The Downside Of Hawthorn Berries – Hawthorn is a popular heart tonic that affects the heart both physically and energetically. Hawthorn’s abundant medicinal properties come in the form of leaves, flowers, and berries. Known to have supportive and protective properties,
Means power. 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. Plus, check out the recipe for a delicious hawthorn berry syrup.
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The Downside Of Hawthorn Berries
Hawthorn is a leafy, thorny tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. There are 280 species in the genus Crataegus, but C. laevigata and C. monogyna are most commonly used in herbal medicine. Hawthorn produces white or pink, five-petalled flowers in spring, which give way to bright red berries or “haw” in early fall. The berry is blood red with white flesh and a large stone. With a mild sweet and sour taste, it is used both as food and medicine. The berries are enjoyed by small birds and animals that nest in the tree’s prickly, protective branches.
Hawthorn As An Herbal Remedy
One of the oldest recorded medicinal plants used in Europe, the health benefits of hawthorn have been tried and tested. The herb has long been associated with heart health, and studies have shown it to be a beneficial remedy for a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina, and varicose veins. Hawthorn has a restorative and balancing effect on the heart and circulatory system, modulating the activity of the heart depending on what is needed for optimal functioning. It is also indicated to stimulate digestion and calm the nerves.
Much has been said about the relationship between hawthorn’s physical form and its energetic properties. The plant is tall and offers plenty of medicine, as well as protection and boundaries, as its thorns only allow you to get close. Herbalist Jim McDonald recommends hawthorn as an emotional and spiritual heart tonic. Herbal medicine provides a protective emotional space for people recovering from heart attacks, trauma, and emotional vulnerability.
Some herbalists use hawthorn leaves, flowers, and berries interchangeably depending on the season. However, berries are specifically shown to support
Regulates heart rate. It should be noted that if all the flowers are collected in the spring, there will be no berries in the fall! The leaves and flowers can be used as a tea, capsule or tincture. Loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids, the berries can be eaten fresh or made into jams and syrups, in addition to being made into decoctions or tinctures.
Hawthorn Complete Herbal Extract Of Berry, Leaf, And Flower
Herbal syrups are a delicious and effective way to enjoy herbal medicine. Syrups can be taken alone or added to tea, cocktails or any food that needs sweetening. Syrups can be made with sugar or honey, but honey is often preferred because it is nutrient-rich and anti-microbial.
This recipe simply uses concentrated hawthorn berry tea 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 this syrup by adding more berries and adjusting the ratio of honey to water.
The seeds of hawthorn berries contain mildly toxic compounds and should not be consumed. If you want to use the pulp left over from the tea, strain the seeds first.
Mountain rose herb. “Hawthorn, Plant Walk with Jim McDonald.” Online video clip. Youtube. 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 9 Nov 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGB9Do-IEv8 Hawthorn grows as both a shrub and a tree in North America, Europe and Asia. As it belongs to the Rosaceae (rose) family, it protects itself with sharp thorns. Hawthorn has a somewhat overlooked medicinal secret: Hawthorn berries are packed with both mild sweetness and sharp bitterness. From a heart tonic to an anxiety reliever, hawthorn berries have five health benefits.
Heart Made From Hawthorn Berries
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Hawthorn berry is known as a heart tonic, and recent studies show that this “fire berry” is cardioprotective.
A 2018 review published by the NIH National Library of Medicine names hawthorn berries as a cardiotonic herb. Hawthorn berries contain phytonutrients (anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins), antioxidants that tone and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. The plant has a positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effect, and also increases coronary blood flow and exercise tolerance.
Hawthorn extracts, including berries, leaves, and flowers, are also used to treat heart conditions such as bradyarrhythmias and angina.
. However, hawthorn may increase the potential for bleeding in patients taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
Hawthorn Berries On A Wooden Background Stock Photo By ©spaxiax 126255302
Should you take hawthorn berries for heart palpitations? Although hawthorn berries have been shown to be cardiotonic, consult your doctor before including this herb in your treatment regimen, including extracts or teas.
