Related to the rose, hawthorn grows as a dense, thorny shrub-like tree that is often used as fencing or a hedgerow along property lines in many parts of Europe. It is found in parts of North America, Asia and Africa as well, where it is also called hedgethorn, maybush and whitethorn. Herbal preparations containing hawthorn may be labeled hawthorn berry or Cardiplant. Hawthorn belongs to the scientific genus Crataegus, and there are a number of different species that are used medicinally. Hawthorn is mainly used to treat heart problems, but consult your doctor before taking it.
About Hawthorn
Hawthorn has a long history of use as an herbal treatment for heart problems. Although its bright red berries are used in some preparations, hawthorn's leaves and flowers are considered to be the most effective for treating heart disease. Hawthorn contains antioxidant substances called flavonoids, which can effectively reduce the number of free radicals floating around in your body. Free radicals damage your cells and contribute to some of the problems of aging, including heart disease. The flavonoid compounds also act to increase blood flow through your arteries.
Congestive Heart Failure Treatment
Congestive heart failure refers to the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, usually due to heart disease. Hawthorn has been used since the Middle Ages to treat congestive heart failure, or dropsy, as it was then called. A report published in "The American Journal of Medicine" states that hawthorn appears to be effective in alleviating shortness of breath and exertion fatigue when used in conjunction with traditional heart medications for mild to moderate congestive heart failure. It also lessens the incidence of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that often occurs along with congestive heart failure. You should only take hawthorn for heart problems under your doctor's supervision.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Hawthorn also appears to have some effects on blood pressure, specifically in having the ability to lower it. It causes dilation of the arteries -- the coronary arteries in particular -- which results in a lowering of blood pressure. This effect also makes it easier for the heart to pump and circulate blood due to decreased resistance. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that one study of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure while taking 1,200 mg of standardized hawthorn extract along with their other prescribed medications.
Decreases Cholesterol Levels
The development of cholesterol plaques along artery walls, called atherosclerosis, is a direct result of elevated blood cholesterol levels and can lead to the development of heart disease. Hawthorn appears to be able to fight atherosclerosis by increasing the rate of conversion of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" cholesterol, into high-density lipoprotein, the "good" cholesterol. The antioxidants in hawthorn add to this effect by limiting damage to artery walls, which helps prevents plaques from forming in the first place. However, you should never self-treat any medical problems with hawthorn; only use it under your health care provider's direct guidance.
References
- altMD: Hawthorn
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Hawthorn
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hawthorn
- "American Journal of Medicine"; Hawthorn Extract for Treating Chronic Heart Failure; M.H. Pittler; et al.; June 2003
- Drug Digest: Hawthorn
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2002
