How does Hawthorn help the heart?
- Abundant antioxidants. Rich in antioxidant polyphenols, hawthorn appears to work by helping strengthen the heart muscle, reducing or preventing degeneration of blood vessels and improving blood flow by dilating the ...
- Good for a broken heart, too. Hawthorn’s on the heart may not just be physiological. ...
- Anti-tumour and other benefits. ...
Does Hawthorn Lower heart rate?
in pharmacological tests on both animals and humans, hawthorn has been shown to improve the contractility of the heart muscle (which can lead to a stronger pumping action of the heart), increase cardiac performance and output, lower the peripheral vascular resistance (reducing the workload of the heart), steady the heartbeat (antiarrhythmic …
Does Hawthorne increase heart rate?
Does hawthorn increase heart rate? Hawthorne is widely used in Europe as a cardiotinic and for congestive heart failure. Hawthorn also appears to slightly increase the strength of the cardiac muscle contractions and decrease blood pressure, resulting in increased exercise tolerance and protection against congestive heart failure.
Can Hawthorn help my heart?
With long-term use, hawthorn can safely help to strengthen and nourish the heart. Here is a summary of the important clinical effects of hawthorn: It dilates the arteries that supply the heart muscle itself with blood, oxygen, and fuel, providing a better supply of these essential nutrients.
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Who should not take hawthorn?
This medication contains hawthorn. Do not take aubepine, Chinese hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata, English hawthorn, hagthorn, hedgethorn, ladies' meat, maybush, mayflower, maythorn, oneseed hawthorn, shanzha, or whitehorn if you are allergic to hawthorn or any ingredients contained in this drug.
Why is hawthorn good for the heart?
Primarily as a result of its antioxidant content, hawthorn berry may have numerous health effects, especially for your heart. Studies indicate that it may lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels and may even help treat heart failure.
Is hawthorn good for heart palpitations?
Research: Hawthorn contains flavonoids, or plant chemicals, that improve the flow of blood in the heart. In Germany, many studies have shown that the herb can be effective in decreasing heart palpitations; improving heart rate, oxygen intake and exercise endurance; and lowering blood pressure.
Can you take hawthorn with heart medication?
Medications that increase blood flow to the heart (Nitrates) interacts with HAWTHORN. Hawthorn increases blood flow. Taking hawthorn with medications that also increase blood flow to the heart might increase the chance of dizziness and lightheadedness.
Does hawthorn unclog arteries?
Hawthorne is more effective with time, not in large doses. It relaxes and widens your arteries so blood flows to and from your heart, improving circulation. This makes hawthorne essential for people with swollen ankles or cold hands and feet.
What are the side effects of taking hawthorn?
Side effects of hawthorn can include dizziness, nausea, and digestive symptoms. Hawthorn may interact in harmful ways with drugs, including some heart medications. If you're taking medication and you're considering using hawthorn, consult your health care provider.
Can you take hawthorn long term?
You can safely take hawthorn berry extracts indefinitely. My colleague Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, dietary supplements and women's health, confirms that toxicity is quite low, and no adverse effects are known with long-term use.
Is hawthorn a blood thinner?
In conclusions, hawthorn extract possesses an antioxidant effect and blood-thinning properties. Hence, we recommend attention when using this herbal extract with other anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet drugs or undergoing major cardiac surgery.
What drugs does hawthorn interact with?
Hawthorn. Hawthorn might interact with: Beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin), nadolol (Corgard) or propranolol (Inderal, Innopran, Hemangeol) Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Calan SR, Verelan)
Does hawthorn slow heart rate?
Both the hawthorn/passion flower group and the placebo group had an increase in the bicycle ergometer test of about 10% above baseline. The group receiving the extract had a slight but significant decrease in resting heart rate, mean diastolic pressure during exercise and total serum cholesterol.
Is hawthorn good for cholesterol?
Hawthorn fruit extract may lower cholesterol by increasing the excretion of bile, reducing the formation of cholesterol, and enhancing the receptors for LDLs. It also seems to have antioxidant activity.
Is hawthorn a beta-blocker?
Fruits. According to an older study from 2014 , hawthorn berries can act as a: beta-blocker.
