Hawthorn

Crataegus spp

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Rosaceae, or the rose family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Hawthorn is native to northern temperate zones, including those of North America, East Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. There is a discrepancy in how many species grow in North America. Somewhere between 20-1000 different species. In the Pacific Northwest, Crataegus douglasii and Crataegus columbiana grow natively. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Leaves, flowers, berries ^[1]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Leaf & Flower:
1. Cardiotonic, cardioprotective, hypotensive, diuretic, antiarrhythmic, vasodilatory, antioxidant, sedative, hypocholesterolemic (Upton, 1999). “Increases contractility of the cardiac muscle (positively inotropic), increases cardiac nerve conductivity (positively dromotropic), decreases contraction rate of heart (negatively chronotropic), decreases reactiveness of cardiac tissue to external stimuli (negatively bathmotropic)” (Upton, 1999). ^[1]
• Berries:
1. Cardiotonic, diuretic, astringent, hypotensive ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Cardiac failure or early myocardial insufficiency, mild hypertension, arteriosclerosis, mild tachycardia or bradycardia, cardiac palpitations/arrhythmias, shortness of breath with heavy exertion, digestive complaints, and anxiety ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Flavonoids, flavonol glycosides (including quercetin, rutin, vitexin), oligomer procyanidins, pentacylic triterpenoid acids, aromatic carbonic acids ^[1]
7. System Affinities:
• Cardiovascular
• Integumentary
• Digestive ^[2]  
8. Energetics:
• Warm, bitter, heavy ^[3]
9. Safety:
• No contraindications known. ^[1]
10. Interactions:
• Take care when mixing with other blood pressure/heart medications. ^[1]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried berries are sweet and fruity-smelling. Dark in color, and round. The leaf/flower mixture is dark green and also smells sweet.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: (1:5 in 40%) 2.5 – 3 ml 3x/day as a maintenance dose. For acute dosing, use up to 5 ml 3x/day.
• Hot Infusion: 2 teaspoons dried herb in 1 cup boiling water, drink 3x/day. ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• I made a tincture out of both the berries, and the dried leaf/flower. I really enjoy the berry tincture! It’s tart and sweet, makes it very easy to take. The other tincture is like any other tincture – not as pleasant to take but is a pretty dark green color and has been helping my heart palpitations.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 9 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.