Herb Profiles

Hawthorn

February 23, 2021

HAWTHORN

Crataegus oxyacantha

Family: Rosaceae

Part used: Flowers, leaves, berries

Energetics: Sour, sweet, warm, dry

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, cardio trophorestorative, nervine, vasodilator

Hawthorn is food for the heart. It’s fabulous for supporting, nourishing and protecting the heart and circulatory system. It’s also good for memory, confusion and metabolism. Part of the rose family, hawthorn is a trophorestorative for the cardiovascular system, specifically the heart and circulatory system, but it’s also an important medicine for the emotional heart. I always have some form of hawthorn medicine in remedies to support a broken and wounded heart. Generally speaking, when I formulate for the heart, I’m always holding space and thinking about both the physical and the emotional heart because they often go hand in hand. I harvest the flowers in the spring to dry or make fresh into a flower essence or tincture and the berries in the fall to make into a tincture or dry for teas and syrups. This is a medicine I like to use as a food when possible and take on a regular basis.

Contraindications: Consult with your ND, MD if you are taking heart medications such as digoxin, anticoagulants, hypertension medications or depressants.

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