Can hawthorn cause heart palpitations?
Side effects of hawthorn are minimal with doses in the range of 180–900 mg of extracts from leaf with flower, leaf with flower and fruit, and fruit preparations. Some rare adverse effects that have been reported include gastrointestinal disorders, palpitations, headache, and dizziness.
Does hawthorn cause insomnia?
In some people, hawthorn can cause nausea, stomach upset, fatigue, sweating, headache, dizziness, palpitations, nosebleeds, insomnia, agitation, and other problems.
What is the medicinal use of hawthorn?
Native Americans, Europeans, and Chinese people have long used the hawthorn shrub, including its fruit, leaves, and flowers, as a remedy for health problems. Researchers are still looking into hawthorn as a treatment for disease.
Why is hawthorn used?
A common use for hawthorn has been to try to treat heart problems, especially heart failure. During heart failure, the heart can't properly do its job of pumping blood around the body. Problems like coronary heart disease and high blood pressure can lead to heart failure.
Does hawthorn extract lower cholesterol?
There have also been reports of increased rates of death and hospitalization. More research is needed. Cholesterol. Research on animals shows suggests that hawthorn extract lowers levels of total cholesterol and LDL "bad" cholesterol. It is not known how hawthorn might affect cholesterol levels in humans. Blood pressure.
Does hawthorn lower blood pressure?
Hawthorn may lower blood pressure. In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who took hawthorn extract for four months had a drop in diastolic blood pressure -- the bottom number in a blood pressure reading. But hawthorn can interact with many different types of blood pressure medications. More research is needed.
Does hawthorn extract help with heart failure?
In one study that combined the results of earlier studies on people with heart failure, hawthorn extract was linked to fewer symptoms of heart failure. People taking hawthorn had less fatigue and shortness of breath. But other studies have shown no benefit. There have also been reports of increased rates of death and hospitalization. More research is needed.
Does hawthorne interact with blood pressure medication?
But hawthorn can interact with many different types of blood pressure medications. More research is needed. Optimal doses of hawthorn have not been set for any condition. Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely from maker to maker. This makes it hard to set a standard dose.
Can you use hawthorn if you are allergic to it?
Avoid using if you are allergic to hawthorn or plants in the hawthorn family. Also avoid using hawthorn if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as little is known about its safety in these cases. Interactions. Hawthorn may increase the effect of certain drugs.
How much hawthorn extract should I take for heart failure?
A minimum effective dose for adjunctive therapy in mild congestive heart failure is 300 milligrams of standardized extract daily. Clinical trials conducted in patients with class II and III congestive heart failure found 900 milligrams of hawthorn extract daily to be safe, but not better than placebo. 4
What is a hawthorn tree?
Hawthorn is a thorny, flowering tree or shrub of the rose family. The leaves, flowers, berries, stems, and even the bark of the plant are often used in herbal medicine to help treat heart disease, digestive issues, and more.
What was the first study of hawthorn?
During the Middle Ages, hawthorn was employed for the treatment of dropsy, a condition that's now called congestive heart failure. The first study on hawthorn, published in 1896, reported on 43 patients suffering from various forms of heart disease who were treated with hawthorn with promising results. 1 .
How to prepare fresh hawthorn?
To prepare an infusion, use two teaspoons of crushed leaves or fruit per cup of boiling water and steep for 20 minutes; drink up to two cups a day. 9
What are the phytonutrients in hawthorne?
The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain an abundance of phytonutrients (antioxidants) called oligomeric proanthocyanidins and flavonoids, which are thought to be responsible for its pharmacologic effect.
What is a progressive condition that affects the pumping power of the heart muscle?
Congestive heart failure, a progressive condition that affects the pumping power of the heart muscle
Does hawthorn help with high blood pressure?
Studies with hawthorn are conflicting for its effectiveness in reducing high blood pressure. In a pilot study published in 2002, 38 mildly hypertensive volunteers were assigned to a daily supplement of 600 milligrams of magnesium, 500 milligrams of hawthorn extract, a combination of magnesium and hawthorn, or a placebo.
How does hawthorn help with heart disease?
