HABITAT

Crataegus species are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, especially Europe, North America, and Asia. Found in hedgerows, woodlands, and open fields. There are over 250 species of Crataegus throughout Europe, North America and Asia. European native species - C. monogyna, C. oxycantha and C. laevigata. And North American native species - C. douglasii, C. aestivalis, C. mollis, C. chrysocarpa, C. crus-galli.

COMMON NAMES

Hawthorn, Maythorn, Mayblossom, Thornapple, Hagthorn, Queen of the May, Hawberry, Hedgerow berry, etc.

FAMILY

Rosaceae – the apple family.

PARTS USED

The berries, leaves, flowers.

HERBAL ACTIONS

Cardiotonic, blood building, nervine, astringent, trophorestorative, nutritive, connective tissue stimulant, cardioprotective.

Astringent - Tones and tightens tissues, reducing secretions and inflammation. This is why when a piece of the leaf or berry is eaten, it tends to have a distinct puckering sensation in the mouth that makes the tongue and cheeks dryer. The tannins are essentially inhibiting the mucosal membranes from secreting their fluids, and tightening and toning the tissues, so the integrity and durability of the tissues are stronger and more vital in their function. Hawthorn is a cooling astringent in contrast to a warming astringent like Horse Chestnut or Calendula.
Antioxidant - Protects cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Hawthorn is full of flavonoids, flavonoids are antioxidants that has the ability to search for free radicals in the body, reducing the effects of cellular oxidation and the negative effects of inflammation. It is protective of inflammatory damage to the tissues.
Cardio tonic - Strengthens and supports the function of the heart muscle. Hawthorn is food to the heart. As a tonic, it’s restorative to the tissues of the entire cardiovascular system. From the blood, capillaries, blood vessels, all the way to the heart itself. Hawthorn helps build the structural integrity of the tissues, promoting increased function of the entire system as well as balancing any imbalances it may have. This is the central action of Hawthorn and quite likely the most important to understand.
Trophorestorative (heart) – Nourishes and restores long-term function of the heart.
Digestive - This is a relatively underused in Western Herbalism, though it is the primary way it is used in Chinese Medicine (TCM). Hawthorn is unique because it isn’t necessarily bitter, nor is it carminative, yet it stimulates digestion. This is really based on its sourness, and the ability of it to cut through fats and oils. It moves stagnant digestion increasing and moving the liver’s ability to create bile and move it through the walls of the intestine for better assimilation of fats, nutrients and vitamins.
Nervine (mildly) – Calms and supports the nervous system, especially in stress. Hawthorn is calming and relaxing to the nervous system. It can be used throughout the day and does not tend to induce sleepiness, grogginess, or low in energy. Hawthorn can support on the side of to “smooth out the rough edges” and gently calm an overly excitable nervous system.
Vasodilator - Relaxes and widens blood vessels to improve circulation. Hawthorn can support the opening of the circulatory system by gently dilating coronary circulation and relaxing tension in the vessels, this action may support someone with hypotension.
Diuretic – Increases urine output, supporting kidney function and fluid balance.
Anti-inflammatory – Reduces inflammation and soothes irritated tissues.
Hypotensive – Helps to lower elevated blood pressure.

HERBAL ENERGETICS

Cooling, slightly drying, slightly sweet, sour. The berries are warm, sweet and tart. The flowers and leaves are neutral and mild astringent.

TISSUES AFFECTED

Cardiovascular system (the blood, the heart, blood vessels, and capillaries), circulatory, nervous system (indirect), respiratory system, muscle tissues including the gastrointestinal tract (GI).

CLINICAL PATTERNS AND MEDICINAL USES

Indicated for mild CHF (congestive heart failure ), hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, and palpitations. Used for emotional heartache, anxiety, stress-related heart issues, PAD (peripheral artery disease—a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs), and early CAD (coronary artery disease—a condition where the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked, usually do to atherosclerosis). Often paired with Linden, Motherwort, Garlic, or Ginkgo. Long-term use recommended.

Heart disease - Hawthorn has been known to be hands down our chief cardiovascular remedy in the Western Materia Medica. Traditionally the berries were primarily used, now days modern practitioners have integrated the use of the flowers and leaves as well, as all these parts work together in a symbiotic relationship to support the heart in full spectrum. The flowers and leaves are especially high in antioxidants and help keep the elasticity of the blood vessels pliable and help to prevent the formation of arterial plaque.

Hawthorn is a mildly hypotensive (an agent that increases blood pressure) remedy, meaning that it helps to reduce blood pressure by opening and relaxing the vessels of which blood flows through from the heart much smoothly. The anthocyanidins in the berries are responsible for relaxing the blood vessels and relieving mild hypertension, while the flavonoid-rich leaves and flowers have a direct hypotensive effect. By relaxing these tissues, more blood flow can flow through, thus, reducing high pressure.
The beautiful thing about hawthorn is that it will not only reduce high blood pressure but is said to also increase low blood pressure, as its function works by balancing the system. Its medicinal properties strengthen the entirety of the whole cardiovascular system thus improving heart rate and force, strengthening tissues and increasing its overall function. This is slightly paradoxical, as on the one hand it’s relaxing the vessels to widen them, while at the same time tightening and tonifying the inner wall of the vessel. Pretty cool! This last part is similar action to cayenne pepper, hawthorn and cayenne are great pairs.
With the help of all the colorful flavonoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols in this plant; it protects the vasculature from oxidative stress and damage, and improves the elasticity of the arteries, preventing arteriosclerosis, or the thickening and hardening of the arterial walls.
Hawthorn improves coronary circulation, meaning that it improves circulation which flows inside the heart itself and thus directly nourishes the heart’s tissues - it is a primary remedy for angina pectoris - chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.

