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| Alternative Names: Hawthorne, haw, may bush, may tree, may blossom, mayflower, quickset, thorn-apple tree, or whitethorn. The action of these compounds on the cardiovascular system has led to the development of leaf and flower extracts. Source While there are over 250 species of shrubs called Hawthorn, Crataegus oxycantha (or sometimes called C. laevigata) is one of the more common species used medicinally. While the dried fruits (berries) are most often used, the flowering tops and leaves have very similar properties and are used with some frequency for the similar conditions. Hawthorn is sold as dried berries, capsules and tinctures. Extracts are often standardized for one of two different chemical compounds: total flavonoids (usually calculated as vitexin) or procyanidins. A number of other compounds are also found in hawthorn such as proanthocyanidins, various vitamins and minerals, fructose, beta-sitosterol, xanthine derivatives and more. Hawthorn is antispasmodic, sedative, and a vasodilator. As a cardiac tonic, it protects arterial walls. It can normalize blood pressure and prevent palpitations and arrhythmias; it has also been used for support of cardiac failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), arterisclerosis (hardening of the arteries), angina pectoris (heart/vascular pain), and tachycardia (rapid heart beat). Researchers in Germany recently gave hawthorn extract to patients suffering from congestive heart failure and found the patients experienced fewer overall symptoms and showed improvements in stamina and a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate during exercise. While many herbalists recommend the whole, dried berries, leaves or flowers; extracts are available in which the extract has been standardized to various amounts of vitexin rhamnosides. Look for hawthorn berries in products for the heart, or in products where flavonoid compounds would enhance effectiveness of the product. Counter-Indicators There are no known contraindications to its use during pregnancy or lactation. |
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