Hawthorn - The Heart of the Matter

I learned about Hawthorn (Crataegus) while at an herbal workshop. Hawthorn is a member of the rose family and is known for supporting heart health. I was interested in Hawthorn for blood pressure management. My blood pressure had been creeping up for a couple years. It was one of many perimenopause symptoms that had caught me off guard. I had always had good blood pressure, even into my early 40’s. I learned that Hawthorn supports the heart and circulatory system. It is not something that will immediately lower blood pressure. It needs to be taken daily and may take 2-3 months before you see results.

I was already taking Motherwort tincture for heart palpitations caused by declining estrogen. I discovered that Motherwort and Hawthorn work well together to support the heart. I started taking 15 drops of Hawthorn tincture twice a day. It was about 2 months before I saw results. I have gone from borderline high blood pressure to normal blood pressure. This was a relief, as I had no interest in taking blood pressure medication. Hawthorn may also have beneficial effects on cholesterol. I haven’t had my cholesterol checked since starting to use Hawthorn, so I will have to write about that in the future.

Since discovering that Hawthorn has lowered my blood pressure, I have made a batch of tincture because I intend to take it long term. Hawthorn is not recommended for children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. As always, do your research, especially if you are taking pharmaceuticals or have any chronic health conditions. To read about the other herbs I am using to manage perimenopause symptoms, check out my blog at www.crowmagicbotanicals.com.

Hawthorn Berry