By Yam Vallis, MS Clinical Herbal Medicine

Hawthorns, ready to harvest, at Historic Fair Hill Orchard.
Image Source: Philadelphia Orchard Project

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) may just look like another scruffy tree on the side of the road or along a hedgerow, but it is a mighty herbaceous ally with deep roots in folklore, tradition, and medicine. Known by many names—haw, thornapple, mayblossom, and hagthorn to name a few—this plant offers not only protection and food for wildlife but also powerful heart-strengthening/protective benefits that have been cherished across cultures for centuries.

Today, we’re diving into what makes Hawthorn special, especially its cardio-protective properties. Whether you’re walking along an old country path or flipping through herbal texts, this mighty tree has something to offer everyone, especially those concerned about their heart health. 

What Is Hawthorn?

Hawthorn is part of the Rose family (Rosaceae), so you’ll notice some familiar traits—thorns, bright fruit, and small blossoms. The Latin name, Crataegus, comes from the Greek word “kratos,” meaning strength, and “akis,” meaning sharp, which makes sense given its fierce thorns. It’s easy to see why hawthorn earned its reputation as a protective tree.

This shrub or small tree is common in North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America alone, there are over 200 species! They typically have lobed, triangular leaves and are dotted with five-petaled white flowers that bloom in late May or early June. But it’s the berries—tiny, tart, and ranging in color from dark red to purple—that really shine in the herbal world.

Cardio-Protective Properties: Why You Should Care

Please see disclaimers at the end of this article before consuming any part of hawthorn plants or fruit for edible or medicinal purposes.

Close up of hawthorns on cutting board. Can see the family comparison with apples!
Image Source: Pixabay

When it comes to cardiovascular health, hawthorn is often referred to as a “cardiotonic.” That’s a fancy way of saying it strengthens the heart muscle and protects against heart disease. It has some specific actions that are worth knowing about:

  1. Anti-Ischemic: Hawthorn improves blood flow to the heart by dilating coronary arteries, reducing pain and tissue damage due to a lack of oxygen in heart tissue. This makes it particularly useful for people dealing with angina or other forms of heart disease.
  2. Positively Inotropic: This means it helps the heart contract more strongly. But unlike pharmaceutical drugs that do this suddenly and with a punch, hawthorn is slow and gentle, supporting the heart over time.
  3. Hypotensive: If you have high blood pressure, hawthorn can be your ally by gently lowering it.
  4. Antioxidant: Hawthorn’s berries are packed with flavonoids, which fight oxidative stress, protecting the cardiovascular system from free radicals that can lead to damage over time.

And that’s not all. Hawthorn has also been shown to stabilize collagen (an important part of healthy tissue), act as a mild diuretic (reducing water retention), and have anti-inflammatory properties, making it a well-rounded herb for heart health.

The Power of Whole Plant Medicine

Many herbalists recommend using the entire hawthorn plant—berries, flowers, and leaves—rather than isolating specific components. This is because studies have shown that while isolated hawthorn constituents didn’t perform as well, whole plant preparations made a significant impact. So, if you’re considering incorporating hawthorn into your wellness routine, keep it simple and whole.

How to Use Hawthorn

There are several ways to enjoy the benefits of hawthorn:

  • Tea: Dried flowers, leaves, or berries can be brewed into a tea. The berries add a lovely tartness!
  • Tincture: This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to take hawthorn for heart health. It’s especially good if you want to take it long-term.
  • Jam or Wine: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even make hawthorn berry jam or wine. This method has been used traditionally for centuries, offering a tasty way to support your health.
Hawthorn leaves.
Image Source: Snappygoat.com

Native American Uses and Traditional Knowledge

The Cherokee, Iroquois, and other Indigenous peoples have long known about the healing powers of hawthorn. The Iroquois used it in bread-making, while the Cherokee used hawthorn bark to improve circulation and ward off attacks in their ball games. Importantly, knowledge of hawthorn as a plant of protection and powerful spiritual ally—both physically and energetically—has been carried through generations.

Hawthorn in full bloom.
Image Source: Pixabay.com

Hawthorn Folklore: From Witches to Faeries

Hawthorn is steeped in folklore, particularly in Europe. It’s known as a “fairy tree” in the UK, believed to be a portal to the fairy realm. Farmers would often plant hawthorn around their fields, thinking it would protect their crops and cattle from witches.

There are also some more macabre associations. The flowers, while beautiful, were often likened to the smell of death (this isn’t entirely inaccurate—hawthorn blossom contains a compound called trimethylamine, which is also present in decaying tissue). Some even believed that bringing hawthorn flowers indoors would result in a death in the household, which could explain another one of Hawthone’s names ‘Motherdie’.