The irony of the heart is that while blood is flowing through it our entire lives, none of that blood itself is nourishing or sustaining it. This is the purpose of the coronary artery, which is the heart’s own personalized branch of circulation. Because of this it helps with coronary circulation. Hawthorn has a powerful trophorestorative (a nourishing, revitalizing herbs or foods that restores normal functioning in hypo- or hyperfunctioning tissues, organs, and glands) action for the heart muscle, making its contractions more efficient, stronger and effective.

Jim McDonald says that Hawthorn is positively inotropic (modifying the force or speed of contraction of muscles). Which basically means, is that if someone has any kind of weakness in the heart or cardiac arrhythmia, arteriosclerosis, valvular insufficiency, hypertension, palpitations, blood clots, congestive heart failure (CHF), angina (chest pain), or irregular heartbeat...hawthorn is a gentle tonic in the truest sense and can help to treat most cardiac diseases used consistently over prolonged periods of time.

Having an understanding around what Hawthorn can do for the heart and may be a common remedy to turn to for some of these cases, it is imperative we don’t forget that alongside treatment for such conditions, along with Hawthorn daily tonic – we should try to incorporate and encourage a healthier lifestyle, having a good diet and steady daily/weekly exercise, breath work and getting fresh air in the lungs, and eating nutritionally dense food. It is important to understand that Hawthorn is a remedy that works best over long term and is best used with consistency for extended periods of time. That’s when it truly begins to do its deeper work.

Digestion - Hawthorn berries have been known to be used primarily as a digestive in TCM. It stimulates gastric juices in the stomach and bile from the liver and works as a hepatoprotective (an agent that protects the regeneration of liver cells), improving metabolism and stimulating digestion of heavier foods such as meats and fats.

Hawthorn may be a good remedy to take if someone feels somewhat constipated after eating too much meat - or where the meat tends to just sit in the stomach for too long. The state of the digestive system is directly tied into the health of the cardiovascular system. If someone is eating a poor diet, and does not assimilate or metabolize their foods efficiently, then over time it can cost the cardiovascular system. There is a connection here through the Fire Element, the governing Element of both the heart and circulation, and the digestive flame, the crock pot that should always be active and kept warm/hot.
If the digestive fire becomes dimmed, undigested food tends to accumulate within the gut and as well as throughout the entire system. Over time this can put strain on the heart. Hawthorn supports both systems directly and further supports the heart through its impact upon the gut.

Nervousness - Hawthorn is a mild calming nervine - relaxing any tension in not just the cardiovascular system, but also within the digestive and nervous system. This remedy can be used as moderate sedative in mild cases of insomnia and is of value in the treatment of nervousness and anxiety. Hawthorn can be a wonderful addition to any sleep formula or calming tea. Hawthorn reduces heat which is useful to calm over agitated restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and nervousness.

Contraindications and Safety: because it is hypotensive (lowers blood pressure) we want to be cautious in using it in conjunction with blood pressure medications. Avoid in bleeding disorders or hypotension. Caution with anticoagulants, hypotensive, CNS depressants such as opiates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, anaesthetics, anti-epileptics, or tricyclic anti-depressants (these latter are theoretical interactions, the most important one to consider are hypotensive agents). Caution with oral hypoglycaemics, insulin, or vasodilators.“Because of its popular use for the cardiovascular system, one should use caution when taking hawthorn with drugs such as digoxin that help the heart to beat more strongly, or nitrates which increase blood flow to the heart, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, as well as erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra with the risk of the danger that blood pressure might go too low. However, hawthorn is one of the mildest and most benign herbs used worldwide as a food and medicine over the last 2,000 or so years. I know of no recorded adverse reactions.” -Michael Tierra

FORMS USED

Tea infusion and decoction. Tincture. Honey syrup of the berries. Glycerite.

DOSE

Infusion - 1 Tablespoon per cup of water. Tincture - Add 60-120 drops to 2 oz. of water, 1-4 times per day. Medicinally, Hawthorn acts as a nutritive and an adaptogen and is specific to both the circulatory and nervous systems. It can be taken daily in most cases, typically used in 3 to 6 month courses for chronic conditions, like with asthma, or those who suffer conditions relating to Congestive Heart Failure.

COMBINATIONS

To reduce qi stagnation; orange peel, panax ginseng, codonopsis, or astragalus.

REFERENCES

Christa Sinadinos – The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine, Plant Profiles – Acorn School of Herbal Medicine, Richard Whelan, Materia Medica Monthly – Sajah Popham, Andrew Chevallier

Hawthorn | Crataegus spp.