Focus
on Herbs: Hawthorn Berry
by
Lynne Latella
Although
heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in this country, hawthorn
berry has barely received the attention it deserves in its role to
promote
a healthy heart. Only in more recent years has attention been place on
the
benefits of this valuable herb, either alone or in combination with
garlic and
cayenne, as an effective heart tonic. In the same family as peach,
rose, apple,
strawberry and almond, it is also known as “mayblossom.” In fact the
Mayflower,
which brought the pilgrims to America,
is a name that refers to the hawthorn tree.
Hawthorn
has been in use since antiquity, but not as a common medicinal
preparation. It
was linked to marriage, hope and fertility; thus Greek brides wore
crowns of
aromatic hawthorn blossoms and carried bouquets filled with hawthorn.
Romans
placed it in cradles to ward off evil spirits. Because Christ was
thought to
have worn a crown of hawthorn, its symbolism changed to that of death
and bad
luck. This negative image was compounded by the fact that several
species of
European hawthorn smell like rotting meat, which attracts pollinating
insects.
Thus, it became associated with the smell of death that accompanied
bubonic
plague.
Fortunately,
the bad press dropped away in the 17th century when Culpepper praised
hawthorn’s ability to treat kidney stones and heart failure. Later,
American
pioneers also saw its benefits for heart ailments, and it went on to be
used in
the treatment of severe chest pains, shortness of breath, palpitations
and
fluid buildup. In Germany,
where hawthorn is widely used as a heart remedy, it can be found in
hundreds of
preparations, including formulas for insomnia.
As
a heart stimulant, hawthorn helps to maximize the utilization of oxygen
in the heart,
dilate the coronary arteries and increase enzyme metabolism and pumping
ability
in the heart muscle. It helps with valve murmurs, enlarged hearts and
beat regulation.
It also normalizes high or low blood pressure and can ward off
arteriosclerosis. It may help to eliminate cholesterol deposits, as
well.
It
is important to realize that hawthorn berry is not a quick fix for
heart-related problems. It is not recommended in every instance
involving heart
malfunctions and shouldn’t be viewed as a panacea. Sound medical
attention may
be needed in some cases, with hawthorn berry being just a portion of
the
overall treatment plan.
Hawthorn
should not be used by children and pregnant and nursing women. High
doses may
cause a significant drop in blood pressure.
The
Coop carries hawthorn in capsules, formulas, tinctures and as whole
berries, leaves
and flowers in bulk.
Happy
Heart Tea
Infuse
2 teaspoons of crushed hawthorn leaves or berries per cup of boiling
water.
Steep 20 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups per day.
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