Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
The hawthorn, which flowers lushly white in spring, is a tree that grows up to 8 metres high and thrives in sparse bushes and hedges. It belongs to the rose family. The medicinal plant, also known regionally as “hawthorn”, was already valued in ancient times.
The leaves and flowers are used medicinally. Its most valuable constituents are flavonoids, which are responsible for strengthening the heart, and procyanidins, which improve organ circulation.
Hawthorn is the medicinal herb that focuses on the heart and circulation. It has a heart-strengthening effect, dilates the coronary vessels, has a calming, cell-protecting and anti-inflammatory effect and improves the blood flow to the heart muscle as well as the associated performance. For this reason, the potent medicinal herb is used for heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, for the after-treatment of heart attacks and generally for the “old age heart”. Hawthorn preparations can also help with circulatory disorders, both high blood pressure and low blood pressure.
In folk medicine and empirical medicine, the red, mealy fruits of the hawthorn are also used, which have a similar composition and comparable effect to the leaves and flowers. In addition to strengthening the heart, this medicinal plant is used in folk medicine for circulatory disorders, headaches and migraines.