What is hawthorn?
Hawthorn is a plant that belongs to the rose family. It is a thorny tree or shrub that grows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. There are hundreds of species of hawthorn in the world. Different species are very similar to each other, differ in flower color and growth rate.
In the wild, the common hawthorn (Crataegus) grows on the edges of forests, along roads and fields. Ornamental scarlet hawthorn is a very beautiful shrub with red flowers, which is often grown in the garden or in the city park. But it is devoid of medicinal properties. The hawthorn shrub with white or pale pink flowers is most prized by herbalists and pharmacists.
What does hawthorn look like?
The plant has the form of a bush, reaching 3-4 meters in height, or a small tree. The branches are covered with dark green leaves and small sharp thorns.
Blooms profusely in May-June. Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, white or pink are collected in umbrellas, reminiscent of the color of apple or cherry. They are the most valuable in terms of health, because they contain many useful substances.
Hawthorn fruits are also healthy, but contain fewer beneficial ingredients than flowers. Edible fruits with a diameter of about 2 cm, maroon or brown, have white fleshy flesh. They ripen at the end of summer and persist even until the first frost.
With low soil requirements, drought and low temperature tolerance, the plant is easy to grow. Likes dry and well-drained places. In the sun it gives larger fruits, but grows well in partial shade.
Health benefits of hawthorn
Hawthorn not only looks beautiful, but also has valuable healing properties: it supports the circulatory system, strengthens the immune system, and also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Therefore, it can be used to treat many diseases or for preventive purposes.
The main use of hawthorn:
- heart failure;
- circulatory disorders;
- nervousness, irritability, insomnia;
- hypertension;
- cardiac arrhythmia.
Note! For medicinal purposes, flowers and fruits of hawthorn, as well as leaves are used. Its ingredients act very gently, have a wide range of applications, and have virtually no side effects.
The chemical composition of hawthorn fruits and inflorescences is very similar. It is a rich source of many active compounds.
Hawthorn contains minerals mainly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Among the vitamins, vitamin C and B vitamins predominate. Among the fatty acids, the most concentrated are the following acids: palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and tricosanoic.
In addition, the plant contains flavonoids, tannins, carotene, pectins, essential oils.
hawthorn properties
Glycosides have a beneficial effect on the work of the heart muscle, protect and strengthen it. Hawthorn infusion has a great effect on the proper functioning of the heart, a positive effect on blood circulation. Flowers and fruits of hawthorn are part of many drugs, mainly cardiovascular and hypotensive.
Additional Information! Regular consumption of hawthorn, for example, in the form of an infusion, can really affect our health. Hawthorn takes care of the heart, lowers blood pressure and generally strengthens the body. Because of this, it is an important raw material for the prevention of heart disease.
The flavonoids found in hawthorn have anti-inflammatory effects. The hawthorn plant also has antimicrobial activity. It also helps with urinary tract infections, painful periods or neuralgia.
In addition, hawthorn infusion perfectly relieves mental stress and makes it easier to fall asleep. Due to the presence of B vitamins, as well as potassium and magnesium, it can alleviate the effects of stress, help in the fight against insomnia, neuroses.
Hawthorn for health has a positive effect on the vessels of the brain, additionally helps with dizziness and fatigue.
The active substances contained in the flowers and fruits of hawthorn have a beneficial effect on the digestive system and may be useful in the treatment of indigestion and diarrhea. Their use affects the digestion process, supports the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.
Note! Due to the content of vitamin C, it is perfect as a means to strengthen the immune system. Hawthorn has strong antioxidant properties, making it ideal for cancer prevention.
Hawthorn flower extract is one of the main ingredients in preparations used for injuries and swelling.
Use in cosmetics
Hawthorn is also widely used in cosmetics. It has an antioxidant and rejuvenating effect, smoothes and strengthens the skin, helps fight the formation of age spots.
It is a valuable source of flavonoid compounds and vitamin C, thanks to which it smoothes, moisturizes and tones the skin. It also prevents capillary rupture and the formation of spider veins.
The condition of the skin is also affected by other vitamins contained in the hawthorn extract, for example, niacin improves the blood supply to the skin, and hence its general condition.
In cosmetic products, hawthorn is intended to rejuvenate and brighten the complexion, also to support couperose skin. Because of this, it is a frequent ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams that are designed to smooth and tone the skin. It also protects the skin from infections and has a bactericidal effect.
Harvesting hawthorn
For medicinal purposes, freshly blossomed inflorescences should be cut off (in May-June) with 3-5 nearest leaves. The berries are best picked in late September or early October when they are ripe but not too soft. Too ripe fruits lose their healing properties.
With timely collection and proper drying, the flowers retain their natural white-cream color, and the fruits have a hard skin and a brown-red color.
Hawthorn infusion: how to cook?
Raw hawthorn is excellent for making infusions. You can dry it yourself or buy it from an herbal store.
Infusion of flowers : a teaspoon of crushed flowers with leaves is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted under the lid for 15 minutes. Drink a glass of fresh infusion twice a day. It helps with heart ailments, incipient atherosclerosis and hypertension, relieves rheumatic, muscle and joint pain.
Infusion of fruits : pour 2 teaspoons of fruits with a glass of boiling water, insist under the lid for 20 minutes. Drink 3 times a day for hypertension and atherosclerosis, after consulting with your doctor.
Hawthorn tincture is very useful. It supports the circulatory system, reduces blood pressure, has a calming effect, eliminates tension and improves well-being.
Tincture recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of ripe hawthorn berries;
- 0.5 liters of alcohol;
- 0.5 kg of sugar.
Ripe berries are thoroughly washed and dried. Put in a 3-liter jar and crush. Pour 0.5 liters of alcohol.
Close the jar and shake occasionally. After 6 weeks, drain the alcohol. Add 1/2 kg of sugar to fruit. After 2 weeks, squeeze out the syrup and combine it with alcohol. After a week, filter the precipitate and set aside the tincture for six months.
In turn, to prepare hawthorn tea, it is enough to pour dried fruits with hot water.
What are the contraindications to the use of hawthorn?
Hawthorn has such a mild effect that it can be used for a long time without causing side effects. Caution with him should be only people with low blood pressure.
Although hawthorn has excellent healing properties, there are some contraindications to its use. People suffering from serious medical conditions should consult a doctor before consuming hawthorn.
