Health Benefits of Hawthorn Berry
If you have heart related problems, one of the best herbal supplements to take is hawthorn berry extract. Hawthorn has been used for centuries as a remedy to treat heart disorders and respiratory ailments. Back then hawthorn flowers and leaves were used widely for natural cures compared to the berries.
Hawthorn which is also known as crataegus is a shrub with dark red berry like fruit. There are many species and they are found in temperate regions. Other than being used as an herbal remedy, hawthorn berries are also eaten raw, used for cooking and made into jellies and jam. The young leaves are eaten as salad.
Many clinical and laboratory studies were done to determine the elements in hawthorn. They were also studied to verify the many claims made that hawthorn is effective in treating heart problems and chest pains, lowering high blood pressure and bad cholesterol. The studies found that hawthorn contain flavonoids that have many medicinal effects.
Among the flavonoids and elements found were quercetin, kaempferol, vitexin, epicatechins, catechins luteolin and oligomeric proanthocyanidins, chlorogenic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, crataegus acid and caffeic acid. These components have anti oxidant, anti inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, antibacterial, antispasmodic, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic properties.
The studies found that all these elements in hawthorn berry as well as the flowers and leaves have the following benefits:-
- Treat mild to moderate heart failure
- Dilate blood vessels
- Reduce the risk of heart diseases, cancer and premature aging
- Protect blood vessels from damage
- Relax the muscles
- Lowering serum cholesterol and thus protect heart lipids
- Destroy free radicals that can cause damage to the body
- Improve blood flow
- Control high blood pressure
- Control cholesterol levels
- Reduce fatigue in people with heart problems
- Improve the ability to do physical activity and exercise for people with heart issues
- Help treat breathing problems and heart palpitations
- Treat chest pain or angina
- Strengthen the heart muscle
Those are some of the benefits of hawthorn that were reported from the research and studies. Hawthorn berry extract is also use to treat diarrhea and dysentery and relieving fluid retention.
You can buy hawthorn extracts in the form of capsules, solid extracts, syrup, fluid hawthorn or tincture and also whole dried berries and hawthorn herbal tea. If you want more potent effect, get hawthorn with the berries, leaves and flowers mixed together in the ingredients.
Before you decide to try hawthorn, please check with your doctor especially if you are taking prescribed medication. For a healthy person, hawthorn is a good supplement to protect your heart and to manage cholesterol and blood pressure. There have been no reports of adverse side effect. People who are allergic may develop itching, rashes, swelling or dizziness.
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