Hawthorn: what is it?

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Hawthorn what is it

Hawthorn, consult your cardiologist before resorting to it! © F. Le Driant / FloreAlpes.com

Hawthorn, consult your cardiologist before resorting to it! © F. Le Driant / FloreAlpes.com

Often used to form hedges in gardens, hawthorn is a shrub that forms tangled bushes. Belonging to the Rosaceae family as therosehip for example, it can reach 10 meters in height. Which is rather tall for a shrub…

You will find it in edge from forests or on the wild hillsides, and will recognize it by its small shiny green leaves and its white or pink flowers, which appear in spring.

Also called white thorn, noble thorn or drink May, the hawthorn blooms very briefly. Picking should be done when the flowers are still in bud. They will be left to dry in a well ventilated place, in the shade, spread out on a thin layer of cloth in order to preserve their fragrance. The use of hawthorn for medicinal purposes dates back to the Middle Ages. The flowers are used for their cardiotonic properties.

Hawthorn, to be taken with caution

Hawthorn has a powerful action on the cardiovascular system. It is generally indicated in the treatment of disorders of cardiac excitability or in cases of mild heart failure, in adults.

However, in the presence of a cardiac pathology, the doctor can only prescribe it as an adjuvant. Generally speaking, hawthorn can only be used after consulting a cardiologist. In the same way, the extracts of this plant cannot be taken without prior medical advice.

Sources :

Note. Herbal medicine has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Its efficacy and safety are still debated. And for good reason, as the World Health Organization explains in a 1998 report“ a relatively small number of plant species have been studied for possible medical applications “. This article fits naturally into this approach. We should add that given the possible risks of undesirable effects, drug interactions or even toxicity of certain plants, always inform your doctor if you regularly use herbal medicine.

Bibliography :

  • Guide to Healing PlantsVidal edition, 2010.
  • The Encyclopedia of Medicinal PlantsLarousse edition, 2001 and 2017.
  • medicinal plantsEuropean Plant Substances Institute, March 2015.
  • My essential oil bibleDanièle Festy, Leduc.s editions, 2017.
  • Chemotyped essential oils, Dominique Baudoux and ML Breda, JMO edition.

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