Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus oxyacantha, Crataegus
monogyna)
Hawthorn is found in Europe, western Asia, North America, and North Africa.
Hawthorn is a fruit-bearing shrub with a long history as medicinal substance.
Traditionally, hawthorn was used for ailments, dyspnea, kidney stones, and
cardiovascular disorders. Today, hawthorn is used mainly for cardiovascular
disorders.
Hawthorn is believed to be able to increase the integrity of the blood vessel wall
and improve coronary blood flow. It is rich in procyanidins, flavonoids and flavonols
and these chemicals are postulated to account for its benefits. [9] These chemicals
or ingredients of hawthorn is able to decrease the resistance to blood flow in
peripheral blood vessels, improve coronary artery blood flow and strengthen of the
contractions of the heart muscle. Consequently, they support normal blood flow. It is
also believed that hawthorn may have benefits on lipid profiles. But, more studies
are needed to prove this argument.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Hawthorn contains a variety of bioflavonoids that may be responsible for its cardiac
actions. Its flavonoids include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin,
vitexin;-O-rhamnoside, quercetin, and hyperoside.
HAWTHORN BENEFICIAL EFFECTS
Hawthorn may help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases such as
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and congestive heart failure. Hawthorn my induce
anti-ischemia/reperfusion-injury, anti-arrhythmic, hypolipidemic and hypotensive
effects. [10]
Congestive heart failure happens when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood
as efficiently as is needed. Its symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and
accumulation of fluid in the lungs or the veins (primarily in the legs) or both.
Hawthorns beneficial effects are mainly on the heart and blood vessels. It improves
coronary artery blood flow and strengthens the heart muscle contraction [1]. It may
also decrease the resistance to blood flow in peripheral blood vessel [2]. Hawthorn
extracts may mildly lower blood pressure in some people but they should not be
used as a substitute for cardiac medications.
People with congestive heart failure taking 160-900 mg of hawthorn extract per day
for eight weeks showed improved their ability to exercise without shortness of
breath and exhaustion. [3- 7]. People with congestive heart failure require expert
management rather than self-treatment.
Dr. Willmar Schwabe and his co-workers [Germany] have showed hawthorn's
benefial effect on 952 patients with heart failure stage NYHA II. [12] Jayalakshmi R
et al [India] showed that pretreatment with Tincture of Crataegus might be useful in
preventing the damage induced by isoproterenol in rat heart. [13]
HYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITIES
Jouad H et al [Morocco] concluded that an aqueous extract of hawthorn leaves
exhibited a potent anti-hyperglycemic activity in STZ rats, but not in normal rats,
without affecting basal plasma insulin concentrations. [11]
RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSE
The recommended daily dose of hawthorn (flowers or leaves) water-ethanol extract
is 160-900 mg or any dose equivalent to 30-169 mg of epicatechin or 3.5-19.8 mg
of flavonoids. [8]
HAWTHORN SIDE EFFECTS
Though hawthorn has found to have many benfits, its side effects are serious. Even
at therapeutic dosages, hawthorn may cause a mild rash, headache, sweating,
dizziness, palpitations, sleepiness, agitation, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
DRUG INTERACTION
Hawthorn may potentiate or inhibit other drugs' actions for heart failure,
hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. [8] Users should consult their medical
doctors before taking hawthorn or its supplments.
HAWTHORN EXTRACTS
The standardized total bioflavonoid content is usually 2.2% and that for oligomeric
procyanidins is 18.75%. And, most people take 80-300 mg of the herbal extract
three times in a day [8]. Though hawthorn may take 1-2 months to show its
maximum effects but it appears to be safe.
REFERENCES
1. Weikl A, Noh HS. The influence of Crataegus on global cardiac insufficiency. Herz Gefabe
1993;11:516-24. 2. Loew D. Pharmacological and clinical results with Crataegus special extracts in
cardiac insufficiency. ESCOP Phytotelegram 1994;6:20-6. 3. Weihmayr T, Ernst E. Therapeutic
effectiveness of Crataegus. Fortschr Med 1996;114:27-9 [in German]. 4. Schmidt U, Kuhn U, Ploch M,
Hübner W-D. Efficacy of the Hawthorn (Crataegus) preparation LI 132 in 78 patients with chronic
congestive heart failure defined as NYHA functional class II. Phytomed 1994;1:17-24. 5. Leuchtgens
H. Crataegus special extract WS 1442 in heart failure, NYHA II. A placebo-controlled randomized
double-blind study. Fortschr Med 1993;111:352-4. 6. Weikl A, Assmus KD, Neukum-Schmidt A, et al.
Crataegus special extract WS 1442: Objective proof of efficacy in patients withy cardiac insufficiency
(NYHA II). Fortschr Med 1996;114:291-6. 7. Tauchert M, Ploch M, Hübner W-D. Effectiveness of
hawthorn extract LI 132 compared with the ACE inhibitor Captopril: Multicenter double-blind study with
132 patients NYHA stage II. Münch Med Wochenschr 1994;132(suppl):S27-33. 8. Brown DJ. Herbal
Prescriptions for Better Health. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996, 139-44.[9] Rigelsky JM Hawthorn:
pharmacology and therapeutic uses. Am J health Syst Pharm. 2002 mar 1;59(5):417-22. [10] Chang
WT et al, Hawthorn: potential roles in cardiovascular disease. Am J Chin Med. 2005;33(1):1-10. [11] J
Herb Pharmcother. 2003;3(2):19-29.
[12] Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2004 Aug;11 Suppl 1:36-9.
[13] J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 Jul;56(7):921-6.
HOME
THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
BEFORE USING ANY HEALTH PRODUCTS.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 zhion.
monogyna)
Hawthorn is found in Europe, western Asia, North America, and North Africa.
