Hawthorn is known as the heart herb for its many benefits as a heart tonic. Studies confirm traditional use of hawthorn berries to strengthen and normalize the heart beat, prevent and reduce heart arrhythmias, and guard the heart against oxygen deficiency. Hawthorn berries are particularly beneficial for the treatment of angina.
Hawthorn is especially popular in Europe, where it is used in a number of herbal tinctures, herbal combinations and teas. The berries’ effects on the circulatory system have been well-studied.
Key components in the berries appear to enhance heart muscle and circulatory health.
Hawthorn Berries owe much of their beneficial action to a high bioflavonoid content, primarily rutin and quercetin. These substances dilate and relax arteries, notably coronary arteries, thus enhancing blood circulation to the heart muscles and reducing symptoms of angina. These bioflavonoids are also powerful antioxidants which help to strengthen blood vessel walls and decrease and prevent oxidative damage.