General Description
Hawthorn is the popular name used to describe plants of the genus
Crataegus (family Rosaceae), which includes hundreds of species
of shrub-like trees with sharp thorns. The species most often used
for health purposes are Crataegus oxyacantha (also known as Crataegus
laevigata) and Crataegus monogyna. These species grow up to 15 feet
in height and have alternate, lobed or toothed leaves, which are
dark green on top and bluish-green underneath, and vary in size
and shape. Hawthorn flowers from May to June, bearing clusters of
small, five-petaled blossoms, which are usually white or pink in
color. The tree bears small, bright-red, berry-like fruit with a
yellow, pulpy center. The leaves, flowers, and fruit are used for
health purposes.
Health applications
History and traditional use
Hawthorn has a history of medicinal and ornamental use dating back
2,000 years. The ancient Greeks and Romans used hawthorn for corsages
and bouquets in wedding ceremonies as a symbol of hope and happiness.
The Romans believed hawthorn leaves had the power to fend off evil
spirits. The Greek physician Dioscorides used hawthorn for medicinal
purposes in the first century A.D., and the herb appears in the
writings of many other early herbalists. To this day, hawthorn is
commonly cultivated as a hedge plant in England and much of continental
Europe (in fact, the name "hawthorn" is derived from the Old English
term for "hedgethorn"). In folk medicine, the leaves, flowers, and
berries are used in heart tonics.
Chemical composition
The berries, flowers, and leaves of hawthorn contain a variety
of antioxidant bioflavonoids including hyperoside, vitexin-rhamnose,
rutin, vitexin, and oligomeric procyanidins.1
Cardiovascular health
Standardized extracts of hawthorn leaves and flowers are listed
in Germany's Commission E Monographs as approved herbs for lowering
blood pressure and improving heart function. While the berries
are listed as unapproved herbs, the Monographs note that hawthorn
berries are used traditionally to strengthen and envigorate the
heart and circulatory function.1 Research indicates
that bioflavonoids found in hawthorn can increase the strength
of heart contractions, lower blood pressure, and increase exercise
tolerance.2-4 As antioxidants, many of these flavonoids
have demonstrated the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and
platelet aggregation,5-9 factors which contribute to
atherosclerosis.
Dosage/toxicity
The recommended dosage for hawthorn supplements depends on the
type of preparation used. For dried or powdered berries, recommendations
range from one to five grams per day. For concentrated extracts
(standardized to 1.8 percent vitexin-rhamnoside concentration),
250 to 750 mg per day is commonly taken. Hawthorn has no known
toxicity, and appears to be very safe at these doses. People taking
prescription heart medications should consult their doctor before
using hawthorn. |
