Hawthorn for heart health
Hawthorn is one of my favourite herbs. It has many researched cardiovascular benefits and an excellent safety profile, making it an ideal herb to use in the prevention of cardiovascular conditions. It is also really easy to get into your diet, either via herbal tinctures and supplements but also via consuming the raw berries, teas, jams and syrups made with Hawthorn.
Hawthorne is packed with anti-oxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Most of its medicinal benefits are thought to be due to it's high content of flavonoids and procyanidins.
❤Heart failure. Most research around Hawthorn has focused on its effects on heart failure. Hawthorne can effect the force of heart beats, increase the integrity of the blood vessel wall, improve coronary blood flow and exert positive effects on oxygen utilization.
❤Blood pressure. Hawthorn can reduce blood pressure due to its vaso-relaxant effects (reduces tension in the walls of blood vessels). It stimulates nitrous oxide activity and relaxes smooth muscles and also has a weak ACE inhibitor effect.
❤ Atherosclerosis. a 6 month human trial showed that hawthorn reduced the thickness of harmful plaque buildup in the carotid artery.
❤Cholesterol. Hawthorn can increase excretion of bile acid and decrease the absorption of dietary cholesterol.
Heart health is one of my special interests in clinic, if you would like assistance with your heart health, either in prevention of cardiovascular disease or in the management of existing heart conditions, I would absolutely love to work with you. My clinic is a judgement free zone, always. Click on here to see how you can work with me.