive applications include food stagnation and chronic Spleen-Stomach weakness, and it is also used to moisten the Lungs for dry cough. Sea buckthorn is now widely marketed for its nutritional content and antioxidant properties.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae), sea buckthorn, is a hardy, deciduous, dioecious shrub or small tree growing 2-6 m tall, with grey-brown, thorny branches and a deep, suckering root system bearing nitrogen-fixing actinorhizal nodules. The alternate, linear-lanceolate leaves are silvery-grey, scaly on both surfaces. Inconspicuous, apetalous flowers appear before the leaves in spring; female plants bear dense clusters of bright orange to yellow, ovoid berries 6-9 mm across, ripening in late summer and persisting through winter. Each berry contains a single hard seed. Native to a broad arc from western Europe through Central Asia to China and the Himalayas, it colonises riverbanks, dunes, and disturbed ground. The vitamin- and carotenoid-rich fruit (Sha Ji) is used in TCM and Western herbal medicine as an antioxidant tonic.
Active Constituents
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Water-soluble vitaminConcentration: Very high; the most abundant vitamin in the berry
A dominant antioxidant of the fruit, supporting the traditional fluid-generating, cough-resolving use and contributing to immune and vascular benefits.
Isorhamnetin and its glycosides
Flavonol (flavonoid)Concentration: Characteristic and major flavonol of the berry
A hallmark sea buckthorn flavonoid with antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory activity; a common quality marker for the fruit.
Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides
Flavonol (flavonoid)Concentration: Present among total flavonoids
Flavonols contributing to radical scavenging, lipid-lowering and vascular-protective activities of the total flavonoid fraction.
Carotenoids (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene)
Carotenoid (tetraterpenoid)Concentration: High; responsible for the orange colour of the berry/oil
Lipophilic antioxidants and provitamin A sources supporting mucosal and tissue repair, consistent with traditional and modern use for cough and tissue healing.
Tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E)
Vitamin E / lipid-soluble antioxidantConcentration: Enriched in the seed and pulp oils
Fat-soluble antioxidants that protect membrane lipids and complement the fruit's cardiovascular and skin-supportive effects.
Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) and unsaturated fatty acids
Monounsaturated fatty acid (pulp oil)Concentration: Major fatty acid of the pulp/fruit oil
Omega-7 fatty acid characteristic of sea buckthorn pulp oil, associated with mucosal and skin repair and lipid-metabolism effects.
Organic acids (malic, quinic) and ursolic acid
Organic acid / triterpene acidConcentration: Present in fruit
Organic acids provide the fruit's sourness (digestion/food-stagnation use), while the triterpene ursolic acid adds anti-inflammatory activity.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Warfarin and other anticoagulants (e.g., heparin)
Sea buckthorn contains vitamin K and salicylate-like/antiplatelet constituents, and its berry oil inhibits platelet aggregation; concurrent anticoagulant use may increase bleeding risk or affect anticoagulation control.
Clinical note: Avoid or use only under medical supervision in patients on anticoagulants; monitor INR and for signs of bleeding.
Antiplatelet agents and NSAIDs (aspirin, clopidogrel, ibuprofen, naproxen)
Berry oil-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation can add to the antiplatelet effect of these drugs, increasing the potential for bruising and bleeding.
Clinical note: Use cautiously with antiplatelet drugs or NSAIDs; watch for bleeding, especially before surgery.
Antihypertensive agents
Sea buckthorn supplementation has been shown to influence blood pressure and lipid metabolism; combined with antihypertensives it could theoretically enhance blood-pressure reduction.
Clinical note: Monitor blood pressure when combining with antihypertensive therapy.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-12g | Daily | — | — | — |
Preparation Methods
Water decoction
Parts: Fruit (berry)
Typically 3-10 g decocted. Used to resolve phlegm, stop cough, promote digestion and resolve food stagnation, invigorate Blood and generate fluids.
Juice, syrup or paste
Parts: Fruit (berry)
The berries are commonly processed into juice, syrup or a concentrated paste for cough and digestive complaints and as a nutritive tonic; also taken as powder.
Clinical Studies
Effect of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on blood lipid profiles: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 11 independent randomized controlled trials
Pooling 11 randomized controlled trials, sea buckthorn supplementation reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol and raised HDL-cholesterol overall, with lipid-lowering effects seen mainly in subjects with abnormal lipid metabolism rather than healthy participants.
Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on factors related to metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found sea buckthorn supplementation favourably affected several metabolic-syndrome-related factors, including aspects of lipid profile and glycaemic/blood-pressure measures, supporting a cardiometabolic benefit.
Historical Texts
rGyud bzhi (Four Tantras / Si Bu Yi Dian), foundational Tibetan medical classic
Tibetan medicine, c. 8th-12th centuryJing Zhu Ben Cao (Crystal Pearl Materia Medica / Tibetan materia medica)
Qing dynasty (18th century)References
- Ren R, et al.. Research progress of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease . Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2024) [DOI]
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (Sha Ji / Hippophae Fructus monograph) . China Medical Science Press (2020) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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