Hawthorn - Crataegus

Hawthorn or Crataegus, is a large, flowering shrub or small tree that has been used traditionally to treat congestive heart failure (CHF), and other cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, angina, high cholesterol, and hardening of the arteries (plaque). It grows in temperate climates worldwide and has several hundred members in its genus. The fruit, leaves, and flower all have medicinal uses. Hawthorn fruit is also used to make jelly, ketchup, and chutney. 

Hawthorn is rich in over sixty flavonoids ¹ which act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. These can be found in not just the berries, but also in the leaves and flowers.

Hawthorn is well-known as a remedy for cardiovascular problems. It is cardioprotective and can help regulate blood pressure and lipid levels. The mechanism of action of hawthorn pulp in treating chronic heart failure is thought to be downregulation of caspase resulting in stabilization of apoptosis. It simply means that old and dead cells are dismantled while healthy ones are untouched. Unstable apoptosis can result in carcinogenesis, autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, and immunodeficiency. ²  

Dosing is 1-5 ml, 2-4 times a day. Start small and increase as reactions are always possible. For more studies check out Google Scholar. Do not mix hawthorn with other cardiac medicines without talking to your doctor about it.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

¹ Zhang J, Chai X, Zhao F, Hou G, Meng Q. Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Hawthorn. Foods. 2022 Sep 15;11(18):2861. doi: 10.3390/foods11182861. PMID: 36140986; PMCID: PMC9498108.

² Parrish AB, Freel CD, Kornbluth S. Cellular mechanisms controlling caspase activation and function. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2013 Jun 1;5(6): a008672. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect. a008672. PMID: 23732469; PMCID: PMC3660825.