How Does Hawthorn Benefit Heart Disease. Hawthorn acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect against oxidative damage. Antioxidants can help prevent or stop the damage caused by oxidants . Oxidants are produced naturally in your body and they can be found in the environment.
Why is hawthorn important?
However, not all hawthorn is made equally. It is important to get the leaves and flowers of the Hawthorn shrub. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and throughout the world.
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
The three cardinal symptoms of heart failure which include fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion, and palpitations were significantly decreased in the group that used the WS1442 Hawthorn preparation.
Is hawthorn a drug?
Today, hawthorn is an official drug in the pharmacies of Brazil, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Russia, and Switzerland. In fact, in Germany hawthorn is on the formulary as an actual drug to treat congestive heart failure. Thousands of people throughout the world have used hawthorn with good results.
Does hawthorne lower blood pressure?
Hawthorn Decreases high blood pressure by causing the blood vessels in the body to relax with the stimulation of nitrous oxide. Hawthorn has been known to decrease cholesterol because it inhibits the absorption of dietary cholesterol.
Can you take hawthorn with a cardiologist?
Also, people taking hawthorn should let their cardiologist be aware of.
Is hawthorne good for heart health?
Hawthorn has been used for heart health for many centuries, Hawthorn has been used for its medicinal properties. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. I will discuss the magical properties of hawthorn in this article.
When was hawthorne first used?
Looking at hawthorn’s roots takes us back as far as the first century AD, when it was reportedly first used medicinally to treat heart conditions and anxiety. Since then, the shrub’s leaves, tart berries and flowers have been a part of Chinese, European and Native American herbal medicine practices. With such a storied history, it’s not surprising ...
Is rose a medicinal herb?
With such a storied history, it’s not surprising the herb (including its leaves, stems, and berries), which is part of the rose family, is still used medicinally today. A rose by another name that could help your heart—how romantic!
Is hawthorne good for anxiety?
If you’re looking for natural remedies to treat anxiety, Dr. Scott adds that while there’s not an abundance of evidence proving it’s effective, hawthorn can be worth a try as long as you’re not on any clashing medications. (So again, talk to your doc before trying it.)
Is Cole still a fan of Hawthorn?
However, Cole is still a fan of hawthorn. “Along with eating a clean, whole-foods based diet, hawthorn supplements [can be] a great way to add in additional support to lower your risk factors,” he says, such as for people who have high blood pressure or other markers of cardiovascular disease.
Can you take hawthorn with traditional medicine?
“The issue with taking hawthorn along with traditional treatment is that it can interact with it ,” Dr. Scott says, especially for people with a heart condition.
Does hawthorn extract help with heart failure?
When examining over a dozen trials, researchers found hawthorn extract helped people with chronic heart failure be more active. “It was shown to help people exercise more, improve their exercise tolerance and make them feel better,” says Emilie Scott, MD.
Does hawthorn extract lower blood pressure?
In one small study of 36 people, those who took hawthorn extract for ten weeks actually had lower diastolic blood pressure and less anxiety than those taking a magnesium supplement or placebo. (However, more research needs to be done for these findings to be fully conclusive.)
What is the purpose of hawthorn berries?
5. Used to aid digestion. Hawthorn berries and hawthorn extract have been used for centuries to treat digestive issues, particularly indigestion and stomach pain. The berries contain fiber, which has been proven to aid digestion by reducing constipation and acting as a prebiotic.
What is the herbal remedy for heart failure?
For centuries, hawthorn berry has been used as an herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart failure, and high blood pressure. In fact, it’s a key part of traditional Chinese medicine.
What is the best food for high blood pressure?
In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berry is one of the most commonly recommended foods to help treat high blood pressure ( 11 ).
Is hawthorn berry good for hair?
Summary Hawthorn berry is an ingredient in some hair growth products. Its polyphenol content may promote healthy hair growth, but more research is needed.
Does hawthorn extract help the digestive system?
Additionally, a rat study observed that hawthorn extract dramatically reduced the transit time of food in the digestive system ( 24 ).
Does hawthorn extract lower blood pressure?
