Hawthorn for the Heart

Hawthorn is one of the best-known herbs for the heart. This slightly cooling herb is often classified as antihypertensive, anti-anginal, and anti-cholesterol (Herb Mentor). In David Hoffman’s book, Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine, he says, “…Crataegus can be considered a specific remedy for most cardiovascular disease.” Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are both factors that contribute to heart disease, which is why the high flavonoid levels in hawthorn are thought to protect the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers can all be used to strengthen and benefit the heart.

Hawthorn is widely used by both eastern and western herbalists for the heart, although, traditionally, eastern herbalists attributed hawthorn berries to digestive remedies.

According to Herb Mentor, the following therapeutic amounts for hawthorn are recommended:

· Tea- Up to 30 grams of berries AND up to 30 grams of leaves and flowers per day

· Tincture (fresh berries)- 1:1 ratio / 40%-60% alcohol / 5 mL, 3-5 times per day

· Tincture (dried leaves and flowers)- 1:5 ratio / 30% alcohol / 5 mL, 3 times per day

Herbalist, Rosalee de la Foret, recommends using hawthorn berries, leaves, or flowers daily and long term for best results.

Besides traditional uses, modern science is also showing that Hawthorn is worth some

serious consideration when wanting to nourish the heart and improve cardiovascular health.

Multiple studies done on lab rats have shown that hawthorn extract significantly reduced loss of cardiac function, inflammation, oxidative stress, and arrythmia markers as compared to a control group (Cheng, Alp). But these are animal studies, therefore heart failure was artificially induced, and herbal intervention was not given in a traditional way.

I am more interested in all of the wonderful human studies that have been done with amazing results!

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial published in 2005, showed that hawthorn significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (2.6 mmHg) as compared to the control group (Walker).

Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial done on 42 patients with dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of lipids—such as cholesterol and triglycerides— in their blood), showed that patients who took an herbal supplement containing Crataegus pinnatifida for 12 weeks had a significant improvement in plasma LDL-C levels as compared to those taking a placebo (Miao).

And finally, my favorite study, published in 2012, was also a a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on humans. Both the control group and the experiment group had 30 patients, each with stage I hypertension. None of the 60 patients were taking any allopathic medications. The experiment group was given a 450 mg hawthorn extract capsule to take twice daily for 12 weeks. The control group was given a placebo capsule to take twice daily for 12 weeks. Both groups were given an identical diet and exercise plan. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting lipid profiles were done on all participants at onset of the experiment, as well as at the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of treatment. At the end of the 4th week, there was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for the hawthorn group, as compared to the control group. These drops continued throughout the study, and by the end of the 12 weeks, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure had returned to normal range for the hawthorn group, thus they were no longer in hypertension. The placebo group did not show a significant decrease in blood pressure. By the end of the 12 weeks, the hawthorn group had a significant reduction in mean total cholesterol and LDL, where the control group did not have a significant decrease in cholesterol and LDL. By the end of the experiment, there was a significant increase in HDL in the hawthorn group, as compared to the placebo group (Al-Gareeb).

Master herbalist, Paul Bergner, says in How to Become a Master Herbalist in Thirty Years or More that the four ways to move towards mastery of herbs are instinct, tradition, science, and experience. Therefore, I am going to share my experience using hawthorn here.

In January of 2020, I (Amy) was very sick with what I later believed to have been COVID 19, although there was no testing available at the time. After recovering from the initial illness, I developed a heart arrythmia. It persisted for several months but seemed to improve with nutrition and exercise. Then, out of the blue, in February of 2021, I was sitting with some friends, and my heart rate spiked so high that I lost consciousness. I was taken to the ER, admitted for observation, and finally released with a diagnosis of SVT and a prescription for statins.

After seeing my doctor and two cardiologists and all three having differing opinions on what I should do, ranging from nothing to an invasive heart procedure, I started researching herbs for my specific symptoms. I started with Hibiscus flower but ended up with Hawthorn.

I have been drinking a daily hawthorn infusion for around five months now. I had one instance of "fluttery heart" towards the beginning of starting it but have had no issues since. I still have a higher than "normal" heart rate, but I am no longer lying in bed feeling like my heart is about to beat out of my chest each night. My research and experience solidified my initial intuitions, and I am hopeful that I will be able to continue living a healthy, long life, without medications or surgeries.

*John and Amy are not doctors. If you have questions or concerns about using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications, please talk with your doctor.