Hawthorn is a thorny shrub that grows on hillsides and in sunny wooded areas of North America, Europe, Western Asia,
and North Africa. The small red berries usually produce in May.
Hawthorn
Nutritents
Hawthorn berries contain Bioflavonoids including oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin, quercetin, and hyperoside.
Hawthorn is well know for improved coronary artery blood flow and blood flow in the extremeties. Angina, atherosclerosis,
hypertension are other conditions that hawthorn has been used for.
Hawthorn Potential Benefits
Hawthorn may increase the force of heartbeats and to relax the arteries around the heart. It may assist
in stabilizing blood pressure as well.
Several studies done in Germany showed significant improvement in the patients with congestive heart failure
who were taking hawthorn. German doctors prescribe hawthorn as a treatment for congestive heart failure.
The hawthorn berry increases blood flow to the brain improving memory. It also protects the heart from irregular
beats.
Clinical trials suggest that hawthorn extracts benefit individuals with early stage congestive heart
failure.
A hawthorn berry study showed cholesterol-lowering results, but evidence is still lacking to verify the validity
or applicability of these results. Hawthorn may also exhibit powerful antioxidant properties.
Hawthorn is considered to be a non-toxic herb. There are no apparent side effects and is not believed to lead to dependence.
Due to this Hawthorn is believed to be safe to use over long periods.
Hawthorn is believed to possess hypotensive action
and as a result should be used with caution in low blood pressure. Studies have shown the herb to decrease blood pressure
even further and in some instances cause fainting.
How Hawthorn Protects the Heart
1. Dilates blood vessels by blocking
the ACE enzyme, which constricts blood vessels.
2. Blocks certain enzymes that can deteriorate heart muscle.
3. Prevents plaque buildup in the coronary arteries by working as an antioxidant.
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