Hawthorn

Known by several names, the Hawthorn tree first became popular when it was used as the badge of the Ogilvies. Yet, even before that, the tree was revered as sacred as it was traditionally believed to be the tree that furnished Christ's Crown of Thorns. A tree that commonly blooms in May, it is also sometimes referred to as "Mayblossom" or simply "May."

England's Henry VII used the Hawthorn bush as his device because a small crown from the helmet of Richard III was discovered hanging on it after the battle of Bosworth. This became the source of the popular saying: "Cleve to thy Crown though it hangs on a bush."

Other names for this tree include Quick, Thorn, Whitethorn, Haw, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Hagthorn, Ladie's Meat, and Bread and Cheese Tree. Germans call it Hagedorn while the French bestow upon it a more noble title "L'epine noble" (The Noble Spine).

The Plant

Hawthorn is known in scientific communities as Crataegus oxyacantha. It belongs to the plant family, N.O. Rosaceae. The name of the Hawthorn plant is derived from the Greek words "kratos", meaning hardness (of the wood), "oxcus" (sharp), and "akantha" (a thorn). From a very early period, the Germans used the Hawthorn plant to divide their land into small plots using this plant, which they call "Hagedorn" (Hedgethorn). Interestingly, the alternate name for Hawthorn is "Haw" which is an old word for "hedge."

Hawthorn trees usually grow up to a height of 30 feet and live to a great age. Each Hawthorn blossom contains a single seed-vessel producing a separate fruits. When the fruits mature, they turn a brilliant red, making some wonder how they resemble a miniature stony apple. People of some districts call the mealy red fruits of the Hawthorn tree as Pixie Pears, Cuckoo's Beads, and Chucky Cheese.

Carrion insects are mostly the ones that fertilize the flowers. The reason for this is that the Hawthorn blooms exude a scent that suggests of decomposition, thus attracting these insects that would normally lay their eggs and hatch out their larvae in decaying animal matter.

Health Benefits

Since the ancient times, Hawthorn has been used by the Greeks as a medicine. Herbalists used extracts from Hawthorn leaves for the treatment of heart problems such as angina, arrhythmia, and high blood pressure. Hawthorn was also used as an effective deterrent against the occurrence of a heart attack. Today, recent studies have show considerable evidence that the herb may have some positive effects for angina and heart disease.

The main constituents attributed with all the healing properties of Hawthorn are its variety of bioflavonoids and flavonoids. These include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin, vitexin 4'-O-rhamnoside, quercetin, and hyperoside.

Hawthorn is said to primarily affect the circulatory system, specifically the heart and blood vessels. The abundance of flavonoids and bioflavonoids in Hawthorn makes it effective in improving coronary artery blood flow and strengthening the contractions of the heart muscle.

Researchers have examined the plant and its effects on blood pressure. Results from their clinical trials have confirmed that hawthorn leaf and flower extracts are beneficial for people with early-stage heart disease.

Buying Information

The part of the Hawthorn plant used for medicinal purposes are the leaves, flowers, and berry fruits so be sure to look for all three or either of that when you buy hawthorn supplements. A normal safe dose is 80-300 mg hawthorn capsules or tablets. Traditionally, 4-5 ml tincture taken three times a day has been used.