Hawthorn for The Heart

Hawthorn Tea (Crataegus monogyna)

• Hawthorn flowers, leaves, and berries have long been used to prepare medicinal teas and tinctures, and in recent years hawthorn has become popular with natural healers for treating heart ailments.
• Hawthorn has the ability to strengthen the heart muscle, promote blood flow and lower blood pressure. In fact, hawthorn may be a source of new heart drugs. It is also good for irregular heartbeats and palpitations and may help prevent heart disease in older people. These effects are developed over many months. Therefore, the tea should be taken daily over a long period. Even with prolonged use, no side effects have been reported.
• Therapeutic effects come primarily from pigments known as flavonoids and from the glycoside oxycanthine. Hawthorn is often combined with other herbs to dilate blood vessels, thereby stimulating blood flow to the heart and lowering blood pressure. The herb also increases calcium concentration in the heart muscle, which has a strengthening effect. In addition, hawthorn calms the nervous system and has antispasmodic capabilities.
• The tea helps the heart recover more quickly and protects it against damage from pathogens
• Hawthorm may help to counteract a number of age-related changes in the heart, including angina and heart rhythm disorders. Taken regularly, hawthorn improves blood circulation in the coronary vessels, strengthening the heart and helping restore a regular heartbeat.
• Hawthorn tea may help relieve palpitations, chest pains or other heart problems that can arise during menopause

Caution – Do not use hawthorn if your doctor has prescribed digoxin and lanoxin. Talk to me or any Naturopathic Doctor before starting Hawthorn.

For high blood pressure 

• ¾ oz hawthorn flowers, ¾ oz valerian root, ¾ lemon-balm leaves
• Use 1 tsp of the herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Allow the tea to steep for 10 min and then strain. This tea mixture lowers blood pressure and also has a calming effect on the nerves.

For weak heart

• ¾ oz hawthorn flowers, ¾ oz hawthorn leaves, ¾ oz goldenrod
• Use 1-2 tsp of the herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Steep the herbs for 10min, strain. This tea strengthens the heart and helps it pump efficiently. It also has a diuretic effect that helps to counter fluid retention (edema)

For irregular heartbeat

• ¾ oz hawthorn flowers, ¾ oz hawthorn leaves, ¾ oz valerian root
• Use 1-2 tsp of herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10min and then strain. This tea regulates racing heartbeats and palpitations, particularly in people with heart-rhythm disorders. It also helps to relieve nervousness.