Hawthorn is a type of herb that is being studied as a possible treatment for heart failure, according to a Feb. 15, 2010 article in the American Family Physician. Proponents of the herb claim that hawthorn helps facilitate blood circulation and lowers blood pressure. Effects will vary among different hawthorn supplement brands because there is no standard set of ingredients and proportions. Moreover, therapeutic claims have yet to be conclusively proven, so consult your doctor before using hawthorn supplements. Regardless of any possible therapeutic effects, never use hawthorn in place of clinically proven heart medications.
Hawthorn Dose
Hawthorn supplements are not suitable for children. Adults that are taking hawthorn supplements to alleviate the symptoms of heart failure should take between 160 mg to 900 mg daily for about six weeks, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. This dose is particular to a standardized supplement composition with 2 to 3 percent flavonoids or 18 to 20 percent oligomeric procyanidins, or OPCs. The adult dose for just a hawthorn supplement standardized to 18.75 percent OPCs is between 240 mg to 480 mg daily for the same duration. Hawthorn is generally considered safe when used within the recommended doses for a maximum period of 24 weeks.
Hawthorn and Blood Pressure
The flowers, leaves and fruits of the hawthorn plant have been used to treat blood pressure since the end of the 19th century, Drugs.com says. Hawthorn purportedly has antispasmodic and sedative effects. Scientific research has revealed that hawthorn has flavonoids called cariotonic amines that increase coronary flow and heart rate. Experiments involving hawthorn extracts demonstrated that hawthorn causes coronary blood vessels to dilate, increasing coronary circulation between 20 to 140 percent, and lowers blood pressure. Hawthorn also contains the flavonoid monoacetyl-vitexinrhamnoside, which has anti-ischemic properties. Studies suggest that hawthorn has potential use as a means of treating atherosclerosis, a condition involving the thickening of arterial walls.
Hawthorn Blood Pressure Side Effects
Hawthorn causes some people to experience nausea and stomach upset, the American Family Physician notes. Hawthorn supplements can also cause side effects related to low blood pressure, or hypotension, such as tiredness, headache and dizziness. Hawthorn has also caused irregular heartbeats that affect blood pressure. Hawthorn has also caused palpitations and even chest pain, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Seek immediate medical attention and cease taking hawthorn supplements if you experience adverse reactions.
Hawthorn and Blood Pressure Medications
Because of its effect on blood pressure, hawthorn will interact with blood-pressure medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. There is a possibility that hawthorn potentiates the effects of digoxin, a medication used to regulate heart rate. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers like tenormin and amlodipine are medications that lower blood pressure by causing blood vessels to dilate. This is very similar to hawthorn's mechanism for lowering blood pressure, hence hawthorn's potential enhancing effect.
