People have used hawthorn berry as an herbal remedy for centuries. It's packed with antioxidants, and it may even help with heart conditions.
The name "hawthorn" was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe, especially the common hawthorn C. monogyna, and the unmodified name is often so used in Britain and Ireland.
A common use for hawthorn has been to try to treat heart problems, especially heart failure. During heart failure, the heart can't properly do its job of pumping blood around the body.
Hawthorn may have benefits for blood pressure and cholesterol management. It also has antioxidants that may lower inflammation and support heart health.
What to know about the hawthorn plant and hawthorn supplements. Learn about the benefits, risks, and potential side effects of hawthorn.
Hawthorn, (genus Crataegus), large genus of thorny shrubs or small trees in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to the north temperate zone. Many species are common to North America, and a number of cultivated varieties are grown as ornamentals for their attractive flowers and fruits.
Hawthorn was traditionally used for heart disease, digestion, blood circulation, and kidney and bladder problems. It was also traditionally used for topical (on the skin) purposes, such as for sores, itching, and frostbite.
Hawthorns are deciduous trees and shrubs prized for their ornamental beauty, medicinal uses, and ecological benefits. They are most notable for their profuse white or pink flowers, often with a pleasant scent, and their bright red berries called “haws” which persist into the winter.
Crataegus, commonly called hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, Mayflower or hawberry, is a genus of several hundred species of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.