Hawthorn
(Crataegus oxyacantha)
General Description: Spiny tree, may grow 15-18 ft. tall, producing white flowers
from April to June with red fruit.
Part
Used: Blossoms, flowers, leaves and fruit.
Uses:
increase coronary
circulation by dilating coronary vessels
hypotension
reduces inflammation and pain in arthritis
mild
diuretic
astringent
Action:
Contain active pigments called flavonoids that inhibit vasoconstriction
and dilate blood vessels. They also cause sedative effects,
depressing the CNS.
Dosage:
Berries - 3-5 gms,
as infusion
Tincture - (1:5) 4-5 ml
Fluid extract (1:1) - 1-2 ml.
Powder - 200-500 mg 3/times/day
Precautions/Adverse
Effects: Use cautiously in hypertensive patients. Rare, however can
produce sleeplessness, dizziness, headache, palpitation, and nausea.
Interactions with Drugs: Do not use with: coronary vasodilators, cardiovascular drugs,
CNS depressants and digoxin.
Contraindications
: with use of other concomitant use of herbs containing cardiac
glycosides, like hemp roots, hedge mustard, motherwort, etc. Also
those herbs containing cardioactive products like ginger, ginseng, devil's
claw, etc. Contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential uterine activity.
Nursing Considerations:
Warn patients that it could take up to 2 weeks to acquired an
observable effect.
Because hawthorn
potentates the action of cardiac glycosides,
patients should not use
concurrently unless under medical supervision.
Do not self-medicate until
further studies have been done to prove effective in treating and
preventing atherosclerosis.
Heart disease should be diagnosed and monitored by a health care
provider.
Hawthorn offers some advantages over digoxin in mild heart failure because
it has a wider therapeutic range, lower risk of dosage errors, less
arrhythmogenic potential, and less renal impairment. However, more
research is warranted.
(References)
