The Heartfelt Benefits of Hawthorn

When I was in school earning my bachelor’s degree for Integrative Health Sciences with Herbal Medicine focus, I had this wonderful professor. I had many wonderful professors; but. this one, I LOVED. He just had a way about him. He loved teaching. He loved herbs. He loved nature. And he had a way of bringing more to nature than just the indications, contraindications, studies, etc that all classes included. (Now I am going to give you what I remember noting that mine, like everyone else’s memory, can be fallible; but, it is all the impression I got and my recollection to the best of my ability.) This professor taught us how to make true licorice candies that even I liked (and I do not like black licorice. This one lesson changed my mind about true licorice root). He wrote and sang songs about herbs while playing his guitar. Goofy songs usually, but that’s what made it so fun. He even made making marshmallow whip seem like a blast. I immediately bought a whipper with whippets to make my own. I mean, I grow Marshmallow after all. (Every time I say that, I have someone say, “I didn’t know marshmallow was an herb. Well, it is, and will be featured down the road. I promise). One of the most memorable lessons that he taught, was that which was on Hawthorn. This professor, I will use initials for his privacy, G.N., was informative and made me just really crave to know more.

So, to start with, Hawthorn is a cardiovascular herb. This is why the title of this edition. The Heartfelt Benefits of Hawthorn. As Professor G.N. spoke of it, he brought in the figurative as well. He spoke of how the Hawthorn tree, has many components in growth, just like many herbs. But he likened the flower to being like a wide open heart full of potential and beauty. It’s beautiful and delicate blossoms were said to have once been used to decorate May poles. And since then, I have observed and love the way the center (pistons) sway like a heart gently beating life into the tree. It just so happens that the tree in my friends yard, that they so staunchly hate (in their defense, they have to mow beneath it and there is a reason it is called a HawTHORN tree) is a Hawthorn. So, I, who never knew what it was before, have had the privilege of watching in the years since my education began.

But I digress. He then goes on to talk about the berry of the Hawthorn, when ripe, being a visual reminder of the heart. It is bright red and at the flower’s center where the swaying pistons used to be, as if the transformed. It has now grow into this beautiful and now useful fruit.

Of course, he had to talk about what many, like my friends who must mow beneath it, feel is negative. This tree grows some very large thorns. I mean large and long thorns. Many are two and three inches coming off of each branch and stem. While this seems to be a nightmare, it does serve a purpose. And as most know, nature has a way of protecting itself. These thorns do exactly that. From experience (as I harvest a small portion of my friends tree) these thorns will RIP YOU APART. This trees thorns keep predators out (including many humans who aren’t quite as crazy as I am); but, it also protects small animals and birds who are able to get through without damage. These smallest of creatures are able to shelter safely here. The Hawthorn lovingly protects the most vulnerable. (Yes, I am going to make this all about love and the heart with no shame. It is what attracted me to this particular herb the most). The thorns were also used to make needles for sewing. What a wonderful use! (As long as it is done responsibly and not taking so much of the tree as to damage and hurt the tree, of course).

That’s all fun and good but I imagine what you really want to know is the benefits that come with Hawthorn which happens to be the star ingredient of our exclusive signature tisane (tea) Beautifully Open Heart. Well, Hawthorn has been shown to have antineoplastic effects (Min & Kim et al, 2000). Antineoplastics are “anti-cancer.” Taking them does not mean it keeps you from getting cancer, but these are often used in chemotherapy and cancer treatment drugs. Not necessarily Hawthorn, but Hawthorn has been shown to have similar effects. I don’t want to mislead anyone and have people going out and trying to cure their cancer with Hawthorn or any other herb. I believe in integrative health meaning, using all modalities together. Not replacing western meds and modalities with holistic altogether. Also, some herbs are beneficial for some conditions in one form and other conditions in another form. Keep that in mind and always consult your doctor before doing anything different please! Hawthorn also has dermatologic, anti-oxidant, and anti-platelet effects.

The effect that No Crutches is most familiar with in regard to this herb, is its cardiovascular effects. Hawthorn has been shown to work on the muscle tissue of the heart increasing cardiac blood flow and reducing oxygen consumption (Pittler, Schmidt, & Ernst, 2003). Some of the other properties leads to increased vasodilation decreasing blood pressure. (So keep this in mind if you already struggle with low blood pressure!). (Schwinger & Pietsch et al, 2000). What we love about it is that these effects often lead to anxiety reduction. There have been studies done showing that Hawthorn, in conjunction with other herbs, has had a mild to moderate effect on anxiety reduction (Hanus, Lafon, & Mattieu, 2004), (Bourin & Bougerol et al, 1997), (Dodd &Kennedy et al, 2022). And, who wouldn’t feel more relaxed with a nice cup of hot (though can be iced also), delicious, and aromatic tisane (tea).

All of this being said, as with any herb or drug, there are some interactions to be aware of. This herb does interact with anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. The interaction is considered moderate and it is advised to not use Hawthorn with these. It also interacts negatively with nitrates and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. You should absolutely not combine these. There is no reliable information on using Hawthorn while pregnant and lactating so No Crutches advises to avoid using during these beautiful moments.

Also, please remember that we at No Crutches, are not doctors or medical professionals of any kind. We do not treat, diagnose, prescribe, etc. We encourage you to do research and speak to your own healthcare professionals. Always.

With that all said, if you’d like to try some of our delicious tisanes…Click on the shop button. Ingredients are included in the description. For any further questions, comments, concerns. Feel free to contact us at anytime and we will get back to you with any info we have that may assist, as soon as possible.

Enjoy the wonderful benefits of Hawthorn!

Bourin M, Bougerol T, Guitton B, Broutin E. A combination of plant extracts in the treatment of outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood: controlled study vs placebo. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 1997;11:127-32.

Dodd F, Kennedy D, Wightman E, et al. The chronic effects of a combination of herbal extracts (Euphytose) on psychological mood state and response to a laboratory stressor: A randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind study in healthy humans. J Psychopharmacol 2022;36(11):1243-1256

Hanus M, Lafon J, Mathieu M. Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders. Curr Med Res Opin 2004;20:63-71.

Hawthorn. [Monograph]. NatMed. (7 Dec 2023).

Min, B. S., Kim, Y. H., Lee, S. M., Jung, H. J., Lee, J. S., Na, M. K., Lee, C. O., Lee, J. P., and Bae, K. Cytotoxic triterpenes from Crataegus pinnatifida. Arch Pharm Res 2000;23(2):155-158.

Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure: meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Med 2003;114:665-74

Schwinger RH, Pietsch M, Frank K, Brixius K. Crataegus special extract WS 1442 increases force of contraction in human myocardium cAMP-independently. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2000;35:700-7