Spotlight on Local Medicinal Herbs—Hawthorn
The harvest season is upon us in this part of the world, and the medicinal bounty continues to flow. In the Northern hemisphere, this is a time of transition, of introversion, of movement toward the impending darkness of winter and the wistful longings of grief. Our focus today will be on a beautiful tree that offers some of its best medicine in these autumn months, a tree that has been mending hearts for eons: Hawthorn (Crataegus spp).
Hawthorn—likely an Anglicized version of the Celtic huath—was so named for its little red berries (the “haw”, or fruit), and the small thorns which belie its membership in the rose family, Rosaceae. Native to Europe, North America, and China, this plant’s sacred medicine has been in use for thousands of years, and revered by each of these cultures. Celtic lore has it that the tree is the guardian of the faerie realm, and generally promotes strengthening. The Doctrine of Signatures is evident here, from the heart-like fruit to the thorns that remind us of the importance of boundaries and protection.
The tree is tall and sturdy, and can reach up to 30 feet tall, or can be trimmed into a hedge. In May, its flowers bloom, giving way to small, starchy apple-like fruits that get sweeter after the first frost. All parts of the plant are used medicinally and act primarily on the cardiovascular system, but also on the respiratory and digestive systems.
Hawthorn’s flowers and leaves are astringent, and its berries are sweet and sour. Bioflavonoids, polysaccharides, and proanthocyanidins comprise the medicinal constituents of this plant. It has been used traditionally to prevent arterial thickening and plaque, as an antioxidant, as a vasodilator to lower blood pressure, to improve oxygen flow to the cardiac muscle, and to regulate heart rhythm. It’s what known in the world of herbalism as a “heart tonic”, to both the physical and energetic heart. It is commonly used to help ease emotional wounds that manifest in cardiac symptoms, such as palpitations or abnormally high heart rate. It’s also helpful in energetically setting boundaries and protecting one’s heart. Chinese medicine utilizes the fruit of the Hawthorn tree to treat high blood pressure, angina, indigestion, abdominal swelling, neck and back pain, and hernia. Druidic physicians used the fruits to treat weakness and debility, and First Nations peoples of North America used it to treat circulatory problems, back pain, bladder ailments, to promote appetite, and to treat general debility.
With cardiovascular disease on the rise all around the world, commercial extracts of Hawthorn have been in popular demand, largely for their vasodilating effects. There are now a number of trademarked products on the market. With that in mind, use this herb with caution if you are on any class of drugs that can lower blood pressure (thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc.), as it can potentiate antihypertensive effects. In many cases, Hawthorn can be combined safely with pharmaceutical medications, and can even help offset the cardiotoxicity of certain classes of medications. Consult with your healthcare provider for questions about contraindications and safety.
In general, as with all herbs, fresh is best, but dried will do. I have outlined in previous posts the best way to tincture using the folk method. In this case, I would recommend drying the berries and leaves, and making tea with them. A cold-water infusion of the flowers also makes for a tasty and medicinal spring beverage, with the flowers containing much of the same medicinal compounds as the fruits. Some of the medicinal constituents of Hawthorn don’t come out easily in high-percentage alcohol, so for tincturing choose an option with relatively low alcohol content, such as brandy, wine, or mead. Berries can also be combined with a sweetener (or other berries) and simmered into a syrup.
Dosing varies widely, and depends on the person and the method of administration. Tinctures can be dosed from 1-30 drops 1-4 times daily, depending on whether the malady is acute, chronic, physical, or energetic. As a tea, 1-3 cups daily is typically recommended. Always consult with your healthcare team first.
While this tree medicine is abundant, it’s always best to follow respectful harvesting practices: get to know the plant throughout the seasons, make sure there is plenty of medicine to go around, ask first, take only what you need, and leave an offering as thanks. Enjoy!
Citations:
Beresford-Kroeger, D. (2021). To speak for the trees: My life's journey from ancient Celtic wisdom to a healing vision of the Forest. Timber Press.
Lu, H. C. (2005). Chinese natural cures: Traditional methods for remedy and prevention. Black Dog & Leventhal.
Pivarnik, M. (2019, October 14). The history, mythology, and offerings of Hawthorn. Herbal Academy. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://theherbalacademy.com/hawthorn-offerings/
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth (2nd ed.). Wise Acres.
Hawthorn - American Botanical Council. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/96/table-of-contents/herbalgram-96-herb-profile-hawthorn/
