Hawthorn is a primary herb for middle and long-term care of the cardiovascular system. It helps balance and stabilize rhythm and metabolic activities of the heart. It's rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. THe fruit is edible, but not too great tasting. Leaves can be eaten and used in teas.

_{Photo by @krnel}

Other common names include thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry. The scientific botanical name Crataegus.

The type of hawthorn in the pictures I took is known as smooth hawthorn , English hawthorn, mayflower, whitethorn or woodland hawthorn. It's scientific botanical name is Crataegus laevigata.

Other names for hawthorn and various species are: Aubepine, Aubépine, Aubépine Blanche, Aubépine Épineuse, Bianco Spino, Bois de Mai, Cenellier, Chinese Hawthorn, Crataegi Flos, Crataegi Folium, Crataegi Folium Cum Flore, Crataegi Fructus, Crataegus cuneata, Crataegus kulingensis, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus oxyacantha, Crataegus pentagyna, Crataegus pinnatifida, Crataegus rhipidophylla, English Hawthorn, Epine Blanche, Epine de Mai, Espino Blanco, Fructus Crataegi, Haagdorn, Hagedorn, Harthorne, Haw, Hawthrone, Hedgethorn, LI 132, LI132, May, Maybush, Maythorn, Mehlbeebaum, Meidorn, Mespilus laevigata, Nan Shanzha, Noble Épine, Oneseed Hawthorn, Poire d'Oiseaux, Sable Épine, Shanzha, Shen Zha, Weissdorn, Whitehorn.

_{Photo by @krnel}

_{Mahieddine Boumendjel/wikimedia - CC BY-SA 3.0}

Key Points

• widely used for cardiovascular health
• moderately edible
• found throughout the northern hemisphere

History

Haw is originally an Old English term for hedge, applies to the fruit. Crataegus comes from the Greek kratos "strength" and akis "sharp", referring to the thorns of some species. Laevigata comes from the Latin word laevigatus, meaning smooth.

Where is it found?

Hawthorn is found in many places, and is native to many temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, like Europe, Asia and North America. The species Crataegus laevigata has been introduced (not native) into North America, however. Specifically, in the Great Lakes area, and in Quebec and Washington state.

It can be found in woods, hedges, thickets and more, on moist soils, clays and heavy loams, but not wet peat and acid sands.

What's it used for?

Hawthorn is quite edible. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but have a dry and mealy texture which makes them not too appetizing. it can however be used in jams and preserves. The pump can be dried and ground into a meal to mix with flour for bread and baking. The fruits have 5 large seeds in the center. Young shoots and leaves can be eaten raw, and make a tasty nibble in salads. The leaves can be used for tea. Roasted seeds can be used as a coffee substitute.

Medicanlly, hawthorn is used to treat heart and blood vessel diseases like congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. It can also treat high and low blood pressure, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), high cholesterol and possibly congestive heart failure. Hawthorn helps improve the amount of blood pumped out of the heart during contractions, widening the vessels and increases the transmission of nerve signals.

Other uses include treating digestive issues like indigestion, diarrhea, and stomach pain, as well as reducing anxiety, as a sedative, increasing urine output and for menstrual problems. Hawthorn has been used to treat tapeworm, and to treat skin for boils, sores, ulcers, itching, and frostbite.

Are there any risks?

Hawthorn is considered safe for up to 16 weeks under normal use according to studies. Some people may experience nausea, stomach upset, fatigue, sweating, headache, dizziness, palpitations, nosebleeds, insomnia, agitation, and other problems.

As it affects the heart, those on heart medications should be cautious and get medical advice first. It might also slow clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Those with bleeding issues or going into surgery should avoid.

Hawthorn interacts with several types of drugs, such as drugs for low and high blood pressure (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers), male sexual dysfunction (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors) and drugs that increase blood flow to the heart (nitrates).

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References:

• Crataegus
• Crataegus laevigata
• Crataegus laevigata
• HAWTHORN

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Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Chickweed | Northern Bayberry | Lady's Mantle | Hyssop | Burdock | Catnip | Lavender | Yarrow | Marshmallow | Skullcap | Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet
Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal

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