Ripe hawthorns at Historic Fair Hill Orchard.
Image Source: Philadelphia Orchard Project

The Heart of It All

So, why should you care about hawthorn? Simply put, it’s one of the most effective, safe, and gentle herbs for cardiovascular health. Whether you’re dealing with heart disease or just want to give your ticker extra support for a lifetime of health, hawthorn is a reliable, time-tested option. Plus, it’s a gorgeous, thorny reminder of nature’s ability to heal, protect, and nurture us—both inside and out.

And if you happen to see a hawthorn tree on your next walk, take a moment to appreciate its rich history and incredible medicinal potential. Just don’t try to bring any blossoms inside…unless you want to risk angering the faeries!

Hawthorn Honey Recipe

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried Hawthorne Berries*

(*1/3-1/2 cup if using fresh Hawthorne Berries)

1 cup honey (lighter/milder honey allows for stronger hawthorn taste)

Instructions:

1. Gentle mash berries and place them at the bottom of the glass jar and pour honey over. Close the lid tightly.

2. Let the herbs infuse for 6-8 weeks. The herbs will float to the top, so turn the jar over everyday to keep them well coated with honey.

3.Afters the honey is infused, fill the bottom of a small pan with 1 inch of hot tap water and place the jar of honey, without the lid, in the water.

4.Warm up honey slowly over medium heat until melted, about 5 minutes. (Don’t worry, the water won’t have time to come to a boil and the heat will stay low to preserve the honey).

5. Strain liquid honey into a clean glass jar.

6. Small particles of will pass through the strainer. That’s ok, they will rise to the

surface within 2 days and you can scoop them out.

You can use the leftover herbs in the strainer to make a tisane! Just add hot water!

Store honey in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Enjoy this infused honey with your favorite tea!

Author Disclaimer: I am an herbalist, not a licensed medical professional. The information provided in my consultations is intended to support your overall health and wellness and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment. Information provided on the site is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.

POP DISCLAIMER

The information presented on this website is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a health care professional. Always consult a healthcare professional or medical doctor when suffering from any health ailment, disease, illness, or injury, or before attempting any traditional or folk remedies. Keep all plants away from children. As with any natural product, they can be toxic if misused. 

The Philadelphia Orchard Project stresses that you should not consume parts of any wild edible plants, herbs, weeds, trees,​ or bushes until you have verified with your health professional that they are safe for you. As with any new foods that you wish to try, it is best to introduce them slowly into your diet in small amounts.

This blog post contributed by Yam Vallis.

SUPPORT US!  If you found this entry useful, informative, or inspiring, please consider a donation of any size to help POP in planting and supporting community orchards in Philadelphia: phillyorchards.org/donate


Sources

Bahorun, T., Gressier, B., Trotin, F., Brunet, C., Dine, T., Vasseur, J., Luyckx, M., Cazin, M., Pinkas, M., & Cazin, J. C. (1996). Oxygen species scavenging activity of phenolic extracts from hawthorn fresh plant organs and pharmaceutical preparations. Planta Medica, 62(1), 74–77. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4586556/

Botanical Society of Scotland. (2023, May 28). Plant of the week: 29th May 2023—Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Botanical Society of Scotland. https://botsocscot.wordpress.com/2023/05/28/plant-of-the-week-29th-may-2023-hawthorn-crataegus-monogyna/

Herbrally. (n.d.). Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). HerbRally. https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/hawthorn#_edn10

Kiefhaber, K. (2018, July 12). 5 Impressive health benefits of hawthorn berry. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hawthorn-berry-benefits#5.-Used-to-aid-digestion

Kress, H. (2006). Hawthorn for the heart. Henriette’s Herbal Homepage. https://www.henriettes-herb.com/blog/hawthorn-heart.html

Nazhand, A., Sousa, F., Lopes, J., Morais, S., & Barros, L. (2020). Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.): An updated overview on its beneficial properties. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341469316_Hawthorn_Crataegus_spp_An_Updated_Overview_on_Its_Beneficial_Properties#:~:text=Hawthorn%20%28Crataegus%20spp.%29%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest,%28Edwards%20et%20al.%202012%3B%20Nazhand%20et%20al.%202020%29

Sedgwick, I. (2023). Hawthorn folklore. Icy Sedgwick. https://www.icysedgwick.com/hawthorn-folklore/#:~:text=The%20hawthorn%20marks%20a%20peculiar,Glastonbury%2C%20where%20it%20took%20root.