Hawthorn is a fruit-bearing shrub with a long history as medicinal substance.
Traditionally, hawthorn was used for ailments, dyspnea, kidney stones, and
cardiovascular disorders. Today, hawthorn is used mainly for cardiovascular
disorders.
Hawthorn is believed to be able to increase the integrity of the blood vessel wall
and improve coronary blood flow. It is rich in procyanidins, flavonoids and flavonols
and these chemicals are postulated to account for its benefits. [9] These chemicals
or ingredients of hawthorn is able to decrease the resistance to blood flow in
peripheral blood vessels, improve coronary artery blood flow and strengthen of the
contractions of the heart muscle. Consequently, they support normal blood flow. It is
also believed that hawthorn may have benefits on lipid profiles. But, more studies
are needed to prove this argument.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Hawthorn contains a variety of bioflavonoids that may be responsible for its cardiac
actions. Its flavonoids include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin,
vitexin;-O-rhamnoside, quercetin, and hyperoside.
HAWTHORN BENEFICIAL EFFECTS
Hawthorn may help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases such as
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and congestive heart failure. Hawthorn my induce
anti-ischemia/reperfusion-injury, anti-arrhythmic, hypolipidemic and hypotensive
effects. [10]
Congestive heart failure happens when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood
as efficiently as is needed. Its symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and
accumulation of fluid in the lungs or the veins (primarily in the legs) or both.
Hawthorns beneficial effects are mainly on the heart and blood vessels. It improves
coronary artery blood flow and strengthens the heart muscle contraction [1]. It may
also decrease the resistance to blood flow in peripheral blood vessel [2]. Hawthorn
extracts may mildly lower blood pressure in some people but they should not be
used as a substitute for cardiac medications.
People with congestive heart failure taking 160-900 mg of hawthorn extract per day
for eight weeks showed improved their ability to exercise without shortness of
breath and exhaustion. [3- 7]. People with congestive heart failure require expert
management rather than self-treatment.
Dr. Willmar Schwabe and his co-workers [Germany] have showed hawthorn's
benefial effect on 952 patients with heart failure stage NYHA II. [12] Jayalakshmi R
et al [India] showed that pretreatment with Tincture of Crataegus might be useful in
preventing the damage induced by isoproterenol in rat heart. [13]
HYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITIES
Jouad H et al [Morocco] concluded that an aqueous extract of hawthorn leaves
exhibited a potent anti-hyperglycemic activity in STZ rats, but not in normal rats,
without affecting basal plasma insulin concentrations. [11]
RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSE
The recommended daily dose of hawthorn (flowers or leaves) water-ethanol extract
is 160-900 mg or any dose equivalent to 30-169 mg of epicatechin or 3.5-19.8 mg
of flavonoids. [8]
HAWTHORN SIDE EFFECTS
Though hawthorn has found to have many benfits, its side effects are serious. Even
at therapeutic dosages, hawthorn may cause a mild rash, headache, sweating,
dizziness, palpitations, sleepiness, agitation, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
DRUG INTERACTION
Hawthorn may potentiate or inhibit other drugs' actions for heart failure,
hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. [8] Users should consult their medical
doctors before taking hawthorn or its supplments.
HAWTHORN EXTRACTS
The standardized total bioflavonoid content is usually 2.2% and that for oligomeric
procyanidins is 18.75%. And, most people take 80-300 mg of the herbal extract
three times in a day [8]. Though hawthorn may take 1-2 months to show its
maximum effects but it appears to be safe.
REFERENCES
1. Weikl A, Noh HS. The influence of Crataegus on global cardiac insufficiency. Herz Gefabe
1993;11:516-24. 2. Loew D. Pharmacological and clinical results with Crataegus special extracts in
cardiac insufficiency. ESCOP Phytotelegram 1994;6:20-6. 3. Weihmayr T, Ernst E. Therapeutic
effectiveness of Crataegus. Fortschr Med 1996;114:27-9 [in German]. 4. Schmidt U, Kuhn U, Ploch M,
Hübner W-D. Efficacy of the Hawthorn (Crataegus) preparation LI 132 in 78 patients with chronic
congestive heart failure defined as NYHA functional class II. Phytomed 1994;1:17-24. 5. Leuchtgens
H. Crataegus special extract WS 1442 in heart failure, NYHA II. A placebo-controlled randomized
double-blind study. Fortschr Med 1993;111:352-4. 6. Weikl A, Assmus KD, Neukum-Schmidt A, et al.
Crataegus special extract WS 1442: Objective proof of efficacy in patients withy cardiac insufficiency
(NYHA II). Fortschr Med 1996;114:291-6. 7. Tauchert M, Ploch M, Hübner W-D. Effectiveness of
hawthorn extract LI 132 compared with the ACE inhibitor Captopril: Multicenter double-blind study with
132 patients NYHA stage II. Münch Med Wochenschr 1994;132(suppl):S27-33. 8. Brown DJ. Herbal
Prescriptions for Better Health. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996, 139-44.[9] Rigelsky JM Hawthorn:
pharmacology and therapeutic uses. Am J health Syst Pharm. 2002 mar 1;59(5):417-22. [10] Chang
WT et al, Hawthorn: potential roles in cardiovascular disease. Am J Chin Med. 2005;33(1):1-10. [11] J
Herb Pharmcother. 2003;3(2):19-29.
[12] Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2004 Aug;11 Suppl 1:36-9.
[13] J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 Jul;56(7):921-6.
HOME
THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
BEFORE USING ANY HEALTH PRODUCTS.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 zhion.
Hawthorn side effects and benefits
 |  |  |  |  |