| The name "hawthorn" is
derived from "hedgethorn," reflecting this spiny tree's use as a
living fence in much of Europe. Besides protecting estates from trespassers,
hawthorn has also been used medicinally since ancient times. Roman
physicians used hawthorn as a heart drug in the first century A.D., but most of
the literature from that period focuses on its symbolic use for religious rites
and political ceremonies. During the Middle Ages, hawthorn was used for the
treatment of dropsy, a condition we now call congestive heart failure. It
was also used for treating other heart ailments as well as for sore throat. It
is also used in herbal and supplemental blends targeting arrhythmia, heart
attack, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and many forms of cardiovascular
disease.
WHAT IS HAWTHORN USED FOR?
Hawthorn is widely regarded in modern Europe as a safe and effective treatment
for the early stages of congestive heart failure. Although not as potent as that
other famous heart herb of the Middle Ages, foxglove, hawthorn is much
safer. The active ingredients in foxglove are the drugs Digoxin and
Digitoxin. However, hawthorn does not appear to have any single active
ingredient. This has prevented it from being turned into a drug.
Like foxglove and the drugs made from it, hawthorn appears to improve the
heart's pumping ability. But it offers one very important advantage.
Digitalis and some other medications that increase the power of the heart also
make it more irritable and liable to dangerous irregularities of rhythm. In
contrast, hawthorn has the unique property of both strengthening the heart and
stabilizing it against arrhythmias by lengthening what is called the refractory
period. This term refers to the short period following a heartbeat
during which the heart cannot beat again. Many irregularities of heart
rhythm begin with an early beat. Digitalis shortens the refractory period,
making such a premature beat more likely, while hawthorn protects against such
potentially dangerous breaks in the heart's even rhythm. Also, with digitalis
the difference between the proper dosage and the toxic dosage is very small.
Hawthorn has an enormous range of safe dosing. Nevertheless, we don't recommend
self-treating congestive heart failure! The disease is simply too dangerous.
There are also medical treatments (such as ACE inhibitors) that have been proven
to save lives in CHF, a benefit that hawthorn may not provide. You need a
physician versed in both conventional and alternative medicine to guide you if
you wish to use hawthorn for this condition.
There is one condition in which you may be able to safely use hawthorn as a
self-treatment: annoying heart palpitations that have been thoroughly evaluated
and found to be benign. Common symptoms include occasional thumping as well as
episodes of racing heartbeat. These may occur without any identifiable
medical cause and may not require any medical treatment, except for purposes of
comfort. Although there is little scientific evidence to support it, many people
use hawthorn for this condition.
However, because there are many dangerous kinds of heart palpitations, it is
absolutely necessary to get a thorough checkup first. You should only self-treat
with hawthorn after a doctor tells you that you have no medically significant
heart problems. Full benefits may take a month or two to develop. Finally,
hawthorn sometimes lowers blood pressure a little, but seldom enough to make a
significant difference. It may be helpful for other heart-related
conditions, such as angina and atherosclerosis in general, but there is as yet
little direct evidence.
WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR USING HAWTHORN?
There has been a significant amount of solid research regarding the use of
hawthorn as a treatment for congestive heart failure. Between the years 1981 and
1994, 14 controlled clinical studies of hawthorn were performed, most of
them double-blind. A total of 741 people participated in these trials.
The cumulative results strongly suggest that hawthorn is an effective
treatment for congestive heart failure. Comparative studies suggest that
hawthorn is about as effective as a low dose of the conventional drug
"Captopril".
DOSAGE
The standard dosage of hawthorn is 100 to 300 mg 3 times daily of an extract
standardized to contain about 2 to 3% flavonoids or 18 to 20% procyanidins.
Full effects may take several weeks or even months to develop. Especially
for severe heart and cardiovascular problems.
SAFETY CONCERNS
Hawthorn appears to be safe. Germany's Commission E lists no known risks,
contraindications, or drug interactions with hawthorn, and mice and rats have
been given phenomenal doses without showing significant toxicity. However, since
hawthorn affects the heart, it shouldn't be combined with other heart drugs
without a doctor's supervision. People with especially low blood pressure should
also exercise caution. Side effects are rare, mostly consisting of mild stomach
upset and occasional allergic reactions (skin rash).
Hawthorn is also known as:
Haw , May , Whitehorn, English hawthorn,
Mayflower, May bush, Mayblossom
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