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| hawthorn berries appear to be safe and free from adverse side effects. |
| Botanical drugs are widely used in Europe, where the clinical testing of plant-based medicines is common. In 1953, scientists in Germany measured an 83 percent increase in coronary blood flow following the intravenous administration of hawthorn extract. Later research has shown that hawthorn preparations taken orally increase blood flow to the brain. A study conducted in 1984 demonstrated that hawthorn tablets reduced the pain of angina by 84 percent, compared to a placebo's 37 percent reduction. Of the 29 patients involved in this study, 13 stopped taking nitroglycerine tablets altogether, while another 10 were able to reduce their intake of nitroglycerine. In 1987 another study showed hawthorn extract to be an effective peripheral vasodilator in a placebo-controlled double-blind study on older patients suffering from angina pectoris. |
| Despite its effectiveness, hawthorn is not well-known in the United States. Some speculate that the reason is hawthorn's lack of exotic drama: it isn't rare and its effects are not so dramatic as other botanical drugs, such as the digitalis preparations made from foxglove. Hawthorn works slowly and subtly to improve circulation and heart function. |
| Among the conditions for which hawthorn preparations are recommended are irregular heartbeat, geriatric or stressed heart, hypertension, coronary insufficiency, myocardism following contagious disease, sensitivity to cardiac glycosides, cerebral circulatory disturbances, heart attack, heart failure, damage to the coronary arteries and angina pectoris. Hawthorn is a mild sedative, making it useful in cases of heart disease linked to nervousness and stress. It does not lead to dependence and can be taken in large doses without harm. In fact, it is important to give a sufficiently large dose daily for at least three months and up |
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