In a 10-week study in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure, those taking 500 mg of hawthorn extract daily experienced no significant decreases in blood pressure, although they showed a trend toward reduced diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a reading) ( 16 ).
Is Hawthorn Berry a good source of polyphenols?
Hawthorn berry is a rich source of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidant compounds found in plants ( 2 ).
Why is hawthorn added to herbal formulas?
It’s added to a variety of herbal formulas to help the body process other herbs through the circulatory system. Patients with concerns about dangers to their heart and circulatory system can benefit from daily doses of hawthorn in a variety of forms.
How long does it take for hawthorn to work?
It’s full of complex flavonoids that work together to support the circulatory system. As an adaptogen, it is best to allow hawthorn several weeks to several months to adjust a damaged system. Hawthorn works well with other tonic herbs and strengthens their effect on the body.
Why is hawthorn used for fence posts?
In North America, Hawthorn was used widely for tool handles and fence posts because its wood is hard and rot-resistant. If you can find a large enough chunk, hawthorn’s tightly-grained wood makes beautiful carvings and is said to polish well.
Can you drink hawthorn tea?
Tea from hawthorn leaf or flower is best drunk as an infusion. Due to the density of the haw fruit, a stove top decoction is best for the berry. If an infusion from all three parts are desired, crush the haws first to help them break down in the tea to enjoy hawthorn’s full effect.
Does hawthorne lower blood pressure?
Hawthorn has the ability as a tonic to lower high blood pressure or raise low blood pressure as the body requires. Since hawthorn works so well on the circulatory system, it should be no surprise that it also tones capillaries in other parts of the body.
Can you use hawthorn on animals?
If your animal is taking prescribed heart medications, use hawthorn only under the supervision of a qualified animal-medicine practitioner. Hawthorn contains significant amounts of rutin, which is a flavonoid that vets use to treat chylothorax in animals.
Can you cook hawthorn berries?
Process the leaf and flower separately from the berry and mix when the batches are done since the leaf and flower tincture will be finished long before the berry is properly extracted. Hawthorn berry can also be cooked into jams, jellies and spreads for nutritional and medicinal use.
What are the effects of hawthorne?
Decreased heart function. High levels of cholesterol or other fats ( lipids) in the blood ( hyperlipidemia ). Irregular heartbeat ( arrhythmias ). Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Muscle spasms. Sedation. Other conditions. More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of hawthorn for these uses.
What is hawthorn used for?
Hawthorn is most commonly used for diseases of the heart and blood vessels , but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Hawthorn is sometimes found in candied fruit slices, jam, jelly, and wine.
How long is hawthorn safe to take?
Side Effects. When taken by mouth: Hawthorn is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when used at recommended doses for up to 16 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if hawthorn is safe when used for longer than 16 weeks.
Does hawthorn cause lightheadedness?
Medications that increase blood flow to the heart (Nitrates) interacts with HAWTHORN. Hawt horn increases blood flow. Taking hawthorn with medications that also increase blood flow to the heart might increase the chance of dizziness and lightheadedness.
Does hawthorn help with chest pain?
Some early research suggests that taking hawthorn might reduce chest pain. Heart failure and fluid build up in the body ( congestive heart failure or CHF). Some research suggests that specific hawthorn products may improve symptoms in some people with mild to moderate heart failure.
Is it safe to use hawthorn while pregnant?
Pregnancyand breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if hawthorn is safe to use when pregnant or breast -feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Heart disease: Hawthorn can interact with many prescription drugsused to treat heart disease. If you have a heart condition, don't use hawthorn without the recommendation of your healthcareprovider. Surgery: Hawthorn might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using hawthorn at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Is hawthorn safe for breast feeding?
Special Precautions and Warnings. Pregnancy and breast -feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if hawthorn is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Heart disease: Hawthorn can interact with many prescription drugs used to treat heart disease.
How effective is hawthorn?
One study showed that hawthorn (taken at 900mg/day) for 2 months was as effective as low doses of captopril (leading heart medication) in improving common symptoms associated with congestive heart failure ( 6 ).
What is the antioxidant power of hawthorn berry?
