Hawthorn Berries And Hypertension – Hawthorn berries are a group of woody plants in the rose family native to temperate regions of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, & North America. Some in the Middle East consider the plant sacred. Many historians believe it may be the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus during the Crucifixion. In this article, you will discover 5 great benefits of hawthorn berries.
This medicinal herb is known as one of the best natural agents for improving cardiovascular function. Hawthorn is approved as a cardiovascular aid by Commission E- an important branch of the German government that studies and approves natural therapies (1, 2).
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Hawthorn Berries And Hypertension
It is widely used in Europe to improve the circulatory system, treat angina, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure. It is known for its ability to strengthen the heart and blood vessels and restore healthy muscle tone to the heart wall.
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Hawthorn berries are loaded with a variety 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 comes from a group of phytonutrients (3). These include tannins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. The standardization of hawthorn products is based on the total content of flavonoids (2.2%) and proanthocyanidins (18.75%).
Hawthorn berries have been well studied in individuals with congestive heart failure (4, 5). Five of the six main studies conducted found a dramatic improvement in 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 (a leading heart drug) in improving common symptoms associated with congestive heart failure(6).
The unique blend of antioxidants in Hawthorn creates a powerful vasodilating effect. It acts to improve the endothelial function of blood vessels to where the vessel is able to open with less resistance. This allows greater blood flow in the working tissues and increases oxygen consumption. This is mainly due to the flavonoids rutin and vitexin along with proanthocyanins (7, 8).
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Hawthorn increases the metabolism of heart cells and increases the flow of electrolytes across the heart cells. This prevents or corrects heart rhythm abnormalities and greatly promotes a healthy heart rhythm.
Hawthorne contains flavones that improve the function of certain heart enzymes. This effect increases the contractility of the heart, which effectively increases stroke volume while increasing the heart’s tolerance to hypoxic conditions (9). It also increases the heart’s ability to create energy through anaerobic metabolism which increases the heart’s ability to withstand stress.
Hawthorn also acts to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Increased ACE causes increased angiotensin II and systemic vasoconstriction. This process increases blood pressure.
By modulating ACE levels, Hawthorn helps normalize blood pressure and reduce stress on the cardiovascular system. The body usually takes two to four weeks to adjust to hawthorn and it has a long-lasting effect on blood pressure (10, 11, 12).
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Hawthorn also helps protect joints with its unique combination of antioxidants. These phytonutrients ward off certain classes of free radicals known to damage tissue collagen resulting in arthritic conditions. A natural remedy that supports healthy collagen improves the health of joints, skin, hair & nails.
When getting hawthorn berries, make sure you get the whole plant – leaves, flowers & berries. Berries contain more proanthocyanins while flowers and leaves contain more vitexins. The most effective way to take hawthorn if you can’t get it fresh is in dried and ground form. Here is the dry version and here is a combination of hawthorn with its cousin hibiscus in an organic tea
Add the fresh plant or dried form to a shake or tea and consume daily. Due to its antioxidant and cardiovascular booster effects it is great to use before/after exercise. This enhances exercise recovery by increasing oxygen flow and neutralizing free radicals from damaged tissue.
