Hawthorn Herb
Uses Of The Hawthorn Herb
The hawthorn herb grows as a bush or small tree and is most often grown as an ornamental. It is a member of the rose family and of the genus Crataegus oxyacantha. As well known as the hawthorn is as an ornamental, it may be even better known for its medical and culinary properties. The leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruit of the hawthorn are all edible, and have many uses.
Culinary Uses - The leaves of the hawthorn herb may be chewed, providing a mild sedative action, though the leaves should not be confused with a mind-altering drug. The hawthorn herb is in general a very safe plant to ingest and provides many benefits. The fruit is often used in making jams and jellies, and the seeds can be roasted, ground, and made into a drink like coffee. From a nutritional standpoint, hawthorn berries are rich in flavonoids, vitamin C, and the complex B vitamins. The leaves can even be used as a substitute for tobacco. Hawthorn smoke can't be said to benefit the lungs, quite the opposite, but hawthorn leaves contain no nicotine. The hawthorn herb is very useful in the kitchen, but it is because of its medicinal properties that the plant really shines. Three hybrid species of hawthorn, C. laevigata, C. monogyna, and C. pinnatifida, are considered the premier species as far as medicinal purposes are concerned. These species in particular have given the Hawthorn herb the nickname "the Heart Herb".
A Cardiotonic - Containing a number of different acids, cyanins, hormones, as well as choline and saponin, the hawthorn herb is proven and effective as a treatment for several heart ailments, including mild cases of heart failure, both high and low blood pressure, and angina. The hawthorn herb works to dilate blood vessels and smooth out the interior walls of blood vessels, and in doing so improves circulation as well as eases the load on the heart. Hawthorn will also increase heart rate. It works in many ways similar to digitalis; in fact the two are synergistic, though digitalis usually works more quickly.
The choline in the berries helps control cholesterol levels, by breaking up the fat particles such that they easily pass through the walls of the blood vessels and into bodily tissues. In this respect, hawthorn is sometimes referred to as a cardiotonic. The mechanisms by which the hawthorn herb works to treat various heart conditions is imperfectly understood, aside from the its known ability to dilate blood vessels. Because it does work so powerfully, especially in tandem with digitalis, some caution in using the herb is probably advisable, although there is little to indicate that the use of the herb is in any way dangerous. There are other heart conditions that hawthorn appears to be useful in treating, though evidence as to its effectiveness is in many cases lacking.
The hawthorn herb is also known as having anti-spasmodic and diuretic properties. It can play a role in weight loss, as chewing the leaves is known to reduce hunger pangs and it is generally believed, though not scientifically proven, that hawthorn benefits the digestive system.
Some Cautions - The hawthorn herb is generally considered safe, and side effects from ingesting it are usually quite mild, if present at all. A note of caution however is it should be noted that the herb is a very powerful one. It may react with other herbs or medications in a synergistic manner, making them even more powerful than normal. Conversely, some herbs or medications may nullify the effects of the hawthorn and vice versa. In this respect, getting the advice of a professional is usually a better approach than attempting to put in place a program of self-medication.