Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) benefits for cardiovascular health


Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), also known as haw, Maybush, is part of a genus of spiny shrubs and trees native to Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, and North America Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is a widely used as a herb for cardiovascular problems and other illness. It is consumed as a part of food in various parts of the world. In this article, I will try to explain the beneficial effects of Hawthorn. Hawthorn’s antioxidant activity is well known and is really amazing for our health. In order to understand how the antioxidant activity of Hawthorn works, let me elaborate on this little further.

Free radicals and oxidants play a crucial role as both toxic and helpful compounds since they can be either harmful or beneficial to the body. They are produced from cell metabolisms or from external sources (pollution, smoke, radiation, medication). When a free radical cannot be destroyed, their accumulation in the body generates a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This process plays a vital part in the development of chronic illness such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, aging, cataract, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Hawthorn antioxidant properties destroy these free radicals, which are harmful to the body thus prevents us from chronic illness.

Hawthorn has been proven to work great for cardiac failure. Cardiac failure is a grave condition where your heart is unable to pump enough blood to all organs in the body. Hawthorn has been studied in people with heart failure, showing very good results. Studies have suggested that hawthorn berries significantly improves heart function. In fact, the incidence of side effects experienced by patients was nothing, showing that hawthorn is really useful in treating cardiac failure. The Journal of American Family Physicians suggests that hawthorn can enhance a person’s ability to exercise following heart failure. It can also improve symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath.

Hawthorn is a potent anti-inflammatory. Did you know, that chronic inflammation has been linked to cancers of the lung, esophagus, cervix, and digestive tract? We have been gifted by God, who has provided us in nature, the wonderful remedies to counter the chronic inflammation. I believe one of those remedies is Hawthorn. Several scientific articles have shown the healthy benefits of Hawthorn. One study was done at investigating the hypotensive potential of hawthorn extract and magnesium dietary supplements individually and in combination, compared with a placebo. Volunteers were then randomly assigned to four groups: 600?mg hawthorn extract, 500?mg hawthorn extract, a combination of the previous two groups and placebo. Results showed that there was a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all treatment groups or placebo, but hawthorn extract group showed a promising reduction in the resting diastolic blood pressure at week 10 in the 19 subjects, compared with the other groups.

In this current world of high stress and unhealthy food habits of the people, we have seen a tremendous rise in bad cholesterol commonly known as LDL and decrease in good chol

About the Author

Dr. Basharat Ahmad
Dr. Basharat Ahmad is a co-founder of Heavenly Herbals, Inc., Homeopathic, Electro Homeopathic, Bach Flower Remedies, Ayurvedic & Herbal practitioner.
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