Hawthorn is a thorny shrub that is part of the rose family, and it grows in sunny, wooded areas throughout the world. The leaves, flowers and berries of the hawthorn plant have been used for over 2,000 years for a variety of medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers continue to be used medicinally today, and they are manufactured and sold in capsule, liquid extract and tincture form. Talk to your doctor before using hawthorn to treat any medical condition.
Nutritional Benefits
Hawthorn contains amino acids and essential fatty acids. It also contains the minerals calcium, magnesium, chromium, potassium, selenium, iron and zinc and vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and C. In addition, hawthorn contains numerous phytochemicals, which are potent antioxidant substances found naturally in plants that help fight disease in humans. These antioxidants delay aging and prevent disease by destroying free radicals in your body, thereby preventing the free radicals from harming your DNA and causing cellular damage and death.
Purported Benefits
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hawthorn was traditionally used to treat circulatory and cardiovascular disorders; to enhance digestion; and to treat diabetes, dyspnea, respiratory illnesses and insomnia. Phyllis Balch states in her book, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," that hawthorn also helps to decrease fat deposits, boost your immune system, treat anemia and increase vitamin C absorption.
Heart Health
Hawthorn has a long history of use for the treatment of heart disease. One specific antioxidant that hawthorn contains is called oligomeric procyandins, or OPCs. OPCs are thought to protect your blood vessels from damage and to help dilate blood vessels, thereby lowering their resistance and improving blood flow. Hawthorn is used to strengthen the heart muscle and to treat angina, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, chest pain and atherosclerosis, which is a condition characterized by hardening of the arteries. More research needs to be done, but hawthorn may also help to treat mild-to-moderate heart failure.
Precautions
The pharmacologic effect of hawthorn is usually slow to develop. Hawthorn doses below 1,800 mg daily have been found to be safe for short-term use ranging between three and 24 weeks. Side effects for hawthorn are rare, but the herb may cause nausea, sweating, sedation and fatigue, and an overdose of the herb may cause low blood pressure and heart arrhythmias. Hawthorn may interact negatively with certain medications, including blood pressure and central nervous system depressant drugs. It is imperative that you talk to your health care practitioner before self-medicating with hawthorn.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hawthorn
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Hawthorn
- "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook;" Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2005
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