Hawthorn Tincture Berries – Hawthorn has long been used in Chinese and Western medicine to treat various ailments. The most studied use of hawthorn is for congestive heart failure (CHF). Its effectiveness for CHF and other conditions is limited, but so is its toxicity. However, it is always best to consult with your primary care provider and pharmacist before starting any herbal regimen to avoid potential interactions with prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Genus and family of roses and includes hundreds of species of shrubs and trees. Other names for this plant include quickthorn, may flower, shan za, and crataegus berry. Hawthorn is native to northern Europe but is grown all over the world. The hawthorn plant is found as a thorny shrub or small tree that has bright green leaves, white flowers, and red fruit.
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Hawthorn Tincture Berries
Hawthorn fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve digestion, blood circulation, and to treat heart problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dried fruits used to improve digestion are usually made into jam, jelly, candy, or wine. In European herbal medicine, hawthorn is the oldest known medicinal plant. The fruit, leaves, and flowers are commonly used as a heart tonic, astringent, for muscle spasms, and for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The leaves, berries, and flowers can be used to make a liquid extract usually with water and alcohol. The dried extract can be made as capsules or tablets.
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The most studied clinical effect of hawthorn is its use in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). However, results from studies are inconsistent, and more data are needed to establish their use. In a large study conducted in 2008 it was found that hawthorn used in combination with standard CHF drug therapy improved exercise tolerance and improved symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath compared to a placebo. However, another trial in patients with CHF tested hawthorn extract against a placebo and failed to show benefit when hawthorn was co-administered with standard drug therapy.
Overall, hawthorn is well tolerated. The most commonly reported side effects associated with hawthorn include dizziness and vertigo. Other less common side effects include nausea, fatigue, sweating, fast heartbeat, headache, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. The only contraindication to hawthorn is a known allergy to
Products and plants. It should not be used during pregnancy because of the potential for uterine stimulation, nor is it recommended during breastfeeding.
There have been no reports of serious overdose cases with hawthorn fruit or with dietary supplement products. However, it is always best to consult with your primary care provider and pharmacist before starting a hawthorn regimen to avoid interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications. If you are taking digoxin or other antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or blood pressure medications, consult your primary care provider and pharmacist because research shows that hawthorn may interfere with these medications.
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If you suspect someone has accidentally taken too much or is experiencing side effects from hawthorn, get help online with webCONTROL or call 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free to the public, and available 24 hours a day.
It Really Happened Two 3 and 4 year olds both ate hawthorn berries from their backyard. Both children had no symptoms 20 minutes after ingestion when their mother called Control for guidance. Control is recommended to observe severe and persistent symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. A follow-up call was made to the mother, and she said that there were no symptoms.
Hawthorn (herb at a glance). Bethesda (MD): US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; updated May 2008 [quoted 2021 Nov 30]., or roses, family. It is native to northern Europe, but is now grown worldwide. The red berry-like fruit of this spiny plant is sometimes called the “haw,” and has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Hawthorn berries are included in
Berries have been used in traditional medicine since the first century, and contain phytonutrients called anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, antioxidants that have a variety of therapeutic effects including strengthening the walls of blood vessels. Extracts of hawthorn fruit, leaves and flowers also contain compounds that have a toning effect on the heart and vascular system. Hawthorn has been studied for its use in treating health problems related to the heart and blood vessels. These include congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, low and high blood pressure, angina, atherosclerosis, and high cholesterol. A meta-analysis based on data from 14 studies concluded that hawthorn extract offers “significant benefits” as an adjunct to conventional treatment of chronic heart failure. In particular, symptoms including shortness of breath and fatigue were significantly reduced, compared with placebo treatment.
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Hawthorn has also been used for digestive and kidney problems, including indigestion and diarrhea, and for anxiety. Topically, hawthorn can be applied to sores, boils, frostbite and to reduce itching. However, there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness for these uses.
Before taking hawthorn, talk to your healthcare professional, as it can potentially interact significantly with some prescription medications. Hawthorn may affect blood pressure, and should not be taken with medications for high blood pressure, including beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, medications for “male strength enhancement” (many of which are based on widening blood vessels and increasing blood flow), and medications which increases blood flow to the heart. In addition, people taking digoxin should not take hawthorn.
In general, any herbs and supplements that can affect the heart and/or lower blood pressure should not be taken with hawthorn. Dr. Weil recommends it only be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Hawthorn is considered safe for most adults. Side effects are rare and can include stomach upset, headache, and dizziness.
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Products available in the United States include hawthorn leaves, flowers and berries, sometimes in combination. Look for leaf and flower extracts standardized for their flavonoid content (about two percent) or oligomeric procyanidins (18-20 percent).
Most studies use doses ranging from 500 to 1,500 mg daily. Hawthorn berry extract can be consumed indefinitely.
Hawthorn berry preparations have not been as well studied as hawthorn leaves and flowers. The German Commission E no longer recognizes its use, and only approves the preparation of hawthorn leaves with flowers. Very few studies in the United States have been conducted on hawthorn berries using modern methods. While there may not be any harm in taking them, I wouldn’t rely on hawthorn berry extract alone for the treatment of heart-related problems – I recommend supplements containing leaves and flowers as well, and only as part of a comprehensive treatment. program. In addition, always use hawthorn under the supervision of your healthcare provider if you have a heart condition.
SOURCE: Hawthorne. Consumer version of the Comprehensive Database of Natural Medicines. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty, updated January 28, 2013, and accessed January 22, 2014 at http://naturaldatabaseconsumer.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=NONMP&s=NDC&pt=100&id=527&fs=NDC&searchid=44819570 Busse WR , Juretzek W, Koch E. Hawthorne (Crataegus). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Food Supplements. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:337–347. Hawthorne. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Extended Commission E Monograph. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:182–191. Pittler MH, Guo R, Ernst E (2008). Hawthorne extract for treating chronic heart failure. Di Guo, Ruoling. “Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews”. Cochrane Database System Update. January 23 (1): CD005312. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2.PMID 18254076. Herbs Overview: Hawthorne. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Updated April 2012, accessed January 22, 2014 at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hawthorn Written by Ariane Lang, BSc, MBA and SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD — Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — Updated on December 13, 2021
Hawthorn Berry Tincture (crataegus Laevigata)
These nutrient-rich berries have a sour, tangy taste and a mild sweet taste. They range in color from yellow to dark red (
For hundreds of years, people have used hawthorn berry as an herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart problems, and high blood pressure. In fact, berries have been an important part of traditional Chinese medicine since at least AD 659.
Antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals that can harm your body when they are present at high levels.
Free radicals can come from certain foods. You can also have higher levels as a result of exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and cigarette smoke (
Hawthorn Berry Liquid Extract
Polyphenols are associated with many health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a lower risk of
Although early animal and cell studies are promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effects of hawthorn fruit on disease risk.
Summary Hawthorn berries contain plant polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties that have been linked to many health benefits.
Research has found that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, and certain cancers.
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In a study in rats with liver disease, hawthorn berry extract significantly decreased levels of inflammatory compounds, which led to reduced inflammation and liver injury.
In one study, researchers gave vitexin — a compound present in hawthorn leaves — to mice with a respiratory condition. This treatment decreases the production of molecules that trigger inflammation and reduces the response of white blood cells to inflammation (
This promising result