Hawthorn Berries 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Hawthorn Berries – 100 g ($12.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Hawthorn contains compounds that support the heart and circulatory system. It is most often used to protect against the beginning stages of heart disease, for mild heart muscle weakness, for pressure and tightness of the chest, and for mild arrhythmia. It is also an excellent herb to use to speed recovery from a heart attack. In folk medicine, hawthorn has been used to decrease joint inflammation and decrease fragility of capillaries. TCM uses it for reducing bloating and blood stasis. Homeopathic remedies include those for cardiac insufficiency, uneven rhythm of the heart, and chest pain. The German Commission E approves hawthorn for decreasing cardiac output in class II of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system.

Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Eastern medicine has long used hawthorn to treat age-related forms of memory problems, and scientific research has identified two ways in which the herb works. One is through its effect on cholesterol (see page 84), since fewer and smaller plaques in the arteries supplying the brain means that more blood reaches the brain’s tissues. The other way is through its high content of both vitamin C and substances that assist vitamin C, known as cofactors. These substances strengthen tiny capillaries in the brain, especially when these vessels are under stress from high blood pressure or microscopic blood clots. Open capillaries result in more nutrients and oxygen for the brain.

Angina, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure. Studies show that substances found in hawthorn interact with key enzymes in the heart to increase the pumping force of the heart muscle and to eliminate arrhythmias. Hawthorn also works to dilate the blood vessels, especially the coronary blood vessels. This enables more oxygen-rich blood to get to the heart and thus to reduce the risk that the heart will be deprived of oxygen, which causes the painful sensations of chest pressure and tightness commonly known as angina pectoris. German studies have confirmed that hawthorn is beneficial for people with angina when taken for at least eight weeks. Hawthorn’s action is not immediate, but develops very slowly.

Atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke. A large body of scientific research has shown that the fruit, leaves, and flowers of various hawthorn species dilate the blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and dissolve cholesterol deposits. Hawthorn fights atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol forms plaques on blood-vessel walls. It increases the rate at which low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—the “bad,” artery-clogging kind of cholesterol—is cleared from the body. Hawthorn also fights atherosclerosis by providing antioxidants, which prevent plaque formation. In one study, using a standardized extract of Crataegus berries (Crataegisan), patients with NYHA class II heart failure were able to better tolerate exercise. These patients took 30 drops of a standardized extract (Crataegisan) three times a day and thirty minutes prior to meals for eight weeks. In another study, patients with heart disease took 600 milligrams a day of hawthorn and did better on a bicycle exercise test.

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and anxiety. Hawthorn extracts may relieve restlessness, acting out, and anxiety in children; however, it is contraindicated for children twelve years of age and under. The herb not only increases circulation to the brain, but also stops inflammatory responses caused by allergies. Allergies give the brain of a person with an attention deficit problem more information than it can process efficiently. Extracts of C. laevigata have a sedative effect on the central nervous system. In one study, patients with anxiety disorders showed improvement in their symptoms using a hawthorn mixture compared to a placebo. Hawthorn was taken with Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) in a product called Sympathyl, and they took two tablets twice daily for three months.

Diabetic retinopathy. Laboratory studies indicate that hawthorn has beneficial effects on blood sugar levels and blood viscosity, or stickiness, both of which are implicated in diabetic retinopathy. Few clinical studies exist to support this contention.

Recommended Use
You should use hawthorn as a heart tonic only. It is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment. If you have been diagnosed with angina, cardiac arrhythmias, or congestive heart failure, use this herb only in consultation with a physician.

Side effects from hawthorn include heart palpitations, dizziness, headache, vertigo, hot flashes, and gastrointestinal complaints. In particular, attention should be paid to heart rate and blood pressure. In the case of swelling legs or other problematic symptoms, medical management may be needed. A medical diagnosis is absolutely necessary when pains occur in the heart area, upper abdomen, or area around the neck, or in cases of respiratory distress. Taking large amounts of hawthorn may result in sedation or a dramatic drop in blood pressure, which in turn may cause you to feel faint. Children twelve and under and pregnant or nursing women should use hawthorn only under the direction of a licensed health-care professional. It is not to be used when taking anticlotting or antiarrhythmic drugs. For central nervous system depressants, hawthorn may make the drugs have stronger effects.

Botanical Name: Crataegus monogyna
English: Hawthorne
Also, known as: May blossom, Maybush, Whitethom, Mayblossom, Hedgethom, Mayflower, Haw
Habitat: Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America
Origin: Bulgaria
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Berries

General Information:
Crataegus monogyna species are shrubs or small trees, mostly growing to 5-10 feet in height with small pome fruit. Branches have sharp, straight thorns. The thorns are small sharp-tipped branches that arise either from other branches or from the trunk. The bark is smooth grey in young individuals, developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges in older trees. Leaves are frequently lobed with serrated margins and grow spirally arranged on long shoots, and in clusters on spur shoots on the branches or twigs, hawthorn leaves are shiny and grow in a variety of shapes and sizes. Fragrant flowers are typically white but maybe pink, forming in clusters Found in woodlands, hedges, and urban areas. The fruit, sometimes known as a “haw” is berries -like but structurally a pome containing from 2-3 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” of plums, peaches, etc., which are drupaceous fruit in the same subfamily. Small berries, called haws, sprout after the flowers. They are usually red when ripe, but they may also be black. Flowers bloom and can be collected in spring, and the berries form in early autumn The name “hawthorn” was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe, especially the common hawthorn.

Hawthorn berries “haws” have been used to make wine and jelly and to flavor brandy for years, but not many people are aware of the impressive ways this plant has been used as a medicine. Every part of the hawthorn berry, including the flowers, berries, leaves, items and even the bark, was used to make medicines in ancient Greece, as well as food, also one time it was known as the “bread and cheese tree” because the flowers, berries and leaves are all safe to eat, so it was a lifesaver during famines. Also known as there are hundreds of hawthorn species, and each has its own set of valuable healing compounds.

The hawthorn berry bush belongs to the same family of plants as apples and roses, so it’s fitting that the fruit is usually brilliant red like roses on steroids, the berries are accompanied by long, woody thorns that can do a lot of damage if you’re not cautious.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. SO you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.