Why Hawthorn - Crataegus Monogyna Is An Important Medicinal Herb

Other Common Names: Common Hawthorn, Espino Albar, Haw, One-seed Hawthorn, Whitethorn, Crataegus monogyna, C. oxyacantha

Range: Europe, North Africa, Western Asia.

Habitat: Woods, hedges, thickets etc, on most soils except wet peat and poor acid sands.

Hawthorn is an extremely valuable medicinal herb. It is used mainly for treating disorders of the heart and circulation system, especially angina. Western herbalists consider it a 'food for the heart', it increases the blood flow to the heart muscles and restores normal heart beat. This effect is brought about by the presence of bioflavonoids in the fruit, these bioflavonoids are also strongly antioxidant, helping to prevent or reduce degeneration of the blood vessels.

The fruit is antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator. Both the fruits and flowers of hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure, they are also used to treat a heart muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle, arteriosclerosis and for nervous heart problems. Prolonged use is necessary for the treatment to be efficacious.

Both flowers and berries are astringent and useful in decoction to cure sore throats. A useful diuretic in dropsy and kidney troubles.

Hawthorn is combined with ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) to enhance poor memory, working by improving the blood supply to the brain.

The bark is astringent and has been used in the treatment of malaria and other fevers.

The leaves have been used as an adulterant for tea. An excellent liquer is made from Hawthorn berries with brandy.

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