The Antioxidant Power of Hawthorn Berry: Hawthorn berry is loaded with a wide array of powerful antioxidant nutrients. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress and tissue damage in the body. The unique blend of antioxidants found in Hawthorn come from a group of phytonutrients ( 3 ).
How long does it take for hawthorn to work?
By modulating ACE levels, Hawthorn helps to normalize blood pressure and reduce stress on the cardiovascular system. The body usually takes two to four weeks to adapt to the hawthorn and have lasting effects on blood pressure ( 10, 11, 12 ). Hawthorn also helps protect joints with its unique blend of antioxidants.
Where is Hawthorn Berry from?
Hawthorn berry is a grouping of tree plants in the rose family that is native to the temperate regions of Europe, Middle East, Asia, & North America. Parts of the Middle East consider the plant sacred. Many historians believe it may have been the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus during the Crucifixion.
Is hawthorn berry good for congestive heart failure?
Hawthorn berry has been well studied in individuals with congestive heart failure ( 4 , 5 ). Five of the six major studies performed found dramatically improved symptoms (such as shortness of breath and fatigue ). One study showed that hawthorn (taken at 900mg/day) for 2 months was as effective as low doses of captopril (leading heart medication) ...
Does Hawthorne help with stroke?
Hawthorne contains flavones that enhance the function of certain cardiac enzymes. This effect increases the heart’s contractile force, which effectively boosts stroke volume while increasing the heart’s tolerance to hypoxic conditions ( 9 ).
Can you eat hawthorn berries?
The berries contain more proanthocyanins while the flowers and leaves contain more vitexin. The most effective way to consume hawthorn if you are unable to get it fresh is in a dried and ground form. Here is the dried version and here is a combination of hawthorn with its cousin hibiscus in an organic tea.
Overview
Uses
- In modern times, this ancient medicinal herb, which is widely available in many forms as a dietary supplement, is still popular for its effects on heart health, primarily:
Chemistry
- The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain an abundance of phytonutrients (antioxidants) called oligomeric proanthocyanidins and flavonoids, which are thought to be responsible for its pharmacologic effect.
Benefits
- According to a report by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, scientists think hawthorn benefits the heart by causing a dilation of the smooth muscle that lines the coronary arteries, thereby increasing blood flow to the heart. Hawthorn is also thought to increase heart muscle contraction, heart rate, nerve transmission, and heart muscle irritab...
Research
- Studies with hawthorn are conflicting for its effectiveness in reducing high blood pressure. In a pilot study published in 2002, 38 mildly hypertensive volunteers were assigned to a daily supplement of 600 milligrams of magnesium, 500 milligrams of hawthorn extract, a combination of magnesium and hawthorn, or a placebo. After 10 weeks, the 19 subjects who took hawthorn e…
Preparation
- Fresh hawthorn can be prepared as a tincture, a concentrated liquid herbal extract, and an infusion, which is basically a tea. In his book, \"The New Healing Herbs,\" herbal expert Michael Castleman says to take one teaspoon of a homemade tincture every morning and evening for several weeks. To prepare an infusion, use two teaspoons of crushed leaves or fruit per cup of b…
Administration
- The most effective dosage isn't currently known. Recommended dosages range from 160 to 1,800 milligrams a day in two or three divided doses for over three to 24 weeks, but it's believed that greater therapeutic effectiveness results from higher dosages. A minimum effective dose for adjunctive therapy in mild congestive heart failure is 300 milligrams of standardized extract dail…
Treatment
- Hawthorn is known to be slow-acting, so a trial of at least four to eight weeks should be completed to determine if you'll benefit from its use.
Adverse effects
- Hawthorn is generally considered safe when used at recommended doses short-term (up to 16 weeks). It caused no significant side effects in studies. The most common adverse effects are vertigo and dizziness, though less commonly it may trigger nausea and other intestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, palpitations, sedation, nosebleeds and sweating. Overdosing can …
Interactions
- Hawthorn may increase the effectiveness of some heart medications and interfere with others. Only take it under your doctor's supervision if you've been prescribed blood pressure medication or Lanoxin (digoxin), and don't take it with other herbs or supplements that have cardiac effects.
Risks
- Note that supplements haven't been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications have not be…