Herbal helpers
Welcome to the herbal helpers page! My plan is to slowly but surely build a database of some of my favourite herbs that I often find myself using time and time again in clinical practice. Click on the name of the herb to read the info. I hope you find it useful!
Hawthorn |
This deciduous tree is native to Europe, where it is mostly grown as a hedge. It produces delicate white flowers in the spring, and bright red berries in the autumn. Both the flowers and the berries are used medicinally.
Constituents
Triterpene acids: flavonoglycosides, vitexin, isovitexin, crataegolic acid.
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC’s): procyanidins B-2, epicatechin, catechin
Misc: fatty esters, amines.
Actions
The most commonly documented and widely researched action of this herb is its effects upon the cardiovascular system.
Effects upon the heart
Hawthorn is known to markedly increase the contraction force of the heart. A property known as poritively inotropic. The OPC’s and amines are believed to be responsible for this action. This is done by dilating the coronary arteries. This increases the level of oxygen and nutrients supplied to the cardiac tissue, allowing for increased metabolic activity, thus better function of the heart muscle. It is also negatively chronotropic, which means it slows down heart rate. This is as a direct result of increased contractility. This action highlights an obvious application of hawthorn in the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure. There is also an effect upon cardiac arrhythmia. Hawthorn has been shown to block the repolarizing potassium current in ventricular muscle, prolonging refactory period, thus exerting an anti-arrythmia effect.
Effects upon blood pressure
There is a long standing traditional useage of hawthorn as a hypotensive agent. This effect is fast acting but needs to be taken on a continual basis. This hypotensive activity is associated with a vasodilatory action as opposed to endocrine interactions. It is again the OPC’s that are responsible for this effect (which essentially is the effect seen in coronary arteries). These constituents inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). This enzyme is involved in vasoconstriction.
Miscellaneous effects
There is a mild nervine property to this herb, causing a mildly sedating effect to the CNS.
Hawthorne enhances one of the body’s own antioxidant compounds - super oxide dismutase (SOD) which inhibits lipid peroxidation.