Tuesday, February 28, 2012

My Favorite Herbal Tonics I: Hawthorn



HAWTHORN: THE SUPER HEART TONIC




Crataegus Oxycantha, or Hawthorn, is a spiny shrub with simple toothed leaves and white flowers. It grows mostly in the eastern and central regions of the United States as well as Europe and Asia. The fruit is a dry red berry that has been used medicinally over the world for centuries.

Traditional uses of the hawthorn berry include treating a variety of heart conditions such as irregular heartbeat, chest pain, arteriosclerosis, heart failure and high blood pressure. The supplement may improve heart health because the plant contains antioxidants called quercetin and oligomeric procyandins. These antioxidants help destroy free radicals that damage cell membranes, alter DNA and cause cell death. The number of free radicals in the body increases with age and toxins in the environment, such as pollution and ultraviolet light. The benefits of the antioxidants in hawthorn berry include dilatation of blood vessels, improvement of blood flow in the body and protection of blood vessels from further damage.

Some History about Hawthorn

Crataegus, or Hawthorn berries, was introduced into medicine as a heart remedy by Dr. Greene of Ennis, Ireland. Dr. Greene had for many years a reputation for curing heart disease that made many patients flock to him from all parts of the United Kingdom. He cured most of them and amassed considerable wealth by means of his secret, for, contrary to the medical code and despite being a physician in good standing, refused to reveal the remedy to his professional colleagues. After his death, his daughter revealed the name of the remedy. It was Hawthorn.

So, what are the main health benefits of Hawthorn?

1/ Hawthorn Lowers Blood Pressure

In her book "Family Herbal-A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality," herbalist Rosemary Gladstar labels hawthorn berries as the herb supreme for the heart, since they tone and strengthen the blood vessels and heart muscle. Gladstar writes that hawthorn berry tea helps dilate veins and arteries, releasing cardiovascular constrictions and reducing blood pressure by allowing the blood to flow more freely. 
Herbalist David Hoffmann suggests in his book "The New Holistic Herbal," to make hawthorn berry tea mixed with lime blossom, yarrow and mistletoe, as a treatment for high blood pressure.

2/ Hawthorn is a Heart Tonic

Hawthorn is known as a cardiac tonic, as it has twin paradoxical effects, says Simon Mills in his book "The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism." It acts by depressing or stimulating the activity of the heart and circulatory system, depending upon need. 
In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berries are used to help digest fatty foods, due to their sour taste and as an agent to promote blood circulation. These two attributes make them a tonic that is used to treat high cholesterol and blood lipid levels, arteriosclerosis and hypertension, says acupuncturist Michael Tierra in his book, "The Way of Chinese Herbs."

3/ Hawthorn strengthens the Heart

According to herbalist Richo Cech in his book "Making Plant Medicine," hawthorn berries are used to fortify the heart, especially as an ongoing aid in the recuperation from heart surgery and heart attack. He writes that it strengthens the heart muscle while also promoting a sense of open-hearted well-being. 
Authors Steven Foster and James Duke wrote the field guide "A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs," about how American Indians used hawthorn berry tea in their folk medicine tradition. Hawthorn tea as a treatment for the heart is confirmed by at least 14 controlled clinical studies, these authors claim.


How to take Hawthorn

Hawthorn berries have a tart taste. They are used in jams, jellies, fruit punch and pies. They can also be brewed into a tea. Hawthorn berries are carefully harvested for culinary and medicinal use. Do not eat wild hawthorn berries. The seeds of hawthorn berries contain cyanide, a toxin that converts to hydrogen cyanide -- a poisonous gas -- in the intestines.

The best way of taking Hawthorn is in tincture form, either alcoholic or glycerin based. It can also be taken in capsules. Standard dosage: 1 ml liquid extract, 3x day or standardized capsule, 100-250 mg 3xl day. (20 ml dose for acute angina attack). However, always check with your doctor or homeopath for appropriate individual dosages.


Interactions with other Drugs

Hawthorn berry might cause drug interactions when taken with medications used for treating high blood pressure. According to "2010 Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide," hawthorn can interact with digoxin and phenylephrine. Digoxin is a prescription medication used for treating irregular heartbeats and hypertension. Hawthorn should also not be used with digitalis since it may decrease the dosage requirements of the drug.


I love herbal tonics because that´s what they are, tonics, which means medicinal substances whose primary function is to heal through nourishing and toning our internal organs.


Finally, always remember to check with your doctor and your homeopath
 before making decisions about herbal supplements.





SUSANA AIKIN, CCH, is a graduate of the School of Homeopathy of New York and certified by the US Council of Classical Homeopathy. She has been practicing homeopathy for the last fifteen years, both in Europe and in New York. She teaches regularly at the Barcelona French Osteopathic School MES and the Madrid School of Doulas. For a consultation call 1 347 314 8767 or send email to susanaaikin@gmail.com

1 comment:

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