Hawthorn: Benefits and Nutrition (2024)

The Hawthorn plant contains active ingredients that may support your cardiovascular health by lowering high blood pressure, decreasing blood lipids (fats), and strengthening your heart.

Hawthorns are small, flowering trees with berries often used to make jelly and tea. Supplements may contain nutrients and biochemicals from the leaves, flowers, and berries. However, more research is needed to prove its benefits and you shouldn't use Hawthorn to self-treat a health condition.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

Hawthorn: Benefits and Nutrition (1)

Hawthorn Supplement Facts

  • Active ingredient: Oligomeric procyanidins, flavonoids (hyperoside, vitexin)
  • Alternate name: Crataegus monogyna,Crataegus laevigata(synonymCrataegus oxyacantha), English hawthorn, harthorne, haw, hawthorne, mayhaw, oneseed hawthorn, thornapple.
  • Legal status: Over-the-counter supplement (United States).
  • Suggested dose: Use of 160 to 1,800 milligrams (mg) from three to 24 weeks in studies
  • Safety considerations: May interact with some medications

Nutrition

Hawthorn contains different levels of nutrients and other components depending on factors like the species (type) and where it grows.

Studies have found the following in hawthorn:

  • Protein
  • Pectin
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Phosphorous
  • Phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic acid
  • Flavonoids, such as chrysin, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and rutin
  • Triterpenoids
  • Lignans

What Are Hawthorn's Benefits?

Given the serious nature of heart disease, it's essential not to self-treat a heart condition with hawthorn or any other remedy. Please consult your healthcare provider, registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), or pharmacist if you're considering using hawthorn.

Researchers have suggested hawthorn may have heart benefits.

This could partly be due to its vasodilation effects (increased blood flow), although conflicting evidence exists.

Hawthorn has been studied for the following conditions:

  • Heart failure: The German Commission E, an expert panel, approved hawthorn for congestive heart failure. A systematic review suggested hawthorn managed heart failure symptoms and outcomes. However, a study did not observe these effects. Further study is needed.
  • High blood pressure: While some studies have suggested hawthorn lowered blood pressure, conflicting evidence exists. More, higher-quality studies are needed.
  • High cholesterol: Hawthorn lowered cholesterol in animal studies. However, animal studies don't always translate into benefits for humans. Human studies are needed to confirm these benefits.

Safety

Avoid hawthorn if you're allergic to it, its components (parts), or other plants in the Rosaceae (rose) family.

Seek medical attention if you have a severe allergic reaction (itching, hives, shortness of breath).

Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of hawthorn include the following:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) issues
  • Dizziness/vertigo
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Palpitations

Interactions

Just because it's a natural medicine doesn't mean hawthorn can't interact with medications or other herbs and supplements. Natural medicines can be quite potent.

Research suggests hawthorn may inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AchE), which plays a role in Alzheimer's medications.

Hawthorn may increase or change the effects of the following medications:

  • Blood pressure medication
  • Lanoxin (digoxin) and other heart medications
  • Herbs or supplements that affect the heart (ex., garlic, omega-3 fatty acids)

Talk to a pharmacist, registered dietitian, or healthcare provider before taking hawthorn if you also take medications, other herbs, or supplements.

Precautions

Please keep in mind the following precautions when considering hawthorn:

  • Surgery: According to a review, the use of hawthorn was strongly associated with surgical bleeding. Consult with your healthcare provider regarding when you should discontinue its use before surgery.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with your healthcare provider before using hawthorn.
  • Children: Hawthorn has not been well-researched for use in children. Discuss its use with your child's pediatrician beforehand.

Summary

Hawthorn has been used for millennia, primarily for heart conditions. Research suggests it may benefit heart failure, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. However, conflicting evidence also exists.

Hawthorn may interact with some medications and is not suggested for use during pregnancy or in children. As with all plant medicines and supplements, check with your healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist, or pharmacist if you're considering using hawthorn. This can help optimize your health goals and minimize interactions or side effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much hawthorn berry do I need to take to lower blood pressure?

    In a study of people with diabetes, 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract for 16 weeks reduced blood pressure by 3.6 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Further study is needed.

  • What is hawthorn?

    Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a plant that has mostly been studied for its value with heart conditions. The plant has been used for it health benefits and also as a food.

  • What is hawthorn berry good for?

    While hawthorn has been demonstrated to have some benefits in heart failure, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, conflicting evidence does exist. More research is needed. Do not self-treat or delay treatment of serious conditions like heart failure. Consider and alter, if necessary, your lifestyle, eating habits, and activity level to reach your health goals. Reach out to your healthcare provider for further guidance.

15 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hawthorn.

  2. Holubarsch CJF, Colucci WS, Eha J. Benefit-risk assessment of Crataegus extract WS 1442: an evidence-based review. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2018;18(1):25-36. doi:10.1007/s40256-017-0249-9

  3. Edwards JE, Brown PN, Talent N, Dickinson TA, Shipley PR. A review of the chemistry of the genus Crataegus.Phytochemistry. 2012;79:5-26. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.04.006

  4. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health. Hawthorn.

  5. Pittler MH, Guo R, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(1):CD005312. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2

  6. Zhang J, Chai X, Zhao F, et al. Food applications and potential health benefits of hawthorn.Foods. 2022;11(18):2861. doi:10.3390/foods11182861

  7. Asher GN, Viera AJ, Weaver MA, et al. Effect of hawthorn standardized extract on flow mediated dilation in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults: a randomized, controlled cross-over trial.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:26. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-26

  8. Brixius K, Willms S, Napp A, et al. Crataegus special extract WS 1442 induces an endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated vasorelaxation via eNOS-phosphorylation at serine 1177.Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2006;20(3):177-184. doi:10.1007/s10557-006-8723-7

  9. Walker AF, Marakis G, Simpson E, et al. Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for patients with diabetes taking prescription drugs: a randomised controlled trial.Br J Gen Pract. 2006;56(527):437-443.

  10. Wang SZ, Wu M, Chen KJ, et al. Hawthorn extract alleviates atherosclerosis through regulating inflammation and apoptosis related factors: an experimental study. Chin J Integr Med. 2019;25(2):108-115. doi10.1007/s11655-018-3020-4

  11. Posadzki P, Watson LK, Ernst E. Adverse effects of herbal medicines: an overview of systematic reviews.Clin Med (Lond). 2013;13(1):7-12. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.13-1-7

  12. Martinelli F, Perrone A, Yousefi S, et al. Botanical, phytochemical, anti-microbial and pharmaceutical characteristics of hawthorn (Crataegusmonogyna jacq.), Rosaceae.Molecules. 2021;26(23):7266. doi:10.3390/molecules26237266

  13. Dahmer S, Scott E. Health effects of hawthorn. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(4):465-8.

  14. Hatfield J, Saad S, Housewright C. Dietary supplements and bleeding.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(6):802-807. doi:10.1080/08998280.2022.2121575

  15. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Hawthorn.

Additional Reading

Hawthorn: Benefits and Nutrition (2)

By Regina C. Windsor, MPH, RDN
Regina Windsor, MPH, RDN, is an editor for Verywell Health. Her expertise includes population health, data analysis and synthesis, nutrition and dietetics, publishing, and education. She is a systems-oriented thinker with a passion for exploration and authentic connection.

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