Hawthorn

CRATAEGUS OXYACANTHA; ROSACEAE

Folk medicine and modern research alike are proving Hawthorn to be a prime cardiac tonic and restorer. Rather than doing specific heart repair, it is good for both high and low blood pressure, rapid or arrhythmic heartbeat, inflammation of the heart muscle and arteriosclerosis (Tie:97).

Hawthorn has other uses; it is used in edema or dropsy, as aforementioned. A decoction of the berries is useful in treating sore throats. It can help clear the kidney in such troubles. The fruits can be taken, four to six of them, to prevent miscarriage (Lev:75). A poultice of the pulped leaves or fruits has strong drawing powers and country people for ages have used Hawthorn for treatment of embedded thorns, splinters and also for whitlows (Ibid.).

HISTORICAL USES

Used as a cardiac tonic, for edema, heart attack, to regulate blood pressure, for arteriosclerosis, inflamed heart muscle, for rapid or arrhythmic heartbeat, for a weak pulse, dropsy and heart murmurs.