Therapeutic Uses:
- Congestive Heart Failure – Hawthorn supports the heart in several ways. It opens (dilates) the coronary arteries, improving the blood supply to the heart muscle. This strengthens the heart so it beats more forcefully and efficiently. As a result, the herb boosts the heart’s blood-pumping force which is vital in people with congestive heart failure.
- Blood Pressure – Part of the reason hawthorn treats congestive heart failure is that it lowers blood pressure, which allows blood to circulate more freely with less strain on the heart.
- Cholesterol and Heart Rhythm – Some evidence also shows that hawthorn helps reduce cholesterol levels and corrects some types of heart rhythm disturbances (arrythmias).
Medicinal Uses: * Cardiovascular * Hypertension * Longevity Tonics
Hawthorn Berry Side Effects: If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: heart disease (e.g., heart failure, angina), low blood pressure. This product may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).
Hawthorn Berry Drug Interactions: Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Hawthorn also seems to affect the heart. Taking hawthorn along with digoxin (Lanoxin) might increase the effects of digoxin and increase the risk of side effects. Do not take hawthorn if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin) without talking to your healthcare professional.
Hawthorn might decrease blood pressure. Taking hawthorn along with beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low. Beta-blocker medications include: atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), and others. Calcium channel blocker medications include: nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.
Some medications for male sexual dysfunction can decrease blood pressure. Taking hawthorn along with medications for male sexual dysfunction (sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra)) might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Hawthorn increases blood flow. Taking hawthorn with nitrate medications that also increase blood flow to the heart (nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid, Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat) and isosorbide (Imdur, Isordil, Sorbitrate)) might increase the chance of dizziness and lightheadedness.
