Hawthorn made using the leaves, flowers, and fruit. This tincture is a process of making it over 6 months with the flowers and leaves from the spring and berries from the fall.

Used as a cardiac tonic. It is a go to herb for any heart condition . It is used both for the physical and emotional heart. It may increase the strength of the heart muscle and reduces cholesterol and plaque deposits in the arteries. It may be used in cases of angina, high blood pressure, early stages of congestive heart failure, and atherosclerosis.

“Naturopathic physician Michael T. Murray (1995) explains that hawthorn’s flavonoids help protect and stabilize the collagen matrix within the artery by cross-linking fibers, scavenging free radicals, quenching inflammation, and inhibiting the release of inflammatory agents. Maintaining sound arterial integrity and protecting the arterial walls from lesions discourage cholesterol deposits. Hawthorn also inhibits LDL oxidation (Quettier-Deleu et al., 2003)” from the Herbarium Herbal Academy

It has also been used for digestive problems such as diarrhea. Made with organic hawthorn flower, leaves, and berries, and organic gluten free alcohol.

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

Hawthorn is native to our area in the northern hemisphere. It is considered a large shrub or small tree and flowers in the early spring. It is easy to spot as the flowers are white with pink stamens and the branches have sharp long thorns on them as it is in the rose family. Hawthorn has also been referred to as thorn-apple because of this. The flowers, leaves and berries are used. The berries are best when harvested after the 1st frost but in our area sometimes if you wait too long you lose the chance to harvest at all as the birds eat them or they fall to the ground. I like to put a sheet under the bushes when I can and shake to get the berries out. That isn’t always easy, and I do find myself hand picking them which is time consuming but also enjoyable and quite a Zen opportunity. The berries are red, so they are easy to spot. To make a hawthorn tincture it is actually a 6 month or more process because it is best to use the spring flowers and leaves and then the fall berries and mix both tinctures together.

Superstitions and folklore in Celtic countries say that if you inflict pain or danger on the hawthorn that it can cause havoc amongst the fairies and bring bad luck to that individual. You can see hawthorns left in the middle of fields out of fear of bad luck by cutting them down. Farmers didn’t want to take the chance of any bad luck, so they left them standing. Now hawthorns are planted in gardens to use as protection.

Hawthorn is astringent, meaning it is high in tannin’s, if you have ever used the tincture or tried the leaf or berry and it feels like it is making your mouth dry that is because it is tightening up the tissue and preventing the mouth from secreting fluids. Hawthorns berries are high in antioxidants which help with inflammation and keep the elasticity of the blood vessels which helps to prevent the formation of arterial plaque deposits. They are a cardio tonic and Trophorestorative, making it known for its support of the cardiovascular system, circulation, blood flow, and cholesterol. It can actually help to reduce blood pressure by opening and relaxing blood vessels which allows more blood to flow through from the heart. It also tones and strengthens the wall of the blood vessels as well. It is said that it can help to regulate not only high blood pressure but also low blood pressure as it strengthens the entire cardiovascular system and increases overall function. As Sajah Popham says, “This is slightly paradoxical actually, as on the one hand it’s relaxing the vessels to widen them, while at the same time tightening and tonifying the inner wall of the vessel.”

Hawthorn can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). It can lower fat in the bloodstream. It improves circulation to the body and to the heart tissue as well through the coronary artery. Hawthorn is a gentle herb that can be used to treat most heart related conditions, especially when used over a period of time.

Hawthorn also gets used as a good digestive remedy helping to stimulate digestion, especially with heavier foods like fats and meats. Because of its ability to help break down lipids it also helps to improve metabolism; it can reduce stagnant food in the GI tract. Hawthorn has a mild calming and can relieve tension on the nervous system, the GI system, and the cardiovascular system. It is a moderate sedative and works well for folks that have insomnia.

There is mixed literature about contradictions with hawthorn and taking it while on medications for things like blood pressure, anticoagulants, hypotensive, CNS depressants

such as opiates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, anesthetics, anti-epileptics, or tricyclic anti-depressants, erectile dysfunction drugs, nitrates. These are just theoretical precautions as there aren’t any known interactions and hawthorn is one of the mildest and most benign herbs. There was a study done using hawthorn while taking ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers finding it safe to take together. I recommend working with your cardiologist, doctor, or herbalist if you are interested in taking hawthorn on a regular basis, especially while on any medications.

This is a dietary supplement.

I recommend that with all the herbal tinctures you start of small in dosing and work your way up to recommended dosage. Some people only need a small amount to notice a difference. 

Disclaimer: Earthly Remedies is not responsible for any individual’s use of our products. Each person’s response to herbs may differ. Consult a qualified health care practitioner or herbalist for guidance.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.