Hawthorn berries contain fiber, a digestive aid that acts as a prebiotic to reduce constipation. Prebiotics stimulate and nourish the growth of good gut bacteria, which are essential for a healthy digestive system.
According to a critical review published in 2015, hawthorn (its berries, leaves, and flowers) was found to be beneficial in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and other digestive problems.
He analyzed 88 scientific articles. A review shows that hawthorn provides beneficial applications for treating abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating and indigestion. The paper notes that it is used as an effective diuretic in European tradition.
Hawthorn, May, Maythorn, Whitethorn, Crataegus Monogyna/laevigata
Hawthorn berries are listed as a natural ingredient in some hair care and hair growth products, but is it effective? In the past, hawthorn berries have shown promise in stimulating the growth and size of hair follicles in rats. The polyphenol in this berry is believed to be responsible for these effects. However, further studies are needed on its effects in humans.
How do you use hawthorn berries on your hair? Many people prefer to include hawthorn berries in their diet, for example, making hawthorn berry syrup for pancakes and absorb the nutrients in this way. Others invest in over-the-counter natural hair care products like hawthorn berry oils or tonics.
David Hoffmann, founding member and past president of the American Herbalists Guild, recommends making a tea by steeping a teaspoon of hawthorn berries in a cup of boiling water and straining before consumption. He recommends no more than three cups a day. A consultation with an herbalist can give you more guidance, but you should first talk to your doctor about using such complementary therapies.
Free radicals are unstable atoms associated with aging, chronic disease, and cancer. Scientific literature review of 88 articles published in 2015
Crataegus Monogyna (hawthorn Berry)
Noted that hawthorn berries contain significant amounts of polyphenols, an antioxidant compound that fights free radicals. In addition to the antioxidant capacity of polyphenolic compounds, they also protect against inflammation and other markers for chronic disease.
Hawthorn extracts may contain compounds from the berries, flowers, and leaves of the hawthorn plant that help reduce anxiety. One older double-blind study was published
Analyzed a formulation of hawthorn extract, California poppy flower, and magnesium and its effects on 264 people with anxiety. Results showed a significant reduction in mild to moderate levels of anxiety compared to placebo. However, the specific role played by hawthorn has not been analyzed in depth.
The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also notes the promotion of hawthorn for use in the treatment of anxiety.
How Healthy Is Hawthorn?
Hawthorn berry supplements often contain berries, flowers, and leaves. The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health indicates that the most common side effects of taking hawthorn may include nausea, dizziness, and digestive symptoms. Those taking anticoagulants should avoid consuming hawthorn.
Always consult your doctor or registered dietitian before adding any supplements to your diet. Many products have different dosage recommendations, and your doctor can best guide you because he knows your medical history.
Tiffany Chaney is an environmental and health writer dedicated to advocacy, ethics and transparency. Chaney holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Salem College and completed apprenticeships in western herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tree of Life Health Center and Piedmont Herb School in Winston-Salem, NC. He is also a published creative writer and artist, currently living in Virginia. Hawthorn fossils found in the 1990s date back to the mid-Miocene, 15 million years ago. The geological survey that uncovered these fossils discovered them in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The most popular variety of hawthorn comes from the Central Asian and European group of about 100 species. Often, it grows as a single-stemmed tree with flowers that have a rather unpleasant smell. Its berries are usually used in various herbal preparations. They are also considered a nutritious food source.
Hawthorn Berries On A Bare Winter Branch Stock Image
Hawthorn fruit is characterized by its oblong, pear or round shape. The berry is generally the same size as a large cultivated blueberry. Depending on the specific species, the color of the berries can vary from red, orange-yellow, blue, black or yellow. Its meat is very similar to hip meat – dry and meaty.
Although hawthorn berries are not directly classified as poisonous, some are