High blood pressure is an extremely dangerous condition if left untreated. The National Health Service of the United Kingdom states that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition, affecting about 18 percent of adult men and 13 percent of adult women. Your risk of developing high blood pressure goes up as you age. The Service reports that 50 percent of people over the age of 75 have this condition. Before using hawthorn to lower your blood pressure, visit your physician for more information about this herbal remedy.
About Hypertension
In most cases, there is no identifiable cause for elevated blood pressure. However, lifestyle factors are believed to play a significant role in the onset of hypertension. There are many risk factors that increase your chances of developing hypertension, including advanced age, an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, carrying too much body weight and drinking too much alcohol. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, are also associated with elevated blood pressure.
Plant Information
The flowers, fruit and leaves of the hawthorn tree contain many medicinal ingredients, including acetylcholine, adenosine, pectin, anthocyanidins and beta-carotene. Hawthorn, or Crataegus laevigata, is a tree indigenous to certain parts of Europe, from Britain and Spain to eastern Europe. Hawthorn trees may grow to a height of about 25 feet and bear white or pink flowers and shiny leaves. The berries, known as haws, are small and red when ripe, but they may also be black.
Hawthorn Actions and Uses
In his book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," noted herbalist Ed Smith reports that hawthorn -- specifically ripe hawthorn berries -- have numerous health actions and uses. Hawthorn berries act as a restorative tonic to your heart and blood vessels, help expand the arteries thereby flowing blood to your heart, and improve the strength of your heart's contractions. Hawthorn berries may be particularly effective for regulating blood pressure, but they may also help repair injured connective tissue.
Cautions
Hawthorn berries do not provide immediate results during health emergencies. This herbal remedy is meant to be used for chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure. Hawthorn is known to increase the effect of digitalis heart medication and thus should only be used in conjunction with digitalis if you are under the care and guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. When speaking with a healthcare provider about the possibility of using hawthorn to treat your hypertension, disclose all your ailments, both past and present, to avoid health complications,.
References
- National Health Service: High Blood Pressure
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
