Hawthorn is a plant in the same family as roses that grows throughout the world. Its Latin genus name is Crataegus. More than 200 species of Crataegus exist; some are shrubs and others are trees. Hawthorn's berries, leaves and flowers contain antioxidants. It has been used throughout history to treat cardiovascular problems. The first mention of hawthorn being used medicinally was in the first century A.D. In the Middle Ages, it was used to treat dropsy, which was the old name for edema resulting from congestive heart failure.
Congestive Heart Failure
In congestive heart failure, or CHF, the heart does not pump blood efficiently from the ventricles, which are the lower heart chambers, to the rest of the body. CHF can involve either the right or left side of the heart. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center says the main symptoms of right-side CHF are fatigue, edema in the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet, and weight gain due to fluid retention. Left-sided CHF can result in fluid accumulating in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema. This results in fatigue, a wheezing or hacking cough, and shortness of breath, especially with minor exertion or when lying down.
The cause of CHF is heart muscle weakness due to a prior heart attack or coronary artery disease, heart infection, heart valve problems, hypertension, malfunctioning thyroid, vitamin deficiency or exposure to toxins, including prolonged alcohol or amphetamine use.
Hawthorne and CHF
New York University's Langone Medical Center reports at least nine double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving a total of 750 people found hawthorn helped congestive heart failure. Results seem to be dose-dependent. For example, in one study done at the Clinical Center in Leverkusen, Germany, Michael Tauchert and a team of researchers gave 209 people with relatively advanced congestive heart failure either 900 mg or 1,800 mg of hawthorn extract or a placebo in addition to their existing diuretic medication. The group taking 1,800 mg of hawthorn extract showed a statistically significant increase in exercise capacity after 16 weeks, while the group receiving 900 mg of hawthorn or the placebo showed no improvement.
Available Forms and Dosage
You can make tea from dried hawthorn leaves, flowers and berries, or you can buy liquid extracts and tinctures, as well as non-standardized and standardized capsules and tablets. According to the Langone Medical Center, 300 to 600 mg of extract three times a day is the usual dose for CHF. The extract should be standardized to contain approximately 2 percent to 3 percent flavonoids.
Precautions
When taking other medicines, particularly prescription heart medications, consult your doctor before using hawthorn. It can make the effects of digoxin, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers stronger. Above all, if you have congestive heart failure, do not self-treat by using hawthorn in place of conventional medicines.
