Science now finds many folk remedies have real health benefits. Hawthorn berries are in that category. They are healthy options to add to any diet. These tiny fruits grow on trees and shrubs and come in several colors. They grow in Europe, Asia, and North America. The berries are mildly sweet, but mostly tart and tangy. Some have thick thorns and others don’t. Some berries are yellow and others are shades of red. Not all hawthorn berries offer the same benefit or nutrients. When people generalize and refer to hawthorn trees and berries, they usually mean Crataegus monogyna.
Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers for centuries as medicine.
The berries from hawthorns are called haws. The “haws” are used for medicine, jam and jelly, powders, and even hawthorn honey. As early as 659 A.D., the Chinese used hawthorns to treat digestive issues. Recent studies have found it beneficial for many health issues, including heart health. The high polyphenols content may help people with heart failure, angina, cardiac rhythm changes, heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
It’s not just the heart that benefits.
The studies on lowering blood pressure vary. Some research found that taking hawthorn extract lowered the diastolic blood pressure but not the systolic blood pressure. The diastolic pressure is the bottom number. Other research shows it may lower both the top—systolic—and bottom—diastolic blood pressure, with the most impact on the systolic blood pressure. This may occur because hawthorn berries contain a vasodilator that opens the arteries by relaxing them. A six-month study found that not only did hawthorn extract reduce harmful cholesterol, but it also reduced the thickness of plaque build-up in the arteries.
You could slow aging by drinking hawthorn tea.
All the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients can help ward off aging in several ways. It can help reduce inflammation and the vitamin C it contains can improve collagen production. Collagen helps keep the skin firm and youthful appearance. It contains antioxidants that fight free radicals that can damage the cells and cause aging. Some research has shown that hawthorn may help inhibit wrinkle formation and increase skin moisture.
- Ancient Chinese medicine may be accurate. Recent studies show that hawthorn berries can aid digestion. It’s been used that way for centuries. It can increase digestive enzymes and relieve constipation.
- The flavonoids in the leaves of the hawthorn plant make a tea that’s good for relaxing muscle spasms. It can reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and help reduce spasms. Drinking the tea may also help prevent cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.
- If anxiety, depression, or stress is a problem, a cup of hawthorn tea may help. It’s the flavonoids that help anxiety and also act as sleep aids. All the nutrients in hawthorn can help boost immunity and protect from infection.
- If you have menopausal symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or mood swings, drink a hawthorn tea to help. Always check with your healthcare professional first to ensure it’s safe for you and there’s no interaction with medications.
For more information, contact us today at Wellness On A Dime Coaching