Health Tips From Byron J. Richards

Hawthorn for Your Heart

Monday, November 17, 2008 - Byron Richards, CCN

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Hawthorn berry is widely recognized as a cardiovascular tonic; relaxing your heart while supporting its ability to produce and sustain energetic output. Since your heart never gets time off or a vacation, the rejuvenating effect of hawthorn on your heart may be the next best thing. Hawthorn berries are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, and digestive problems. They also have mild diuretic properties and a beneficial impact on cholesterol.

Hawthorn berries contain a wide range of flavonoids which give them diverse mechanisms of operation. These include hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin, epicatechin, catechin, and proanthocyanidins. They also contain germ-controlling phenols such as chlorogenic acid. There are many varieties of hawthorn. The best one for dietary supplements is a from of hawthorn called Crataegus oxyacantha, and is standardized at 1.8% to contain the heart-friendly flavonoid vitexin. Common doses used in hawthorn studies range from 160-1800 mg, with the most common doses tested in the range of 600-900 mg per day.

Hawthorn and Heart Failure

Hawthorn is widely used in Europe as an approved treatment for the initial stages of heart failure (Class I and II), hoping to improve patients and keep them from needing drugs. It has also been tested and favorably helps patients with Class III heart failure, in conjunction with their medical treatment.

Heart failure implies that the heart is not fit enough to supply blood for your body’s needs. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fluid retention (especially ankle swelling), fatigue, and a reduced ability to exercise. The severity of the problem is classified as to how well your heart performs based on a four-class scale known as the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.
• Class I: no limitation is experienced in any activities; there are no symptoms from ordinary activities.
• Class II: slight, mild limitation of activity; the patient is comfortable at rest or with mild exertion.
• Class III: marked limitation of any activity; the patient is comfortable only at rest.
• Class IV: any physical activity brings on discomfort and symptoms occur at rest.

A recent scientific review of all double-blind controlled studies on hawthorn (of which there are many) found a “significant benefit in symptom control and physiologic outcomes from hawthorn extract as an adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure.” Hawthorn was shown to improve the heart’s maximum workload which resulted in improved exercise tolerance. Shortness of breath and fatigue were improved significantly, and the ability of the heart to use oxygen was enhanced. These are very significant findings for a dietary supplement.

Hawthorn Berry In Action

Hawthorn has a relaxing effect on the arteries, in turn improving circulation that facilitates healthy blood pressure. Hawthorn has been shown to enhance the flow of blood through the heart while helping the heart beat tone up (inotropic effect). In fact, hawthorn was found to be far friendlier and more energy efficient as it helps the heart muscle contract to produce an effective beat, compared to drugs that seek to do the same thing. A randomized controlled trial showed that hawthorn lowered diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) in patients with type II diabetes.

A flavonoid contained in hawthorn has been shown to have a natural regulating effect on angiotensin converting enzyme, acting as a natural ACE inhibitor. ACE converts the inactive form of angiotensin (angiotensin I) into the active vasoconstrictor (angiotensin II). A system with inadequate brakes leads to higher blood pressure. Better tone in this system also supports kidney health.

During times of circulatory stress immune cells may release an enzyme called human neutrophil elastase (HNE). While this is a normal enzyme, too much of it can induce wear and tear. Hawthorn berry helps to modulate the release of HNE, thereby supporting cardiovascular health.

Hawthorn protects animals from experimentally induced heart attack. It maintained the antioxidant status within the heart as well as boosting its use of oxygen. During a heart attack liver injury is common. In another experiment these researchers showed that hawthorn was able to protect the liver from any adverse changes, indicating protection beyond just the heart and circulation.

In a study of rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet, those on hawthorn had a 23% reduction in total cholesterol and a 22% reduction in triglycerides. The researchers believed hawthorn helped reduce cholesterol absorption from the diet. This finding is similar to another animal study, which not only found similar reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides but also found that damage to the liver was not occurring at the same rate when hawthorn was taken. Yet another animal study found that hawthorn helped activate LDL receptors in the liver that promoted the natural clearance of cholesterol through the bile.

Hawthorn helps prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized by free radicals, a step that must happen before LDL can become plaque in arteries. It also was shown to protect vitamin E from damage and synergistically boost up vitamin E status by 18%-20%.

While hawthorn has been extensively studied and is in widespread use in Europe for heart failure, its general effect on your heart is relaxing and toning – an overall improvement in fitness. It also exerts multiple actions in your circulatory system that are synergistic with many other cardio-friendly nutrients towards the goal of improved cardiovascular health.

Related Entries: Is Resveratrol the Fountain of Youth?

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