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Agrimony Glossary |
Hawthorn |
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Crataegus laevigata A
military physician practicing during the time of Roman emperor Nero,
about the 1st century A.D., was the first to document the
medicinal properties of hawthorn. Ancient medical writers such as
Dioscorides Pedanius (ca. A.D. 4080) and Claudius
Galen (ca. A.D. 131208) noted the botanical in their respective works,
but they provided little data as to its medicinal use. According to
French naturalist and author Georges-Louis Leclerc, it was in the 1600s
that hawthorn became known as a heart medicine. In fact, a syrup
prepared from the fruit was used as a heart medicine in the late 1500s
by Josephus Quercetanus, the physician of King Henry IV of France.
Hawthorn
has numerous beneficial actions on the heart and blood vessels. It improves
coronary artery blood flow and the contractions
of the heart muscle. Also, it mildly inhibits angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) and reduces production of the potent blood
vessel-constricting substance angiotensin II. This reduces resistance in
arteries and improves extremity circulation. The bioflavonoids in hawthorn
are potent antioxidants. Hawthorn extracts mildly lower high blood
pressure in some individuals but should not be thought of as a substitute
for cardiac medications for this condition. DISCLAIMER: This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care professional. The author is neither a chemist nor an herbalist and has had no medical training whatsoever. The content herein is the product of research, not practical experience. |
Hawthorn
flowers & berries have been utilized as cardiac tonics and mild
diuretics used in organic and functional heart disorders. They were also
utilized for their astringent qualities for relief of discomfort of sore
throats. Native North American's used it totreat stomach aches, as a
diuretic for kidney & bladder ailments, to stimulate appetite, and to
improve circulation.