Hawthorn has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and has long been believed to have benefits for heart health and the treatment of heart diseases. In the 1800s, doctors in the United States started to use hawthorn berries in treatments for respiratory illnesses and various circulatory disorders, ranging from irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure to chest pain and heart failure.
Various parts of the plant are still used medicinally today, and some research indicates it can have some effectiveness when used for mild to moderate heart conditions.
Here’s an overview of what you should know about hawthorn vitamins and supplements in Humble, TX.
Properties of hawthorn
The hawthorn plant is a thorny shrub that can grow to be up to about five feet tall. It’s often found in wooded areas and on hillsides, and features flowers that bloom in May in white, red or pink clusters. Its small berries (referred to as “haws”) sprout after the flowers, and are red when ripe, but can occasionally be black.
There are a variety of substances in hawthorn that are known to benefit the heart. It is rich in antioxidant flavonoids that can help to dilate blood vessels and protect them from damage, in addition to improving blood flow throughout the body.
The berries, flowers and leaves have all been used for varying medicinal purposes over the course of thousands of years. In modern settings, the flowers and leaves are generally used more frequently than the berries because they are believed to have more of those flavonoids, but the berries are still useful in certain types of remedies.
Benefits of hawthorn
Here are just a few examples of some of the benefits of hawthorn when used for medicinal purposes:
- Combating chest pain: Some evidence indicates that hawthorn can help fight against chest pain, which is frequently a result of low blood flow to the heart. The flavonoids in hawthorn that help to open up the blood vessels and improve blood flow deliver effects that can lessen some of the symptoms of chest pain experienced by people with heart conditions. More studies are required for there to be certainty with regard to its effectiveness, but early research is promising.
- Protecting against heart failure: Studies have been performed into the use of hawthorn among people with heart failure, referring to a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to organs throughout the body. While it alone cannot resolve heart failure, the benefits of the flavonoids and substances within the hawthorn can provide some relief from symptoms associated with heart failure.
- Alleviate high blood pressure: Evidence indicates hawthorn can be used to help combat high blood pressure and hypertension, though no solid evidence points to exactly how much it can be expected to lower high blood pressure.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of using hawthorn as a remedy for various circulatory conditions? For information about hawthorn vitamins and supplements in Humble, TX, visit or reach out to A Gift of Health Today.