HAWTHORN BERRIES LEAF
Botanical: Crataegus oxyacantha (also called Crataegus laevigata) Family: Rosaceae (rose) Other common names: Crataegus, English Hawthorn, Mayflower, May Bush, Mayblossom, Quickset, May Tree, Whitethorn, Thorn-apple Tree

Hawthorn is a wonderful and trusted cardiac tonic that is used to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and significantly enhance blood circulation to the heart and brain. It is used to strengthen the heart and relieve angina, myocarditis (inflamed heart) and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

History:
Hawthorne (also spelled Hawthorn) is a thorny, deciduous hardwood tree or shrub that may grow to a height of twenty-five feet and bears small white flowers that produce red berries. It is native to the Mediterranean region, including north Africa and all of Europe and central Asia, and it now grows in many areas of North America. The tree is found in roadsides, fields and woods, thriving in most soils, including alkaline, in sun or partial shade, but the fruit is more prolific when growing in an open, sunny position. Its English name, Hawthorne, comes to us from haw, which is an old English word for "hedge."  The tree's name simply means "thorny hedge."  After the British General Enclosures Act of 1845, Hawthorne was used extensively as hedgerow, because of its thorny nature and quick growth. Its botanical genus, Crataegus, is derived from the Latin word, meaning"hardness," referring to the quality of the tree's hard wood.  According to Christian tradition, the Crown of Thorns placed on the head of Jesus was made of Hawthorne; and its May blossoms have long been associated with May festivals, i.e., selecting a "May Queen" and "King and Queen of the May." Although Hawthorne was used medicinally in ancient Greece, it fell into obscurity until the nineteenth century, when the secrets of an Irish doctor's effective Hawthorne-enriched heart tonic were revealed, making it extremely popular for that use and for which it is still acclaimed today. It is an important medicinal herb used in Europe, the United States and the Orient, where it is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a heart tonic and a treatment for digestive disorders. Some of the constituents included in Hawthorne are beta-carotene, catechin, pectin, flavonoids (rutin, quercetin), essential fatty acids, amino acids, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, many valuable minerals (calcium, choline, chromium, iron, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon and magnesium), B-vitamins and a high vitamin C content. Constituents Flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins. The berries contain more hyperoside than the leaves and flowers, and the leaves and flowers contain more vitexin rhamnoside than the berries

Beneficial Uses:
Hawthorn Leaf  is an excellent cardio-tonic that supports good heart health and protects it in a variety of ways. It is thought to be especially effective in the beginning stages of heart disease, as well as speeding up the recovery time after a heart attack. It is also believed to strengthen a weak heart muscle associated with age, relieve pressure and tightness of the chest, ease angina and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), as well as mild cardiac arrhythmia. The bioflavonoids found in Hawthorn interact with key enzymes in the heart to increase the pumping force of the heart muscle and eliminate arrhythmia..

Hawthorn berries are antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator. Like hawthorn leaves and flowers, hawthorn berries have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic. The traditional use of hawthorn berries is the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure. The berries are also used to treat a heart muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle, for arteriosclerosis, and for nervous heart. The effect of hawthorn berry on these heart conditions is not immediate; it may be necessary to take the herb for 4 to 6 weeks to see results. Leaf and flower preparations may work faster, but hawthorn berries are better for some specific problems.

A specific use for hawthorn berries is the treatment of orthostatic hypotension, a sudden loss of blood pressure caused by moving from a seated position to a standing position. Orthostatic hypotension can cause temporary loss of consciousness, and is a common complication during the first few weeks of medical treatment of high blood pressure with beta-blockers. A tincture made from a combination of hawthorn berries and camphor will not eliminate orthostatic hypotension, but it will reduce it enough that it does not cause swooning or fainting.

Another often-overlooked use of hawthorn berries "this time as a tea" is treatment irritable bowel syndrome. Making a cup of tea with no more than a half-teaspoon of crushed, dried berries can relieve the constipation and gas associated with the condition. Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine often uses crushed hawthorn berries with other herbs to treat colitis diarrhea caused by CrohnÍs disease, and various conditions causing rectal bleeding.

**Provided itself beneficial in research that involved people, endorsed by Germany’s Commission E for Therapeutic use, Cardiovascular Insufficiency, Hardening of the Arteries, High Blood Pressure, Irregular Heart Rhythm

*Provided itself beneficial in research that did not involve people, the study could have been done in a test tube, petri dish or animals for Therapeutic use, Acne, Anemia, Breathing Difficulty, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Insomnia, Palpitations, Seborrhea, Skin Inflammation, Tissue Welling, Water Retention

Hawthorn berries are more often used to make tinctures than teas, smoothies and punches. May also be taken encapsulated or as an extract.

Contraindications:

None


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Disclaimer: The information presented herein by Organic Herbs Medicine Cabinet is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.