Medicinal Uses

This herb is beneficial for both sexes, however men over 50 should include this herb in their life to prevent against heart and circulation related problems, since heart issues affect men more. Think of hawthorn as a ‘heart tonic’.

Hawthorn is a key circulatory herb, opening up blood vessels. It can reduce chest pain, also hawthorn warms cold hands and feet and helps to rebuild collagen.

Other chemical components re-elasticise the blood vessel walls and in turn assist their peristaltic and flexing action, thus promoting good blood flow and circulation. The plant chemical rutin, is partly responsible for this as its helps to rebuild the collagen fibres that maintain the outer layers of the vessels.

It is a classic ‘heart’ herb. Hawthorn has been found to inhibit natural enzyme production which can be responsible for constricting blood vessels – so hawthorn helps to keep these vessels open. Hawthorn helps to lessen pain in the heart and adjacent areas, increases warmth in cold hands and feet where the drop in temperature is due to poor circulation.

• Reduces abnormal retention of water in the body such as bloating experienced before a period.
• Normalizes and gently strengthens the contractions of the cardiac muscle.
• Opens up (dilates) all the blood vessels, thus improving the entire circulatory system.
• Relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus, intestines and other areas where contractions are abnormal and constrictive and where congestion is building up.
• Reduces fatty deposits, calcium and other debris that block the free open flow of blood.
• Dilates the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen, blood and fuel. The result is a more efficient heart-beat.
• Protects the heart against harmful effects of oxygen depletion – it is a powerful free radical scavenger. · Mild sedative action: this is useful in situations where stress affects the heart and vascular digestive and nervous systems.
• Helps to lower cholesterol and decreases the amount of plaque (fat and calcium deposits) in the arteries.

Note: Hawthorn works differently from other cardiac herbs: it enhances activity and nutrition by directly affecting the cells of the cardiac muscle and peripheral circulatory system (other cardiac herbs such as foxglove and lily of the valley, contain cardiac glycoside components, which have a reaction on the contractile fibres of the heart. Do not use these).

Energetic Uses

• Good for clearing blocked energy and emotions/moving on energy.
• Good for the heart – imagine a ‘broken heart’ or sadness/loss grief.

Parts used

Autumn berries, leaves (preferably spring), spring blossom.

Applications

Tincture, tea, dried herb as powder or capsules, syrups and decoctions.

Contraindications:

Do not use during pregnancy. Do not mix with high blood pressure or heart drugs based on cardiac glycosides, for example, digitalis or beta blockers.

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Articles on this website are based upon the opinions of their respective author(s). None of the information on this website is intended as medical advice nor replaces the advice of a qualified health care professional.