Plant Extract Reverses Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Angina

Current research shows that Hawthorn is beneficial in treating conditions of the heart which includes angina, atherosclerosis, elevated cholesterol levels (although more study is needed current studies seem to suggest this) and high blood pressure. Hawthorn reduces the burden placed on the heart and has been used successfully on other countries to strengthen and feed the heart, it also helps with valve murmurs, enlarged heart and helps regulate and normalizes rapid or slow heart beat, as well as normalizing high or low blood pressure (studies suggest that hawthorn can be taken safely by people with hypertension who are also taking blood pressure medications).

Hawthorn has been shown to combat angina, a condition resulting from insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, by increasing oxygen and blood flow to the heart. This herb also has antioxidant properties the help protect against the formation of plaques which lead to atherosclerosis, it is the plaque buildup in the vessels that supply the heart that cause chest pain and heart attacks while plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the brain may result in stroke.

Hawthorn contains two substances in particular , from many, which are most likely to contribute to hawthorns beneficial effects on the heart, and those are flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) which have potent antioxidant effects. Flavonoids help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow, and increase heart rate. The berries, leaves and flowers of the hawthorn plant are used for medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers of this plant are believed to contain substantially more of the active compounds than the berries.

Hawthorn is available in capsules, tablets, tinctures, standardized fluid extracts, or solid extracts. When purchasing hawthorn in extract form be sure that it is standardized to contain between 1.8% to 2.0% vitexins. The dosage will vary depending on the manufacturer but always follow the recommended dosage. Remember that herbs contain active substances that can cause side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care and under the supervision of a practioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine. If you are pregnant, do not use hawthorn. There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of hawthorn, therefore it is not recommended for use by children.

Do not use hawthorn if you are being treated with Digoxin or Phenylephrine.

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) gives hawthorn a class 1 safety rating indicating that it is a very safe and has a wide dosage range.

Supporting research:
Bahouran T, Trotin F, Pommery J, Vasseur J, Pinkas M. Antioxidant activities of Crataegus monogyna extracts. Planta Med. 1994;60:323-328.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medicinal; 1998:82-83.

Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal. 4th ed. New York: The Hawthorn Herbal Press; 1999:205-207.

Fugh-Berman A. Herbs and dietary supplements in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiol. 2000;3(1): 24-32.

Mashour NH, Lin GI, Frishman WH. Herabl medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Arch Internal Med. 1998;158:2225-2234.