Medicinal plants hawthorn the medicinal plants in 2019

Hawthorn has been named the medicinal plant of the year 2019!

For centuries, hawthorn has been used in medicine. Already Pastor Sebastian Kneipp recommended the plant to support the heart and circulation. The Studienkreis Entwicklungsgeschichte der Arzneipflanzenkunde at the University of Würzburg has chosen hawthorn as the medicinal plant of the year 2019.

In antiquity, people used hawthorn from the rose family against colic and diarrhea. First investigations into the healing power of hawthorn followed at the end of the 19th century in the USA. From the 1970s, numerous applications for hawthorn extract were known, such as heart disease due to age, stress and high blood pressure.

Hawthorn extract as a traditional medicine

Due to the many years of experience, the safety and the good tolerability of the active ingredient hawthorn leaves with flowers were classified by the German regulatory authority in 2016 as a traditional herbal medicine. Based on many years of experience, hawthorn leaves with flowers can also be used for intermittent nervous heart complaints (eg heart palpitations, fears triggered extrasystoles), if a serious medical illness was excluded. An application for mild symptoms of stress and as a sleep aid is also advocated. Due to the known effects, the use of hawthorn extract could be very useful not only for functional (not organic) heart problems, but also at first signs of heart failure and for the prevention of heart failure. Hawthorn medicines are made using the leaves with the bright white flowers of hawthorn shrubs or trees. They contain important phytochemicals, such as the oligomeric Prozyanidine, which are responsible for the effect. In Central Europe, there are several species of hawthorn, including the common (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) And the two-branched hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC), which are used to make medicines.

Effects of hawthorn on the heart and blood vessels are manifold

Numerous scientific studies have elucidated in recent decades how hawthorn extract supports cardiovascular function. The herbal active ingredient has a positive effect on the pumping power of the heart. The circulation of the coronary vessels and the heart muscle is increased by stimulating the production of the vasodilating neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) and inhibiting its degradation. By increasing the contraction force of the heart, improving the excitation conduction and increasing the stimulation threshold, hawthorn extract can also protect against cardiac arrhythmias. Likewise, the extract of hawthorn leaves with flower vessels keeps elastic, thus improving the age-related loss of elasticity of the arterial blood vessels. Also, the disease-related disorders of the endothelial function (endothelium = vessel wall of the blood vessels) are reduced and lowered the peripheral vascular resistance. There is an increase in exercise capacity and shortness of breath during exercise occurs later. Recent studies have shown that the quality of life of patients taking hawthorn extract improved and physical performance increased (Härtel et al., 2014)..

The positive effect is due to scientific findings on phytochemicals. Among other things, they have a positive effect on the pumping power of the heart. Thus, the circulation of the coronary arteries and the heart muscle is increased by stimulating the production of the vasodilating neurotransmitter nitric oxide and inhibiting the degradation.

But hawthorn is also an asset in the kitchen. From the flowers and leaves can prepare a tasty tea. The red berries become ripe in autumn and are edible. However, the pulp raw has a floury consistency. Only processed in the compote, jelly, juice and syrup unfold the fruits their pleasant sweet-sour flavor. They are often combined with other fruits such as apples and quince. Hawthorn berries are rich in vitamin C, provitamin A and pectin.