Hawthorn is a thorny shrub that bears roselike flowers that turn into berries called haws. Hawthorn is used in herbal medicine traditions to treat such conditions as heart failure, chest pain and high blood pressure. Some scientific research has also demonstrated the potential usefulness of hawthorn for the treatment of arteriosclerosis. Consult your doctor about using hawthorn to treat a medical condition.
Arterial Blockage
Hawthorn leaves and flowers offer protective benefits for a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerosis, according to a study published in the March 2011 issue of the journal "Planta Medica." In the meta-study, which reviewed trials conducted on over 4,000 patients, clear evidence emerged of the effectiveness of hawthorn in heart failure and for improvement of vascular and circulatory function. Hawthorn may also be useful in preventing re-blockage, known as restenosis, of arteries following angioplasty -- a surgical procedure that opens plaque-occluded arteries.
Cholesterol-Lowering
Hawthorn may prevent atherosclerosis by lowering cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the "American Journal of Chinese Medicine." In animal studies, eight weeks of hawthorn supplementation significantly lowered levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein, the bad form of cholesterol, and improved the ratio between LDL and total cholesterol -- a value used as a measure of your relative risk for cardiovascular disease. Researchers concluded that the results of their preliminary animal study indicate the potential usefulness of hawthorn for treatment of elevated cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
Dissolves Plaque
Hawthorn may dissolve existing atherosclerotic plaques in addition to preventing them from forming, says author and clinical nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch in her book "Prescription for Herbal Healing." Hawthorn also increases the conversion of LDL cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the good form of cholesterol, and promotes the conversion of cholesterol into bile, thereby reducing its levels in the bloodstream. Balch cautions that large doses of hawthorn may have a sedative or blood pressure-lowering effect.
Dosage
Antioxidant activities of various parts of the hawthorn plant have been evaluated for their potential atherosclerosis benefits. All provide antioxidant effects, with fresh young leaves, fresh flower buds and dried flowers showing the greatest antioxidant activity, according to author Amita Sarkar in her book "Herbal Toxicity." Hawthorn can be taken in various forms, depending upon your personal preference. In liquid form, take hawthorn in doses of 0.5 to 1.0 mL of liquid extract or 1.0 to 2.0 mL of tincture -- a less concentrated form than a liquid extract -- three times per day. Tea made from 0.3 to 1.0 g of dried hawthorn berries taken three times per day yields a similar dose. Standardized extract of the active constituents can be used at doses of 250 mg to 500 mg per day.
References
- "Planta Medica"; Standardized Extracts from Hawthorn Leaves and Flowers in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders - Preclinical and Clinical Studies; E. Koch et al.; March 2011
- "American Journal of Chinese Medicine"; A Study of the Comparative Effects of Hawthorn Fruit Compound and Simvastatin on Lowering Blood Lipid Levels; H. Xu et al.; 2009
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2002
- "Herbal Toxicology"; Amita Sarkar; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hawthorn
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