Hawthorn, also known as English hawthorn, harthorne and May flower, is a flowering shrub in the rose family, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or the NCCAM. Although native to northern Europe, today, hawthorn is grown all over the world. Typically, the leaf and flower of the plant are combined with water or alcohol and used to make liquid extracts, and the berries are used medicinally too. Dry extracts are another byproduct of hawthorn and can be made into tablets or capsules, according to the NCCAM.
Heart Disease
Hawthorn has been used since the first century to treat heart disease, and according to the NCCAM, scientific evidence supports the safety and efficacy of hawthorn use for mild heart problems. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, experts think that hawthorn increases heart rate and heart muscle contraction.
Blood Pressure
According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering, there is some evidence that hawthorn reduces blood pressure. In a study cited by Memorial Sloan-Kettering, patients who took hawthorn had a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure compares to patients taking a placebo.
Angina
Angina, or chest pain due to the heart not getting enough oxygen-rich blood, might also be eased by hawthorn, according to the NCCAM. Memorial Sloan-Kettering states that hawthorn likely helps dilate the smooth muscle that lines the coronary arteries, which helps facilitate blood flow to the heart.
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