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Conclusions About Hawthorn Berry & Heart Health

Hawthorns are shrubs and small trees of the Crataegus genus. Hundreds of hawthorn species grow wild in Europe and North America. They can be identified by long, sharp thorns that look like knitting needles and hard, sleek branches. Hawthorns bear five-petal white, pink and red flowers that resemble apple blossoms in the spring. These give way to miniature apple-shaped fruit in the late summer and early fall. These fruit, often called Hawthorn berries, range in color from red to gold to deep purple. They have been used as a folk remedy for ailments of the heart for centuries.

  1. Historical Use of Hawthorn for Heart Health

    • Hawthorn blossoms

      Hawthorn has been utilized since at least the 1st century to combat heart-related maladies. Beginning in the early 19th century, American doctors prescribed hawthorn-based medicines for circulatory and respiratory problems. In European folk medicine, hawthorn was also used to treat kidney ailments and memory loss. The ancient inhabitants of the British Isles invested this thorny tree with magical significance.

    Current Research on Hawthorn for Heart Health

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hawthorn is an effective remedy for such heart issues as irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, angina (chest pain caused by low blood flow to the heart) and hardened arteries. Although Hawthorn berries are commonly used, all parts of the plant possess healing qualities. Hawthorn leaves and flowers may in fact contain higher levels beneficial compounds.

      Hawthorn contains high levels of antioxidants, including including oligomeric procyandins and quercetin. These substances may improve heart function by dilating blood vessels, increasing blood flow, and protecting blood vessels from damage (See Reference 1).

      A study published in Science Daily on January 23rd, 2008, reports that hawthorn extract has a "significant" impact on patients suffering from heart failure. In this case, hawthorn was found not only to increase exercise tolerance and raise the heart's maximum workload, but also to decrease the heart's oxygen consumption. Stress and fatigue were also greatly reduced(See Reference 2).

    Other Benefits of Hawthorn

    • Like all substances high in antioxidants, hawthorn can be used to ward off the effects of aging. In "Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild," authors Steve Brill and Evelyn Dean suggest hawthorn-flower tea as a diuretic.

    Warnings

    • Hawthorn should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women. It may also amplify the effects of certain drugs, such as digoxin, beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers, which are also used to treat heart disease and high blood pressure.

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Herb Basics
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