Is Hawthorn Berries Good For You – Hawthorn berry is a group of tree-like plants in the rose family native to temperate regions of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. Some parts of 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 berry.
This medicinal herb is known to be 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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Is Hawthorn Berries Good For You
It is widely used in Europe to improve the circulatory system, treat angina pectoris, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure. It is renowned for its ability to strengthen the heart and blood vessels and restore healthy muscle tone to the heart wall.
Health Benefits 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). These include tannins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. The standardization of hawthorn products is based on the overall content of flavonoids (2.2%) and proanthocyanidins (18.75%).
Hawthorn berry has been well studied in people with congestive heart failure (4, 5). Five of the six major studies performed showed 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 (main heart medication) in improving common symptoms associated with congestive heart failure (6) .
Hawthorn’s unique antioxidant blend creates a powerful vasodilating effect. It works to improve endothelial function of blood vessels where the vessel is able to open with less resistance. This allows for greater blood flow to working tissues and improves oxygen utilization. This is mainly due to the flavonoids rutin and vitexin as well as proanthocyanins (7, 8).
Essential Health Benefits Of Hawthorn Berry
Hawthorn improves heart cell metabolism and improves the flow of electrolytes through heart cells. This prevents or corrects heart rhythm abnormalities and strongly encourages a healthy heart rhythm.
Hawthorne contains flavones which improve the function of certain heart enzymes. This effect increases the contractile force of the heart, which effectively increases stroke volume while increasing the heart’s tolerance to hypoxic conditions (9). It also improves the heart’s ability to create energy through anaerobic metabolism, which improves the heart’s ability to resist stress.
Hawthorn also acts to inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Elevated ACE causes an increase in angiotensin II and systemic vasoconstriction. This process elevates blood pressure.
By modulating ACE levels, hawthorn helps normalize blood pressure and reduce stress on the cardiovascular system. The body typically takes two to four weeks to adjust to hawthorn and have lasting effects on blood pressure (10, 11, 12).
Organic Hawthorn Berry (freeze Dried)
Hawthorn also helps protect joints with its unique blend of antioxidants. These phytonutrients ward off specific classes of free radicals that are known to damage tissue collagen leading to arthritic conditions. Natural remedies that support healthy collagen improve the health of joints, skin, hair and nails.
When you get hawthorn berries, be sure to get the whole plant – leaves, flowers, and berries. Berries contain more proanthocyanins while flowers and leaves contain more vitexin. The most effective way to consume hawthorn if you are unable to obtain it fresh is in a dried and ground form. Here is the dried version and here is an association of hawthorn with its cousin hibiscus in an organic tea
Put the plant fresh or in dried form in shakes or teas and consume daily. Due to its antioxidant and cardiovascular stimulating effects, it is ideal to use before/after exercise. This improves recovery from exercise by improving oxygen flow and neutralizing free radicals from damaged tissue.
You can also find a great easy to use herbal tincture here. You can also use Nutrigold Hawthorn Gold supplement here
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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. Journals of pharmacognosy. 2010;4(7):32-41. 2. Chang WT, Dao J, Shao ZH. Hawthorn: potential roles 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 the treatment of chronic heart failure. Cochrane Database System Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD005312. PMID: 18254076 5. Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for the treatment of chronic heart failure: 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 Blind Trial in Chronic Heart Failure (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. Effect of standardized hawthorn extract on flow-mediated dilation in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults: a randomized, controlled crossover trial. BMC Altern Med supplement. 2012 March 29;12:26. PMID: 22458601 8. Botanicals for regulating heart rhythms Link here 9. Elango C, Devaraj SN. Immunomodulatory effect of hawthorn extract in an experimental stroke model. J Neuroinflammation. December 30, 2010; 7:97. PMID: 21192826 10. Walker AF, Marakis G, Morris AP, Robinson PA. Promising hypotensive effect of hawthorn extract: a randomized, double-blind pilot study in mild and essential hypertension. Phytother Res. 2002 Feb;16(1):48-54. PMID: 11807965 11. Dahmer S, Scott E. Health effects of hawthorn. Am Fam Physician. 2010 Feb 15;81(4):465-8. PMID: 20148500 12. Fong HH, Bauman JL. Hawthorn. J Cardiovascular nurses. 2002 Jul;16(4):1-8. PMID: 12597258
“Join my tribe today to discover hidden strategies to improve your energy, brain, digestion and metabolism.” – Dr. David JockersWritten by Ariane Lang, BSc, MBA and SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD – Medical review by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — Updated December 13, 2021
These nutrient-dense berries have a tart, tart taste and a mild sweetness. Their color varies from yellow to dark red (
For hundreds of years, people have used hawthorn berry as an herbal remedy for digestive issues, heart problems, and high blood pressure. In fact, the berry has been a key component of traditional Chinese medicine since at least 659 AD (
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Antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals that can harm your body when present in high levels.
Free radicals can come from certain foods. You may also have higher levels due to exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and cigarette smoke (
Polyphenols are associated with numerous health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a lower risk of (
Although early research in animals and cells is promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effects of hawthorn berries on disease risk.
Nature’s Way, Hawthorn, 300 Mg, 90 Vegan Capsules
Summary Hawthorn berry contains plant polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties that have been linked to numerous health benefits.
Research has shown that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers (
In a study in mice with liver disease, hawthorn berry extract significantly reduced levels of inflammatory compounds, leading to reduced inflammation and liver damage (
In one study, researchers gave vitexin — a compound found in hawthorn leaves — to mice with respiratory problems. This treatment decreased the production of molecules that trigger inflammation and reduced the response of white blood cells to inflammation (
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These promising results from animal and test-tube studies suggest that the supplement may provide anti-inflammatory benefits for humans. However, further research is needed.
Summary Hawthorn berry extract has shown anti-inflammatory potential in test-tube and animal studies. Still, research in humans is needed.
In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berry is one of the most commonly recommended foods to help treat high blood pressure (
Animal studies show that hawthorn can act as a vasodilator, meaning it can relax constricted blood vessels, ultimately lowering blood pressure (
Hawthorn Berry, Leaf, & Flower
A 10-week study looked at the effects of taking hawthorn extract in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
Researchers found that those who took 500 mg of the extract daily had reduced diastolic blood pressure – the lower number of a blood pressure reading (
In a 2006 study, researchers gave 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract to 79 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure every day for 16 weeks. People who took the extract experienced more improvements in blood pressure than those in the placebo group (
Still, more studies are needed to substantiate these findings. It is also important to note that using an extract is not the same as eating the berries.
Hawthorn Berry — Bhava Wellness
Summary Some research suggests that hawthorn berries may lower blood pressure by helping to dilate blood vessels. However, further studies are needed.
Some studies indicate that hawthorn extract can improve blood cholesterol levels due to its flavonoid and pectin content. Pectin is a type of fiber involved in cholesterol metabolism (
Imbalanced blood cholesterol levels — especially high triglycerides and low HDL (good) cholesterol — play a role in atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in your blood vessels (
If plaque continues to build up, it could completely block a