When Bruce McMullin, founder of Sibu Beauty, made the decision to take his adopted daughter back to visit the place she was born, he never realized the discovery that would transform his future and add to the betterment of local families living high in the Himalayan Mountains.
On the journey and after a chance meeting in India with a specialist in ayurvedic[1] medicine, McMullin became increasingly interested in the benefits of the bright orange sea buckthorn berry. For over 1,000 years, this berry had earned a reputation for healing, especially in the areas of improving digestion, promoting blood circulation and relieving cough and chronic pain. It is now becoming additionally famous in the West for its numerous wellness and beauty benefits. What began as a friendly and curious exchange between cultures led to the forming of Sibu Beauty, one of the most significant and early adopters, incorporating the holy fruit’s benefits into a line of beauty and wellness products that are presently available throughout the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
The hardy sea buckthorn berry grows in cooler climates throughout the world and is resilient to harsh weather conditions. Sibu Beauty’s source is high in the Himalayan Mountains at altitudes 12,000 ft above sea level. The sea buckthorn berry endures some of the harshest climatic conditions on the planet. It is because of those extremes in temperature that the berry protects itself against the often unforgiving forces of nature and literally locks in an array of powerful nutrients drawn from deep inside earth. Fortified with over 190 bio-active compounds, sea buckthorn is an unsurpassed source of Omegas 3, 6, and 9 and is also a rich source of the most elusive fatty acid, Omega 7, a naturally-occurring component that keeps free radicals at bay and proves vital to the production of collagen. The scientific conclusion, reached after numerous studies, is that the sea buckthorn berry demonstrates the ability to improve skin, hair and nail tone/texture, digestive wellness and promotes healthy aging. The berry is becoming acknowledged as one of the most significant functional whole food “re”-discoveries of the 21st Century.
The journey didn’t stop with the passion for the berry and the inception of Sibu Beauty but also included the commitment to help the indigenous people. McMullin worked with numerous officials to establish a fair trade agreement that employs local workers by offering them better wages and safe working conditions while keeping the environment virtually unblemished. This notable effort was recently acknowledged and blessed by the Dalai Lama.
[1] A’yur·ve’dic “pertaining to traditional Hindu science of medicine,” from ayurveda “science of life”, from ayur “life + veda “knowledge.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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