Hawthorn is a very valuable herbal remedy. It was used as a remedy for numerous illnesses and was recognized as a sign of hope in the 18th Century. Today, it is mostly used to treat heart and circulation conditions, particularly angina. Western herbalists refer to it as actually "meal for the heart" since it increases blood supply to the heart muscles and returns the heartbeat to normal. The effectiveness of these usage has recently been supported by study.
History & Folklore
Hawthorn has a long history of usage as a diuretic and treatment for bladder and kidney stones in Europe. These applications are all included in the herbals from the sixth and eighth centuries by Gerard, Culpeper, and Keogh. Its present usage for heart and circulation issues is a result of an Irish doctor who began using it successfully for these illnesses around the end of the 19th century.
Habitat & Cultivation
All warm areas of the northern hemisphere, including the British Isles, have hawthorn trees growing in hedgerows, bushland, and fields. It can be grown from seed, but it requires 18 months for the seed to sprout, thus trees are often grown through cuttings. The berries are picked in July and august to early fall, while the blooming tops are plucked in late spring.
Uses
Heart Remedy Nowadays, hawthorn is utilized to cure coronary artery disease and angina. It is beneficial for moderate chronic heart failure, inconsistent heartbeat, and especially enhances heart performance. Hawthorn functions in harmony with the body's natural biochemical mechanisms, much like most herbs, and change takes some time to express.
Blood Pressure The best way to think of hawthorn is as a blood pressure-normalizing treatment. However, it also seems to sustain blood pressure levels if these are typically low. It works effectively to decrease high blood pressure.
Poor Memory Hawthorn is used in conjunction with ginkgo to improve memory problems. It functions by enhancing blood flow inside the skull. Consequently, the brain receives more oxygen.
Parts used
Flowering tops contain trimethylamine, which stimulates the circulation
Berries help the heart function
Key Actions
Cardiotonic
Circulatory tonic
Lowers blood pressure
Antioxidant
Constituents
Polyphenols
Proanthocyanins
Bioflavonoids
Triterpenoids
Coumarins
Amines (trimethylamine in flowers only)
References
- Chevallier, Andrew, FNIMH; Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine - 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments; 3. Edition 2016; ISBN: 978-0-2412-2944-6; Page 87.
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