Thanks for asking about hawthorn berry extract.
Sometimes I have been taking a supplement for so long that I forget why I am taking it. It made me take a look at Google Scholar to see why I originally started taking it. BTW, I recently switched to Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran Cereal for the higher fiber content. Surprisingly, I think it tastes better than regular oatmeal.
It has been used for centuries as herbal medicine by many cultures much like ashwagandha and Rhodiola. Supposedly it has many heart, liver, and hypertension benefits. Does it work? I don’t know because I take many supplements and I feel very good.
Hopefully, it’s helping. It is a relatively cheap supplement. I get mine in powder form from Bulk Supplements. It comes in a pouch with a measuring scoop and I keep it on the kitchen counter so I remember to use it. It tastes pretty much like you would expect a dried semi-sour berry to taste. I usually only use it mixed with my oatmeal bran cereal, but after today’s dive into Google Scholar, I think I will also add it to my protein shakes.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease
The medicinal use of hawthorn in CVD is prevalent in most cultures. Direct comparisons between the phytochemical profiles of these species used worldwide have not been undertaken, although indigenous use would indicate a high degree of confluence.
This review revealed that the hawthorn extracts possess serum lipid-lowering, anti-oxidative, and cardiovascular protective properties
Various parts of this herb, including the berries, flowers, and leaves, are rich in nutrients and beneficial bioactive compounds. Its chemical composition has been reported to have many health benefits, including medicinal and nutraceutical properties.
This systematic review found that hawthorn can significantly lower BP in people with mild hypertension if applied for at least 12 weeks. Further trials are suggested to confirm the longer-term, hypotensive effects of hawthorn preparations.
Hawthorn flowers, berries and leaves contain a range of bioactive constituents with flavonoids (e.g. vitexin, hyperoside, and rutin) and catechin/epicatechin derived oligomeric procyanidins being the most important.
“Specifically, hawthorn possesses a wide range of biological actions relevant to the treatment of toxic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accordingly, hawthorn extracts can be developed as a major source of therapeutic agents for liver diseases.”
. However, this week I passed a trial test for the first time. I still have work to do to pass the real test. But, I am clearly moving forward.