Hawthorne Berry
What is it? Hawthorne berry - also known as hawthorn belongs to the Rosaceae family. It's cousins are rose, peach, apple, almond, and strawberry. Hawthorne can grow to a spiny thirty-foot tree, but it is more often a bushy shrub or hedge plant. It's berries yield a bitter taste that is red to blue in color. A Little History Originally native to Europe, Germany used hawthorne as a hedge to divide plots of land, its sharp thorns was used to ward off intruders. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was rich in symbolism, linked to hope, happiness, and marriage (love) and, as such, it was often woven into bridal bouquets. In ancient Rome, hawthorne leaves were placed in babies' cradles to ward off evil spirits. However, the arrival of Christianity had a much different view of hawthorne. It was believed that it furnished Christ's crown of thorns, and, as a result, hawthorne became a symbol of bad luck and impending death. Traditionally, the herb was used medicinally to treat digestive disturbances and insomnia. However, around the late 19th century European physicians discovered that the berries from hawthorne also harbored cardiotonic properties, meaning it benefited the heart.
Benefits of Hawthorne Berry How can it Benefit you? Today, hawthorne is highly recognized as a superstar herb for the heart and cardiovascular system. It has the ability to dilate (enlarge or open) the coronary arteries (the vessels that supply blood to the heart), thus improving blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. It also strengthens the hearts pumping ability (muscle), helping the heart to beat more forcefully and efficiently. In addition, hawthorne appears to dilate the highways of other blood vessels around the body, thereby allowing blood to circulate more freely with less strain on the heart.
Another benefit of hawthorne berry is that it harbors potent antioxidant properties, which are believed to exert cholesterol lowering effects and reduce the accumulation of fatty plague in the arteries – the hallmark of atherosclerosis. However, more evidence is needed to support its cholesterol lowering effects.
Nonetheless, the powerful actions of hawthorne berry has been used for several heart and cardiovascular conditions such as: In fact, hawthorne berry standardized extracts is an approved treatment for heart disease in Western Europe! Moreover, it is often prescribed in European herbal medicine as a premier cardiotonic to simply support normal heart functions. Side Effects of Hawthorne Berry What are the Precautions? Hawthorne is recognized as a safe herb with rare side effects such as nausea, sweating, and fatigue. However, hawthorne may interfere or potentiate with the effects of drugs used for angina, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure and, as such, use this herb only in consultation with a physician. Moreover, hawthorne is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment as all of these aforementioned conditions are serious and require professional medical care.
Children and pregnant or nursing women should only use this herb under the direction of a physician. Taking large doses of hawthorne may have some side effects such as sedation, or an extreme drop in blood pressure, which may cause one to feel faint. Bottom line…. Always speak to a physician before taking any dietary supplements. Tips on Choosing a Hawthorne Berry Supplement 1. When choosing a supplement make sure it's produced from standardized extracts. Hawthorne extracts should be standardized to 1.8% of vitexin (it's also known as vitexin-2-rhamnoside). This is the herb's primary active ingredient.
2. To reap the maximum benefits of hawthorne berry, select a supplement produced at GMP compliant facilities. These companies adhere to the most rigorous manufacturing standard requirements, thus ensuring the supplements potency and purity. Click here to learn more.
We hope this hawthorne web-page was useful to you. To reap the benefits of hawthorne berry, select a supplement produced at GMP compliant facilities. These companies adhere to the most rigorous manufacturing standard requirements, thus ensuring the supplements potency and purity.
To Your Heart's Health! The Editors
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