Botanical Index No. 492

Hawthorn

crataegus

Medicinal Actions

prophylactic antiarrhythmic activities, antioxidant, antiperoxidant, Antiaggregant, Antianginal, Antiarrhythmic, Antiatherosclerotic, Anticapillary Fragility, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antisclerotic, Antiseborrheic, Antithromboxane, Astringent, cAMP-Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor, Cardioprotective, Cardiotonic, CNS Depressant, Cyanogenetic, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypertensive, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Hypotriglyceridemic, Myocardioprotectant, Negative Bathmotropic, Negative Chronotropic, Pancreaprotective, Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor, Positive Chronotropic, Positive Dromotropic, Positive Inotropic, Sedative, Stomachic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

increase coronary flow reduce blood pressure reduce peripheral resistance beta-blocking activities mild CNS-depressant activities improve coronary artery blood flow contractions of the heart muscle inhibit ACE reduce production of angiotensin II increased coronary perfusion economized myocardial oxygen consumption Bitter Collagen-Sparing Coronary Vasodilator Fumitory Nervine Vasodilator Acne Alzheimer’s Anemia Angina Atherosclerosis Arrhythmia Arthrosis Bradycardia Buerger’s Disease Cancer Capillary Fragility Cardiopathy Cardiovascular Insufficiency Cor Pulmonale CVI Dermatosis Dropsy Dyspnea Edema Erythema Fatigue Gingivosis Heart High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Hyperactivity Hypertrophy Inflammation Insomnia Ischemia Low Blood Pressure Myocardiosis Nephrosis Nervousness Palpitation Seborrhea Sore Throat Stasis Stress Swelling Tachycardia Valvular Insufficiency Water Retention

General Dosage

German clinical studies of 60 patients with stable angina receiving 60 mg hawthorn 3 ×/day showed increased coronary perfusion and economized myocardial oxygen consumption. At 900 mg/day, hawthorn extract compared favorably with Captopril in treating patients with Stage II cardiac insufficiency. Isolated constituents have LD50’s of 50–2600 mg/kg ivn, 6000 mg/kg orl in animals. Oral toxicity of hawthorn 6000 mg/kg orally. 1 tsp chopped leaf and/or flower 2–3 ×/day, for a few weeks; 1.5–3.5 g dry flower, leaf, fruit/day; 4–5 g fruit/day; 2–6 tsp fresh fruit; 1–3 g dry fruit; 0.3–1 g dry fruit, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 2 g dry fruit:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water; average daily dose in 1-g increments or 160–900 mg extract in 3 doses; 0.5–1 ml liquid extract; 0.5–1 ml liquid extract 3 ×/day; 3–6 ml fluid leaf extract; 3–7 ml fluid fruit extract; 4–5 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 1 tsp tincture morning and night for several weeks; 7.5–15 ml leaf tincture; 7.5–17.5 ml fruit tincture; 1–2 ml herbal tincture 3 ×/day; 2–3 capsules with a large glass of water; 80–160 mg StX 3 ×/day; 80–500 mg StX 2–3 ×/day 2.2% bioflavonoids, or 18.75% OPCs.

Safety & Contraindications

CAN cautions that because of uterine activity, in vivo and in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Not for use during first trimester of pregnancy. LRNP, admitting that low doses are usually devoid of adverse effects, says that high doses may induce hypotension and sedation. Side effects reported include fatigue, nausea, rash, and sweating. The tyramine content might suggest avoidance of MAOIs. High dose may be arrhythmogenic, hypotensive, sedative, tremorigenic, and vertigogenic. Still, in combination with beta-blockers “may cause a hypertensive effect”. May potentiate other cardiac drugs! One paper cited in Mitchell and Rook notes that corneal scratches with the thorns led to blindness in 88 of 132 Irish accidents. With cyanogenic and cardioactive compounds, not to mention tannin, scattered throughout the plant, it should not be taken lightly”. Class 1. May potentiate digitalis and other cardiac medicines. Can interfere with cardiac, hypertensive, and hypotensive therapies. “Not suitable for self medication”. Contrast that with Lininger et al., “Hawthorn is extremely safe for long term use ... No known interactions with prescription cardiac medications or other drugs ... No known contraindications ... during pregnancy or lactation”. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Not for children under 12 years old. CAN cautions that because of uterine activity, in vivo and in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Not for use during first trimester of pregnancy. LRNP, admitting that low doses are usually devoid of adverse effects, says that high doses may induce hypotension and sedation. Side effects reported include fatigue, nausea, rash, and sweating. The tyramine content might suggest avoidance of MAOIs. High dose may be arrhythmogenic, hypotensive, sedative, tremorigenic, and vertigogenic. Still, in combination with beta-blockers “may cause a hypertensive effect”. May potentiate other cardiac drugs!

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