Hawthorn
Crataegus oxyacanthoides
Personality:
Hawthorn’s strong, thorny stems have made it popular as a hedgerow shrub. Left to grow to its natural size, it forms a small, attractive tree. It has beautiful white
blossom in spring and
distinctive, highly decorative red berries in the autumn. Both the flowering
tops and the berries are used as medicine, and have similar properties.
Sources:
As you have two chances to harvest it (spring for the flowers, autumn for the berries) there is no excuse for not gathering your own Hawthorn.
Anecdotes:
A herbalist from Wales told me that his old grandfather had been diagnosed with heart failure and given just a couple of months to live. His grandson gave him "bucketfulls" of Hawthorn and he was still alive years later and in good health.
Uses:
Chronic heart failure, poor circulation, peripheral vascular disease, angina, low and high blood pressure, memory loss, oedema.
Actions:
Cardiac tonic, dilating coronary arteries and so increasing the blood supply to the heart. Gently slows the heart rate but increases the efficiency of contraction. Normalises blood pressure. High bioflavanoid content is antioxidant and very beneficial to blood vessels.
Dosage & Preparations:
I like to use a fresh tincture of either the berries or flowering tips but the flowering tips can also be made into an infusion. You can make your own tincture, using vodka or brandy. A very simple method is to liquidise the fresh herb and spirit together. Next place the mixture in a jar, shake it twice a day for a week, then allow it to settle. Pour the liquid off its sediment, filter it and you have your tincture ready to use. It will keep for at least two years. The dose is half a teaspoon of tincture three times per day.
Safety:
The herb is intrinsically very safe, but obviously seek advice before tackling serious heart conditions.