Hawthorn Leaf

HistoryOriginated in Europe and North AfricaWidespread in North America.“Hawthorn”

“haw” = "hedge.” "thorn" + “hedge” = "thorny hedge.”

In old England trees were used as a barrier to keep peasants from entering private land.

Now it is used by farmers to mark land.

Chinese Culture

Hawthorn lead is known in Chinese as “Tang-Ben-Co

Dates back to 659 A.DHawthorn leaf used for heart health, mild laxitive,

and aid in stomach ailments.

Natives Americans

Used in a variety of ways including treatment of: diarrhea, dysentery, diuretic, and wound healing.

Natives chewed the leaves and and put it on open wounds to help heal it.

Modern Day Use/Dosage

Scientific studies did not being in the U.S until the 1960’s.

German physicians prescribe Hawthorn for tx of diminished heart performance, angina, & recovery from a heart attack.

Prescribe hawthorns in many forms such as extracts, dietary supplements, & teas

Take 160 mg day in two doses

Celtic Tradition

Hawthorn tree represented a Goddess & Symbolized fertility and

abundance

Inhabited by fairies and spirits.Flower blossoms were used for

decorationTied into cloth or ribbon onto the

branches to honor spirits

DescriptionDeciduous shrub or small tree

Height up to 10 meters & 18-20 feet in width.

Found in moist, open places, forests edges along shorelines, steam banks, roadsides coastal bluffs at low to mid elevation.

Can live up to 400 years.Fruit usually red or orange in color.Some are black, dark blue, or yellow.

Description1,000 different species &

hybrids, but the 2 most common:1. Crataegus laevigata2. Crataegus monogyna

Can be used interchangeablyHave similar chemical

characteristics

Crataegus monogyna

Fruit Flower

Leaves

Crataegus laevigata

Fruit

Flower

Leaves

Medical Claims

Hawthorn contains substances that may benefit the heart.

Flavonoids dilate blood vessels improve blood flow protect the blood vessels from

damage.

Protect against heart diseaseReduce b.p. & cholesterol.

Research—Heart Failure

In 952 patients after 2 years in those taking 900 mg/day of Hawthorn extract symptoms improved Were able to exercise for longer

periods As effective as low doses of certain

heart medications (captopril).

Research—Angina

60 people with chest pain given the following for 3 weeks:

180 mg/day of hawthorn extractOr

PlaceboThe group with the extract experienced improved blood flow to the heart Were able to exercise for longer periods of

time w/o having chest pains

Research—High Blood PressureStudy for diabetics with HTN (Took

prescribed medications) were given the following medications for 16 weeks:

1,200 mg/day of Hawthorn extractOr

PlaceboThose taking extract had lower b.p.

Nutrition Facts—flavonoid glycosides

Flavonols quercitin,

hyperoside, kaempferol

Flavones vitexin,

apigenin, luteloin

oligomeric procyanidins epicatechin,

catechin proanthocyanidin

s.

cyanogenetic, phenolic, saponin and triterpenoid glycosides,

Various amines carboxylic acid, condensed

tannins Phlobaphene

Sugars

Effectiveness

May be safe for mild forms of heart failure

Studies and results are conflicting.Not recommended for

Children or women who are pregnancy or breastfeeding

Not enough scientific evidence to determine whether hawthorn works for other heart problems.

Drug Interactions Digoxin Beta-blockers Calcium Channel Blockers Phenylephrine

reduce effectiveness

Medications for male sexual dysfunction blood pressure dropping too low.

Nitrates may enhance drug (dizziness or

lightheadedness)

Side effects

NauseaDizzinessVertigoHeadachesMigrainesHeart palpitations.

• Hawthorn leaves and its uses have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• The supplementation is sold in various forms including a pill form, droplets and in leaves as a whole. They are usually sold where herbal supplements are sold as well as on Amazon in the range of about $10 into about the hundreds of dollars.

• Storage of Hawthorn leaves should be in a cool closed container away from light or it could deteriorate overtime and lose nutritional value

• Studies show that Hawthorn leaves contain antioxidants.

• However, even though Hawthorn leaves have shown to reduce blood pressure, it is not yet know by how much and how effective it is in certain doses. Blood pressure in some studies have even shown to increase blood pressure instead of lowering it like expected. In some patients, it may have no effect at all.

• In addition to the mentioned side effects, Hawthorn has also shown to cause anxiety in patients. If anxiety occurs, it is recommended to cease usage

• It also may improve the production and strength of collagen found in joints. This will prevent the damage caused to joints from inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Hawthorn also has anti-inflammatory effects which may help to counteract the swelling of arthritis.

Conclusion• The coined “heart healer” is known

to live up to its name in certain circumstances. But because it affects everyone differently, even though many studies have shown improvement for heart related diseases with use of Hawthorn, it should not be taken with any other medications and physicians should be consulted. No evidence regarding Hawthorn leaves is concrete.

References University of Maryland Medical Center

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/hawthorn-000256.htm

Natural History Museum http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/

urban-tree-survey/identify-trees/tree-factsheets/f-to-j/hawthorn/index.html

Ohio Public Library http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/hawthorne/hawtho

rne.html

Todd Caldecott http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-her

bs/360-hawthorn

Northern Rockies Natural History Guide http://nhguide.dbs.umt.edu/index.php?

c=plants&m=desc&id=158

Photo CreditsCrataegus monogyna von Jacquin 1775

(Family Rosaceae) http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Plants/Trees/Trees/Crataegus.monogyna.html

Crataegus laevigata [oxyacantha] (Poiret 1789) de Candolle 1825 (Family Rosaceae)

http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Plants/Trees/Trees/Crataegus.laevigata.html