Hawthorn
Crataegus oxyacantha & C. monogyna

Flowers are the richest source, leaves and berries can also be used.

Constituents

There are two main groups

1) flavonoids - flavonoglycosyls,hyperoside, rutin
2) oligomeric procyanidines, 1-epicatechol.

This invaluable heart remedies does not contain cardiac glycosides.

Actions: Cardio-tonic, diuretic, astringent, hypotensive.

Crataegus can be considered a specific remedy in most cardio-vascular disease. A tonic in the true sense. The therapeutic benefts are only gained when a whole plant preparation is used. When the isolated constituents were tested seperately in the laboratory, their individual effects were insignificant, whilst the whole plant has unique and valuable properties.

Herbal synergy again! A multicentre double blind clinical trial done in 1981 demonstrated marked improvement of heart function in patients with reduced cardiac output. Following a four year study commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Health, Crataegus has gained full recognition as a heart remedy in Europe. The monograph concludes that the herb has these properties :

It is positively inotropic,
it is positively chronotropic & dromotropic
it is negatively bathmotropic
it increases coronary & myocardial circulation.

and its applications are:
loss of cardiac function
subjective feelings of congestion and 'oppression' in the heart region
the ageing heart that does not warrant the use of Digitalis
mild bradycardiac arrythmias
no contra- indications or side effects were noted.

Mode of action:

• Improvement in coronary ciculation. It dilates the coronary arteries, relieving cardiac hypoxaemia, thus reducing the likelihood of anginal attacks and relieves symptoms. The herb thus directly effects the cells of the cardiac muscle, enhancing both activity and nutrition. It is quite different in activity to the cardiac glycoside containing remedies. They impact the contractile fibres, whilst Crataegus is involved in the availablity and utilisation of energy. This facilitates a gentle but long term, sustained effect on degenerative, age-related changes in the myocardium. It does not produce rapid results but they are persistant once achieved.
• No hypotensive action in the strict sense, but it facilitates stabilization of cardiac function and so BP will normalise.
• Normalisation of cardiac arrhythmias. Mainly extrasystoles and tachycardia.

Indications

• Cardio-vascular degenerative disease. Myocardial problems, coronary artery disease and associated conditions. Angina pectoris and similar symptoms will be eased and prevented. Where no disease state exists but a loss function is happening beacuse of old age. No toxicity, accumulation or habituation accurs, thus it may be used long term, achieving result entirely safely, especially in the elderly.
• Post infarction recovery
• Essential hypertension. Used in conjunction with hypotensives, Crataegus will maintain the heart in a healthy condition, preventing the development of coronary disease.
• Heart weakness following infectious disease such as pneumonia or diptheria
• Cardiac arrhythmias.

Combinations: With Tilia europaea, Viburnum opulus and Viscum album in the treatment of hypertension. With Aesculus hippocastanum for variscosity.

Dosage and preparations

• 2 teaspoonfuls of dried herb infused tds.
• 30-40 drops of tincture 3 times daily, then morning & evening as maintenance dose
• in acute/severe conditions use up to 5ml tds. In the elderly use over many months.