The Hawthorn tree (Crataegus spp.) is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae) and is most closely related to almonds, apples, and pears. There are many species of Hawthorns, although the exact number is debated depending on how they are classified. In a world where heart conditions continue to be a leading health concern, the search for natural remedies has gained force. Hawthorn stands out as a queen among the many botanicals used for heart health. 

Read on to learn all about this magical tree, and discover hawthorn in one of Doctor Morse's many formulas containing this herb including Blood Circulation, Strong Heart, Pancreas Support, Superfood Explosion, and High Energy by Nature.

Identifying Hawthorn

Hawthorns grow as shrubs or small trees reaching heights of anywhere from 15 to 40 ft tall, depending on the species. They bear small pomes, usually red or orange but occasionally yellow or even black. Each fruit contains one to five pyrenes or stones within and can be mealy or fleshy. Fruits mature in September through October and become sweeter after frost. The fruit is known to persist into the winter and feed wintering bird and mammal species. Branches and trunks bear thorns, and the bark is smooth and shiny in young trees before developing fissures that run longitudinally with age. The leaves are usually lobed with serrated margins but there is a wide range of shapes within the genus. The leaves grow in spirals along branches and in spur shoots on twigs where the fruit is born. Flowers have five petals and are most often white but can sometimes be found in pale pink or scarlet, especially in cultivated varieties.

Hawthorns bloom April through June and closely resemble the flowers of pears with a similarly unpleasant sweet smell almost resembling decay. They are sometimes called Mayflower as they were traditionally used for May Day celebrations.

The genus is native to many regions of the northern Hemisphere including North Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. The name Hawthorn was originally given to the tree in Europe because they were so commonly used for hedges. Haw was an old English word for hedge and thorn, of course, because they are covered in thorns. Originally called thorn hedge, later the term haw was also used to apply to the fruits. The first evidence of hawthorn tree species was found in the form of fossilized leaves from the Eocene (around 55.8-33.9 million years ago) in Eastern North American and fossilized leaves from the Oligocene (33.9-23 million years ago) in Europe. For this reason, it is believed the genus first originated in these regions.  

Hawthorn trees grow in well-drained soil in fields, along streams, in rocky areas, and as hedges across Europe. They are often drought tolerant and can grow in harsh windy locations. They are also popular street trees as they can tolerate high levels of atmospheric pollution and need little soil to thrive. Hawthorns provide food and shelter for many species of birds and mammals, forage for pollinators, and as a food source for the caterpillars of many butterfly and moth species.  

Hawthorn has been used traditionally as a food everywhere that it grows. The fruits are used to make jellies and homemade wine in Europe and young leaves and flowers were used for salads. They were eaten by native peoples across North America and by early settlers when it was the last fruit to be found in winter. Hawthorn fruits of native North American species are still used to make preserves. In Mexico, the berries are used to make special Christmas treats, candies, and punches. In China, the fruits are used to make snacks, jams, jellies, juices, and alcoholic beverages. They were used similarly in South Korea. In Iran the fruits were eaten raw or made into a jam.  

Folklore  

In European folklore hawthorn was believed to be a home to fairies and to stand at the threshold to the Otherworld. It was only ever harvested on May Day, and it was believed to be ill luck, potentially leading to death, if harvested at any other time. This story led to the flowers being banned from homes during the black plague as people associated their smell with death. Hawthorn was once believed to mend a broken heart and was associated with love and fertility. The first maypoles were made from Hawthorn wood and dancers wore crowns of hawthorn flowers. In the language of flowers, popular during the Victorian era, hawthorn was a symbol of hope.  

Hawthorn and the Heart 

It is extremely valuable to look at natural remedies that can support heart health as cardiovascular conditions are such a major issue in the world and in the United States. Looking at the statistics it is vital that we all make the health of the heart, vessels, and blood a priority. Taking care of your body, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and incorporating herbs into your life is a wonderful way to support a healthy heart.  

Traditional Use of Hawthorn 

Hawthorn has a long history of traditional use as an herbal remedy. The first record of its medical properties can be found in De Materia Medica by Dioscórides in the first century A.D. This text was one of the most important European pharmacopoeias before the modern era. Hawthorn is also mentioned in the first state-approved pharmacopoeia in China the Tang Ben Cao from 659 A.D., showing its use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hawthorn has long been used to support heart conditions related to tension, sluggishness, heart rhythm abnormalities, vascular insufficiency and much more. It was also used to support proper blood circulation. In addition to remedies for heart conditions it was used for gastrointestinal issues, to stimulate digestion, and to promote all functions of the stomach. In Europe they also took it as a diuretic, astringent, and supportive treatment in blood sugar irregularities.  

