Hawthorn is a thorny shrub in the rose family, whose components have been used to treat heart disease for centuries. While hawthorn leaves, flowers and berries have all been used to treat heart and circulatory problems, these days mainly the leaves and flowers are used medicinally. Hawthorn contains powerful antioxidants that appear to minimize the damage of free radicals -- substances in your body that harm cells. However, hawthorn can cause adverse side effects, including nausea. Consult your doctor for more information on the use of hawthorn.
Step 1
Discuss hawthorn with your physician before taking it. If you suffer from heart disease, hawthorn may be helpful for you, but all herbal supplements carry some risk of side effects and drug interactions. Talking with your doctor about the potential risks of hawthorn before trying it may help determine if you are likely to experience adverse effects such as stomach upset.
Step 2
Follow dosage recommendations carefully. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that hawthorn is generally considered a very safe herb when taken in the correct dose. Consult your physician regarding the recommended dosage for your situation.
Step 3
Ask your doctor if you should continue to take hawthorn if you experience stomach upset after taking hawthorn. The Cochrane Collaboration reports that in a study of hawthorn extract for the treatment of heart failure, upset stomach and other infrequent adverse side effects were transient, not permanent. This suggests that, if you stick with your hawthorn extract treatment plan, stomach upset may resolve on its own.
Things You'll Need
- Hawthorn extract
