Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorne)

Family: Rosaceae

Part Used: Berries, flower and leaf

Active Constituents:

Amines, flavonoids, phenolic acids, procyanidins, tannins, vitamins – ascorbic acid

Medicinal Actions:

Anti-oxidant, astringent, cardiac tonic, cardio protective, diuretic, mucilaginous, nutritive, muscle tonic

Medicinal Uses:

1.leaf and flower treat the entire peripheral vascular system

2.berries treat the heart more

3.flavin enhance tissue integrity

4.affect the urinary and genital system

5.pt. Who close their heart. Pt. Wear their heart on their sleeves have no ego no boundaries of when to open their heart. Thus strangers could hurt their feelings

6.help opn the inside so that you are more whole

7.flavanoid help the arteriols, effect on all connective tissue of the body

8.high flavanois

9.enhance action of `vitamin c

10.repair

11.cardiac tonic for any cause olf the heart

12.mends the broken heart

13.effect take a long time to take into play

14.syustemic effect use leaves and flower

15.have positive ionotropic effect on the heart

16.good tea

17.nontoxic no drug herb interaction

18.safe for pregnancy infusion

19.The specific indications for the use of Crataegus include “cardiac weakness, with valvular murmurs, sighing respiration, or other difficult breathing, especially when associated with nerve depression or neurasthenia; mitral regurgitation, with valvular insufficiency; cardiac pain; precordial oppression, dyspnea; rapid and feeble heart action; marked anemia, associated with heart irregularity; cardiac hypertrophy; and heart strain, due to over exertion or accompanying nervous explosions”. Felter.

20.Crataegus is a model for a cardiac tonic. Its action is gentle, slow acting and lasting. The flowers and leaves have been shown to cause a positive inotropic effect in heart muscle, though the berries have traditionally been the portions of the plant used. The flavonoids and procyanidins will improve coronary circulation, cause an increase in energy stores and calcium in myocardial cells and increase nutrition and intracellular oxygen consumption. Because of the increased function of the cardiac and arterial muscle, it is used to treat hypertension, hypotension, and angina, prevent extra systole cardiac arrhythmia in long-term use. It has also been shown to increase the tensile binding strength of connective tissue in general. Crataegus is used to reduce cardiac plaque formation, though the mechanism is unknown.

21.On an energetic basis, Crataegus is used to treat heart-associated issues. It is used to treat both broken and closed hearts and to protect a heart too readily opened. It allows the patient to more readily move past and forgive those who have damaged them in the past. (Deborah Francis and my own studies).

Toxicity: None

Pharmacy:

Infusions (Leaf & Flower): 1 Tbl/Cup TID

Decoctions (Berries): 2 Tbl/Cup

Tincture (1:1, 1:5): 60 drops TID – QID (severe disease, 1 tsp TID)

Solid Extract: ¼ to ½ tsp. TID