What Is Hawthorn Berry Used for?

The Hawthorn berry is a red or black berry that comes from the Hawthorn shrub. The shrub, which is found throughout the world, can grow as tall as 5 feet and prefers sunny areas. It is marked by thorny branches and, before the appearances of the berries, small clusters of red, pink or white flowers. The flowers, leaves and berries of the Hawthorn shrub have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.

Food and Drink

The fruit of the Hawthorn shrub, known as the Hawthorn berry or "haw," has been used as an edible item for hundreds of years. Like other berries, it has been harvested for use in jams, jellies and fruit pies. It has also been eaten as a raw berry or used as an accent in other dishes by cultures that have native-growing Hawthorn shrubs. In addition to these uses, Europeans have considered it a medicinal since the Middle Ages.

Circulatory Ailments

In university testing, individuals with high blood pressure and/or poor circulation have benefited from the use of Hawthorn supplements. Type 2 diabetics also showed an improvement in hypertension when Hawthorn berry was added to their regimen. These supplements typically contain a mixture of the Hawthorn berry, flowers and leaves. Patients should consult their physicians to prevent an interaction, but Hawthorn is generally considered safe to take in addition to prescription heart medications.

Cholesterol and Plaque

The antioxidants found in the Hawthorn berry have been shown to reduce the occurrence of LDL or "bad cholesterol" in the bloodstream. Other laboratory tests have suggested that the berry is able to control and possibly limit the body's production of cholesterol. Mixtures of the berry, leaves and flowers contain antioxidants that prevent the formation and collection of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis.

Heart Failure

Researchers have extensively studied Hawthorn's use as a treatment for symptoms of mild to moderate heart failure. All studies indicate that Hawthorn supplements, alone or with other treatments, greatly improved heart function after a period of weeks. The use of Hawthorn reduced the need for medication, as well as reducing the severity of symptoms including poor circulation and breathing problems. These patients also have an increased ability to exercise after heart failure, which can boost circulation and heart strength. These benefits are most likely attributed to the Hawthorn's flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins, or OPCs, which increase blood flow, strengthen blood vessels and repair cell walls.

Angina

Angina, or chest pain, has been treated with Hawthorn since the Middle Ages. Since this type of chest pain results from narrowed arteries, the circulation-boosting flavonoids and OPCs aid in relieving this pressure. Angina sufferers on a Hawthorn regimen are able to exercise for longer periods of time without discomfort. The Hawthorn berry alone was previously recognized in Europe as a treatment for angina, but a supplement containing leaves and flowers is now preferred.