Crataegus laevigata Hawthorn, Hawthorn, the hawthorn comes from the rose family and is also called hawthorn, whitebeam, flourthorn, hawthorn with two handles and hawthorn.
General note
The hawthorn stands out as a thorny shrub or small tree with tough wood and unpleasantly smelling, white, very beautiful flowers. The leaves of the hawthorn are short stalked and have three lobes in the front. From the flowers ripen reddish-orange, rose-hip-like fruits.
Flowering time: May to June. Occurrence: Widespread in Europe on railroad embankments, in hedges and on forest edges. The hawthorn has the Latin name Crateagus laevigata and belongs to the rose family.
(Family of the Rosacaea). It is a small tree or shrub of about 1.5 to 4 m height. The wood is usually very hard and often has thorned branches.
The botanical name comes from the Greek word “Kratos” (hardness) and refers to the hard wood. The home of the medicinal plant hawthorn is Europe. Hawthorn can also be found in the western Mediterranean area and in Hungary.
The leaves of the hawthorn are serrated at the edges. During the flowering period from May to June many small white flowers with an intense scent are formed. (Hence the name hawthorn).
Individual plants can become very old (about 500 years). The ripe fruits in autumn show a red color. The hawthorn grows in light bushes or also in the form of living hedges.
The thorny, strongly branched shrubs love sunny hedges and deciduous forests. Although the hawthorn is actually native to Europe, it was first discovered for medicinal purposes in ancient China. In the second half of the 18th century hawthorn was used by an Irish doctor for various heart diseases and circulatory disorders.
Today, hawthorn is an integral part of homeopathy. The hawthorn plants are thorny, strongly branched shrubs, rarely trees. There are different species, which differ in the number of pistils, the shape of the flower and the hairiness of the flower parts.
The dried leaves and flowers are used medicinally. The hawthorn is also used in folk medicine. It is used especially for heart complaints, low or high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, shortness of breath, dizziness and as a sedative.
The dried, flowering twig tips are used medicinally. The fruits are used by servants to produce commercially available medicines. Medically used are almost always single and double hawthorn.
All species of the genus Crataegus are used for processing. The ripe fruits of the hawthorn are red and contain up to five seeds. The dried leaves and flowers are used for medicinal purposes.
The plant parts are extracted aqueously or aqueous-alcoholically. Important pharmacologically active ingredients are flavonoids, oligomeric procyanidins, C-glycosides, triterpenes and biogenic amines. A large number of preparations, also in combination with other ingredients, are commercially available.
The good effect of hawthorn is based on the ingredients, especially the flavonoids and procyanidina. The flowers, leaves and fruits of hawthorn are used in the production of medicines. The flowers and leaves are collected during the flowering period and dried gently and as quickly as possible.
The fruits are harvested when ripe in autumn and dried gently.
- Flavonoids
- Procyanidins
- Biogenic amines
Hawthorn is generally considered an excellent remedy for declining heart performance, especially with age. The application is absolutely harmless, its effect is impressive and convincing.
In addition to the general promotion of the heart muscle performance, the blood circulation of the coronary arteries is also promoted. The heart muscle thus receives more oxygen and heart rhythm regulating effects have also been observed. Preventive cardiac support is also possible as well as strengthening the cardiac performance after infectious diseases.
However, hawthorn does not act spontaneously, but the effect gradually sets in after prolonged use. There is a variety of extracts, tablets, capsules or alcoholic solutions containing hawthorn. A tea made of flowers and leaves is quite equal to them.
Hawthorn influences the heart in many ways. Experts recommend the use of hawthorn when the heart is not working properly and to support the cardiovascular function. Feelings of pressure and anxiety in the heart area are alleviated.
The hawthorn extract increases the contraction strength of the heart muscle and reduces the beat frequency.Stress-related complaints such as palpitations, stabbing or stumbling of the heart are prevented. Furthermore, hawthorn has a positive effect on the heart by increasing the permeability of cell membranes for potassium ions, but blocking them for calcium ions. This serves to relax the heart muscle.
The effect of hawthorn has been proven in numerous studies on animals and humans. Heart strengthening hawthorn products are used in cases of heart weakness or slowed heart activity. The increase of the heart performance of the contraction strength and the stroke volume can be achieved by hawthorn preparations.
The medicinal plant hawthorn improves the quality of life and reduces the symptoms. Hawthorn products are taken orally. They should be used for at least six weeks.
Hawthorn products are sold as teas, tinctures or tablets. The good effect of hawthorn is based on the ingredients, especially the flavonoids and procyanidins. In studies the effectiveness of hawthorn preparations has been positively proven.
Compared to synthetic heart medication, hawthorn shows a therapeutic balance and a much better tolerance. Disease symptoms are considerably reduced. Side effects when taking hawthorn preparations are generally not known.
The medicinal plant hawthorn is not suitable for the prevention of declining cardiac performance, nor for the treatment of suddenly occurring pain. This also applies to the accumulation of water in the legs or in cases of breathing difficulties. A doctor should always be consulted here.
The effect of hawthorn is much slower than with synthetic drugs. Sometimes the effect is only felt after weeks. The hawthorn preparation lasts longer, even if the preparation is discontinued.
Hawthorn preparations should be taken during pregnancy and lactation only after consulting your doctor. Interactions with other drugs are not known. The medicinal plant hawthorn is taken orally.
Finished preparations such as dragées, capsules, tablets and drops or tinctures and teas are used. Many preparations are also available as combined preparations with other ingredients. The daily dose should contain 3.5 to 19.8 mg flavonoids or 30 to 168.7 mg oligomeric procyamidins.
The duration of therapy should be six weeks. For mild symptoms, it is recommended to prepare tea 3 to 4 times daily. Crush one teaspoon of the hawthorn leaves well, brew with 150 ml of boiling water and let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Contributions from the fruits of the medicinal plant hawthorn are used in homeopathy.
