Hawthorn Berry & The Heart

The hawthorn tree has in some times been regarded as sacred, and in other times, villagers imagined they still smelled the Great Plague of London in the scent of the flowers. Carrion insects pollinate the hawthorn flowers, which have a faint smell of decomposition, according to Botanical.com. Despite the dark associations, the fruit was used by Dioscorides, an early Greek herbalist, to treat heart problems in the first century, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Michigan.

Description

The fruit or berry of the hawthorn tree is produced by each blossom. The fruit has a deep red to black color. It has been known by several names, including chucky cheese, cuckoo's beads and pixie pears. The tree can live for many years and grows to a height of 30 feet. The hawthorn tree is typically found in Western Asia, North America, Europe and North Africa. The flowers grow in clusters of red, white or pink.

Use

According to the University of Michigan, hawthorn berries have traditionally been used for congestive heart failure, which has been supported in scientific studies. Other uses have included angina, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. However, there hasn't been enough scientific research to support these claims, according to the University of Michigan. Traditionally, hawthorn berries have also been used for high blood pressure, chest pain, hardening of the arteries, irregular heartbeat and heart failure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The Tillotson Institute states that hawthorn berries help in the digestion of both fats and oils. The berries also support the heart by increasing oxygen flow and reducing blood vessel inflammation.

Properties

Bioflavonoids present in hawthorn berries may be responsible for many of the positive effects it has on the heart, according to the University of Michigan. The bioflavonoids are also considered powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are responsible for destroying free radicals that destroy healthy cells and can cause cancer. Hawthorn berries also contain oligomeric procyanidins, or OPCs, that are found in grapes. OPCs have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body. Hawthorn berries also contain quercetin, which is also an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects.

Side Effects

The University of Michigan warns that hawthorn berries should not be considered as a substitute for cardiac medication. Hawthorn berries my also interact with heart medications such as digitalis. Hawthorn berries should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In addition, palpitations, headache or nausea may result from using the herb. Hawthorn berries also reduce the effectiveness of nasal decongestants such as phenylephrine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Research

A review of studies published in European Journal of Heart Failure states that hawthorn berries may be beneficial against heart disease. However, another study published in the European Journal of Heart Failure showed that hawthorn berries did not reduce the progression of heart failure and even increased progression. One possible explanation given in the study is that the subjects were on heart medication, which may have interacted with the hawthorn berries to increase their risk. Hawthorn was also shown to have anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects in rats, according to the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry.