Cardiotonic, Antiarrhythmic, Hypotensive, Cholesterol-lowering, Vasodilator, Mild sedative, Diuretic, Antioxidant
Polyphenols, Flavonoids
This Site is for Educational Use Only: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a licensed medical professional. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any medicinal plants, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Yes Hawthorn. No, not Gale... I'm, sorry I'm so obsessed with the Hunger Games I can't help but mention it in every relevant plant! I know. I'm sorry. But it's giving Gale whether we like it or not and I refuse to pretend otherwise.
Hawthorn is called the fruit of the heart, which sounds like something you'd find stitched on a Victorian sampler but is actually a pretty accurate description of what it does. It supports blood flow through the coronary arteries directly to the heart, lowers blood pressure, and is a powerful antioxidant thanks to high levels of procyanidins, a flavonoid that does the heavy antioxidant lifting here. It also supports overall artery health and circulation, which is why it may help people with Raynaud's syndrome specifically.
And now for my favorite fun fact in this entire database so far: in the 19th century, an Irish physician named Dr. Green (I KNOW. Right on the nose.) became locally famous for his secret heart disease remedy. People were very impressed. His secret? A tincture made of hawthorn berries. That's it. That was the secret. Sometimes the old ways are just correct.
The berries themselves are tiny, red, and honestly very cute. The flowers are delicate and white. It's a pretty plant doing serious cardiovascular work, which is a combination I do be lovin'. The berries are also sour enough to use in desserts, so medicinal and culinary overlap once again.
Safety note: Hawthorn can interact with certain medications, particularly anything heart or blood pressure related, so this is genuinely one to run by your doctor before adding to your routine. Stomach upset and headaches are occasionally reported but pretty rare. Don't let that stop you from appreciating Dr. Green's legacy though.
Hawthorn https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hawthorn
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) Clinically Significantly Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12298042/
Herbal Remedies by Andrew Chevallier
Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No provider-patient relationship is created by use of this site. The author makes no representations regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and assumes no liability for any adverse effects resulting from the use of plants or remedies described herein.
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Science updates over time. A 2003 study on a supplement may have been contradicted twelve times since. Always look for the publication date and whether newer research exists. "Studies show" means nothing without a timestamp.
Who funded the study? A supplement company funding research on their own supplement is a conflict of interest. It's not automaticly a disqualification, but worth noting. Look for the "funding" or "disclosures" section of any study you read.
Not all research is equal. A randomized controlled trial carries more weight than a case study or an animal study. "A study found..." could mean ten people in a lab or a decade-long population study. The difference matters enormously.
If only one source is saying something, be skeptical. If ten independent sources across different institutions, different countries, different decades are saying the same thing, you're getting warmer. Consensus is earned, not declared. Studies should be peer reviewed.
The National Institutes of Health database (PubMed) is free and searchable. Examine.com aggregates supplement research without selling anything. Both are significantly more reliable than any wellness influencer, including me.
