Hawthorn is a thorny shrub in the rose family. It grows throughout the world, and has been used medicinally since the first century A.D. Hawthorn extract is derived from the leaves, flowers and berries of the plant. It is considered relatively safe to ingest and is sold over the counter. There is good evidence that taking hawthorn can have significant health benefits, particularly benefiting the heart.
Antioxidant Properties
The University of Maryland Medical Center's medical reference materials on complementary medicine state that hawthorn contains antioxidants, including oligomeric procyandins, or OPCs, and quercetin. Antioxidants destroy free radicals in the body, which helps your system fight cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hawthorn's combination of antioxidants benefit the heart in particular: They may dilate blood vessels, improving the flow of blood and protecting blood vessels from damage. This effectively creates a healthier environment that helps your heart function and remain strong.
Heart Function
Hawthorn has been studied extensively in patients with congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. A 2008 study, conducted by Cochrane Researchers and published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that hawthorn extract improved symptoms significantly. It was shown to improve function, increase exercise tolerance, reduce oxygen consumption and improve breathing. "There is good evidence that, when used alongside conventional therapy, hawthorn extract can bring additional benefits," the study's lead researcher Dr. Ruoling Guo told Science Daily.
Atherosclerosis and Angina Relief
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque on the walls of blood vessels. It can cause angina, the chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. These two conditions have both been found to be improved by exposure to hawthorn's antioxidants. A study published in the October 2001 issue of Internal Medicine News found that hawthorn extract limited plaque development, and improved blood flow to the heart.
Other Potential Benefits
Hawthorn is used to treat hepatitis in modern Chinese medicine, though its effects have not been studied extensively in Western medicine. Other potential uses include treatment of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. There is insignificant evidence to support a claim that hawthorn can actually reverse these conditions, but it may have a positive effect.
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