Hawthorn For Heart Health

Hawthorn trees can be easily spotted this time of year, they are deciduous so all their little leaves have dropped, but their beautiful red haws remain for the winter and are an important food source for wild life. They are native to Europe, Asia, Northwest Africa and are now widespread throughout North America. Hawthorn is a member of the Rose family and has also been known as Mayblossom, Mayberry and Maybush, as its small white flowers are in full bloom come May 1st, or Mayday, which marks the ancient spring celebration of Beltane. In Celtic mythology it is one of the most sacred trees and symbolizes love and protection.

Hawthorn is best known by Herbalists as having cardio-protective benefits, due to its antioxidant compounds and low hypotensive action, with a specific affinity for supporting cardiovascular tissues in the blood vessels and heart muscle.

Herbal Actions

Cardio-tonic: favorable effect upon the action of the heart.

Cardio-protective: serving to protect the heart or coronary arteries, due to the effects of specific flavonoids in Hawthorns.

Antioxidant: reduces free radical damage to cells.

Collagen stabilizing: stabilizes collagen and protects it from degradation, improving connective tissues.

Mild astringent: helps to tone mucus membranes and dry up conditions of excess.

Hypotensive: strengthens contractility of cardiac muscles, improving conditions where hypertension is secondary to weak contractility.

Antiarrythmic: alleviates spasms and lowers blood sugar.

Diuretic: quality which helps reduce blood pressure.

Anti-ischemic: Improves coronary circulation by dilating coronary arteries and relieving cardiac hypoxemia.

Positively-inotropic: Increases the contractility of the cardiac muscle by enhancing the energy of heart muscle cells.

The benefits of Hawthorns have been applied to a variety of heart conditions, such as degeneration of the cardiovascular system, mild congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, recovery from heart attack and the gradual age-related loss of cardiac function. Clinical trials of Hawthorn compounds on patients in the New York Heart Association, class II chronic heart failure study, revealed significantly less fatigue stress, dyspnea and palpitations.

Another study followed patients for two years, finding that those taking Hawthorn had significant improvements in the three main symptoms of heart disease—including fatigue, pain with increased exertion, and palpitations—as compared with the control group. The researchers concluded that Hawthorn had a clear benefit for patients with mild to moderate heart failure.

A statement on Hawthorn berries from Medical Herbalism states, "It causes no toxicity, accumulation, or habituation and is safe for long-term use in the elderly". It is gentle enough for anyone to implement its use, however if you have low blood pressure, or take any form of heart medication you should consult with your doctor before taking Hawthorn as a remedy.

Hawthorns can be consumed in a variety of ways, such as tinctures, teas, wines and jams, there are many recipes on the internet to experiment with, I like to dry the berries and use a small handful in tea blends, up to 30g of Hawthorn berries can be consumed per day.

Below is a Hawthorn Cordial recipe I made at the end of last year, which I bottled up for family members and was a huge hit, taken from the book, Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies That Heal by Rosalee de la Forêt.

Hawthorn Cordial Recipe

This hawthorn cordial recipe combines the nourishing qualities of hawthorn with delicious spices that help digestion. Enjoy in small amounts after an evening meal. Serve 1-3 teaspoons in about 1 cup of sparkling water for a low alcohol cocktail.

1 cup dried hawthorn berries (80 grams)

1 apple, chopped, seeds removed

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger 3 cardamom pods, crushed

1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise

1 cinnamon stick

zest of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons dried hibiscus

1/3 cup unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice

1/2 cup honey, or to taste

2 cups brandy

Place all of the herbs, spices, and fruit in a 1-quart jar. Add the pomegranate juice and honey, then fill the jar the rest of the way with brandy (approximately 2 cups). Infuse this for 4 weeks, shaking often. Strain. This can be stored in a dark, cool location and is best consumed within 1 year.

Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups