Hawthorne berry has been used since the 1st century to manage various forms of heart disease as well as digestive and kidney ailments. Modern medicinal preparations of hawthorn also use the leaves and flowers. Although hawthorn is most commonly known for its use in heart failure patients, some researchers believe its therapeutic effects for treating heart disease may also be helpful in lowering high blood pressure. As with any supplement, consult with your doctor before taking hawthorn berry.
Treatment
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. Optimal blood pressure is at or below 120/80 mmHg. A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high, while between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg is considered prehypertension, meaning you don't have high blood pressure yet but are likely to develop it in the future. You may not know that you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, because there are no symptoms until complications develop. These complications may include heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits, such as a proper diet that includes avoidance of salt and increased intake of fruits and vegetables, weight loss, and taking supplements, such as hawthorn.
How It Works
The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain a variety of substances called bioflavonoids that may cause its therapeutic effects on the heart. Bioflavonoids are a group of naturally occurring chemicals in plants that give the plants their color, and also act as potent antioxidants. Hawthorn's possible effects on the heart include enhanced force of contraction and lowering resistance to improve blood flow in the blood vessels of heart and extremities, such as your hands and feet.
Effectiveness
Preliminary research suggests that hawthorn may have blood pressure-lowering effects. A study, published in the "British Journal of General Practice" in 2006, evaluated the hypotensive effect of hawthorn in people with diabetes who were also being treated for high blood pressure. Approximately 71 percent of people in this study were already taking medicines for high blood pressure. Results showed that hawthorn lowered blood pressure significantly more than placebo, or inactive medicine, after 16 weeks of treatment.
Preparations and Dosage
According to the PaloAltoMedicalFoundation.org, or PAMF, the usual doses of traditional hawthorn berry preparations are at least 4 g to 5 g per day of berries or 4 ml to 5 ml of the tincture taken three times a day. Keep in mind that hawthorn acts slowly -- it may take one to two months for you to notice optimal effects. Hawthorne is considered to be generally safe and may be considered for long-term use, says the PAMF. However, it's important to talk with your doctor before adding it to your daily regimen.