You can also find great herbal tinctures here that are easy to use. You can also use the Nutrigold Hawthorn Gold supplement here
Hawthorn: Fierce & Gentle Protectress Of The Heart — Gathering Ground
Sources For This Article Include: 1. Tassell MC, Kingston R, Gilroy D, Lehane M, Furey A. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacognosy Reviews. 2010;4(7):32-41. 2. Chang WT, Dao J, Shao ZH. Hawthorn: potential role in cardiovascular disease. Am J Chin Med. 2005;33(1):1-10. PMID: 15844828 3. Rigelsky JM, Sweet BV. Hawthorn: pharmacology and therapeutic uses. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2002 Mar 1;59(5):417-22. PMID: 11887407 4. Pittler MH, Guo R, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD005312. PMID: 18254076 5. Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Med. 2003 Jun 1;114(8):665-74. PMID: 12798455 6. Zick SM, Vautaw BM, Gillespie B, Aaronson KD. Hawthorn Extract Randomized Blinded Chronic Heart Failure Trial (HERB CHF). European Journal of Heart Failure. 2009;11(10):990-999. 7. Asher GN, Viera AJ, Weaver MA, Dominik R, Caughey M, Hinderliter AL. Effects of standardized hawthorn extract on flow-mediated dilation in prehypertensive and moderately hypertensive adults: a randomized controlled crossover trial. BMC Complementary Alternative Med. 2012 Mar 29;12:26. PMID: 22458601 8. Botanicals for Regulating Heart Rhythms Link Here 9. Elango C, Devaraj SN. Immunomodulatory effects of Hawthorn extract in an experimental stroke model. J Neuroinflammation. 2010 Dec 30;7:97. PMID: 21192826 10. Walker AF, Marakis G, Morris AP, Robinson PA. Promising hypotensive effects of hawthorn extract: a randomized double-blind pilot study on mild and essential hypertension. Phytother Res. 2002 Feb;16(1):48-54. PMID: 11807965 11. Dahmer S, Scott E. Health effects of hawthorn. General Practitioner Fam. 2010 Feb 15;81(4):465-8. PMID: 20148500 12. Fong HH, Bauman JL. Hawthorn. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2002 Jul;16(4):1-8. PMID: 12597258
“Join my tribe today to discover hidden strategies to boost your energy, brain, digestion & metabolism.”— Dr. David Jockers Hawthorn is a famous heart tonic that acts on the heart physically and energetically. Hawthorn medicine is abundant in the form of leaves, flowers, and berries. Known to have supportive and protective qualities, his name,
Means strength. With cardiovascular disease and heart failure on the rise in Canada, let’s make hawthorn a household name! Read on to learn how you can support your heart and the health of your loved ones with hawthorn medicine. Also, check out the recipe for a delicious hawthorn berry syrup.
Hawthorn is a prickly leaf tree that belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). There are 280 species under the genus Crataegus but C. laevigata and C. monogyna are most commonly used in phytomedicine. Hawthorn produces white or pink, five-petalled flowers in spring that give way to bright red berries or “haws” in early fall. Berries are blood red with white flesh and large stones. With a slightly sweet and sour taste it is used as food and medicine. The berries are enjoyed by birds and small animals that nest in the tree’s thorny, protective branches.
Hawthorn Facts And Health Benefits
As one of the oldest recorded medicinal plants used in Europe, the health benefits of hawthorn have been tried and tested. This herb has long been associated with heart health and research has shown it to be a useful remedy for a variety of cardiovascular-related conditions including hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina, and varicose veins. Hawthorn has a restorative and balancing effect on the heart and circulatory system, it modulates the activity of the heart, depending on what it needs to function optimally. It is also shown to stimulate digestion and calm the nerves.
Much has been said about how hawthorn’s physical form relates to its energetic properties. The plant stands tall and offers plenty of medicine but also maintains protection and boundaries as its thorns only allow you to get so close. Herbalist Jim McDonald recommends hawthorn as an emotional and spiritual heart tonic. Plant medicine provides a protective emotional space for people recovering from heartbreak, trauma, and emotional vulnerability.
Some herbalists use hawthorn leaves, flowers, and berries interchangeably, depending on the season. However, berries are specifically shown to support
The heart, controlling the heartbeat. It should be noted that if all the flowers are harvested in the spring, there will be no berries in the fall! The leaves and flowers can be enjoyed in tea, capsules, or tinctures. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, berries can be eaten fresh or made into jams and syrups in addition to being prepared in stews or tinctures.
Hawthorn Have Medicinal Properties. Hawthorn Is Used For Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Cardiac Arrhythmia And Weakness, Also At Constant Stress Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Image 21452986
Herbal infusion syrups are a delicious and effective way to enjoy plant medicine. The syrup can be taken alone or added to tea, cocktails, or any food that needs sweetening. Syrup can be made with sugar or honey but honey is often preferred because it is rich in nutrients and anti-microbial.
This recipe uses concentrated hawthorn berry tea that is simply mixed with honey in a 2:1 ratio. If you prefer a sweeter, thicker syrup, you can change the ratio to 1:1. You can easily make a larger batch of syrup by adding more berries and adjusting the ratio of honey to water.
Hawthorn berries contain a small amount of toxic compounds and should not be eaten. If you want to use the remaining pulp