Phytochemistry 

Hawthorn contains tannins, antioxidants, flavonoids, triterpenic acids and phenolic compounds. The anioxidants include vitexin, hyperside, rutin, or vitexin-2"-O-alpa-L-rhamnoside and catechin/epicatechin derived oligomeric procyanidins are the most important constituents. Triterpenic acids (ursolic, oleanic, and crataegolic acids) and phenol carboxylic acids (chlorogenic and caffeic acids and various amines) have also been widely investigated in animal and human clinical trials. 

Modern Use of Hawthorn 

Today hawthorn is used to support various cardiovascular imbalances.  It is believed to be supportive of the entire cardiovascular system due to its positive inotropic activity, meaning that it supports the heart muscles in contracting more strongly, by increasing blood vessel wall strength, improving coronary blood flow, and supporting better oxygen utilization. It is the flavonoids found in hawthorn flowers, leaves, and fruits that are thought to be the constituents responsible for these positive effects. * 

Oligomeric procyanidins found in leaves, flowers, and fruits of hawthorn inhibit neutrophil elastase and act as free radical scavengers. It is thought that damage to the heart during ischemia (Lack of oxygen) may be caused by free radicals and the release of neutrophil elastase from neutrophils. Therefore, hawthorn may help support the heart during ischemia. Oligomeric procyanidins have also increased coronary blood flow in animal studies and supported healthy blood viscosity. * 

Studies found that hawthorn helps support patients when taking conventional heart medicines. The group taking hawthorn extracts concurrently with conventional treatments had higher workload tolerance, decreased heart rate product pressure (which measures cardiac oxygen use), and less fatigue and shortness of breath as compared to those taking the placebo. These results were seen in studies lasting from three to 16 weeks. The hawthorn extracts used were standardized to contain 18.75 percent oligomeric procyanidins and 2.2 percent flavoids.  * 

Overall, reviews of the existing studies seem positive. Not all the studies that have been conducted have shown significant results and some were flawed but all studies show overall positive outcomes when hawthorn was taken for heart weakness and other heart conditions. Multiple animal trials have shown significant positive results as an antioxidant, support of healthy inflammatory levels, prevention of platelet aggregation, anti-cardiac remodeling effects, vasodilator, endothelial protection, reduction of smooth muscle migration and proliferation, protection against ischemia, support of healthy heart rhythm, reduction of lipids, and improved blood pressure. This shows the need for further human trials to be conducted with this promising herb. * 

Drug Interactions and Side Effects 

Hawthorn may have negative drug interactions and anyone looking to take hawthorn to support a healthy heart should consult a physician if they are taking other drugs for the heart. However there have been multiple studies that have either shown little to no change in the effects of the conventional medicines or positive impacts when taken with hawthorn extracts. * 

In a study comparing hawthorn to the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (Capoten), a drug for heart failure, the hawthorn group had a measurable improvement in exercise capacity compared to those who took the captopril. This study shows that hawthorn has great potential in supporting proper heart function and that it can potentially be used to support conventional treatments.*

Another study found that when hawthorn extract was taken with digoxin there was no significant change in the absorption of digoxin. This finding indicates that hawthorn has promise as an adjunct therapy to other heart drugs rather than negatively impacting their effectiveness.*

The evidence collected from studies conducted so far and from a long history of medicinal and food use of hawthorn indicates that side effects are infrequent and mild. All species of Crataegus studied have very low toxicity and still have not been shown to cause issues at doses 100 times the recommended amount in animal trials. 

Side effects that have been reported include mild nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal upset, sweating, palpitations, sleepiness, mild rash, and agitation. These infrequent and mild reactions were found when 160-900 mg of water and ethanol extract of the leaves or flowers was administered daily in two to three doses. It is not recommended that hawthorn be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding as there isn’t clear research on the topic as of yet.   

The inotropic effects of Hawthorn may be concerning as most inotropic drugs used for heart failure have been associated with increased mortality rates. However, hawthorn has been shown to be very similar to digoxin in its therapeutic properties and digoxin is one inotrope that does not increase mortality rates due to its many other properties.*

Conclusion 

Hawthorn, with its rich history of use and promising scientific research, offers a natural and effective approach to supporting heart health. The bioactive compounds found in the berries, leaves, and flowers provide numerous cardiovascular benefits, from improving overall heart function and blood flow to reducing the risk of heart conditions.  

Incorporating hawthorn into your wellness routine can be a proactive step towards maintaining a healthy heart. Hawthorn can be found in both our Blood Circulation, Strong Heart, Pancreas Support, Superfood Explosion, and High Energy by Nature formulas. We highly encourage you to try our cardiovascular system supporting formulas and/or find more ways to incorporate hawthorn into your daily diet.  

The long history of use as both a food and an herbal remedy and the fact that studies have found very few adverse effects even at therapeutic doses shows that hawthorn is a safe and nutritive mode of supporting one of your most important systems. Hawthorn, along with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise, can contribute to a heart healthy lifestyle and enhance your overall well-being.