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Hawthorne Berry as a Cardiac Tonic

  • Heart disease is a leading killer in the United States and many natural treatments are being used to help
  • One such treatment is the hawthorne berry which has been found to fight against free radicals and help with cardiovascular problems
  • Four separate studies found that the berry helps patients who have suffered from heart failure by reducing the symptoms allowing them to exercise. This, in turn, speeds recovery


Heart disease is one of the leading killers in the United States so finding new methods for treating this serious problem is extremely important. Natural treatments have become a more popular alternative in recent years and one of the most popular is the use of the hawthorne berry as a type of cardiac tonic. If you’re not familiar with this use, you may want to learn more because it could some day be important for your health or the health of someone you care about.

What is the Hawthorne Berry?

The Hawthorn is a type of shrub that belongs to the same family as roses. Since the early 19th century in the United States, physicians were using the berries and leaves from the shrub to treat illnesses in their patients. Classified as an herb, some refer to these berries as heart tonic because of its long history of being used to treat cardiovascular problems, including angina, arrhythmia, hypertension, and heart failure.

Why do the Berries Work?

Research has found that the berries most likely work because they contain antioxidants. Antioxidants fight against the free radicals that roam through the body and cause damage. This damage has been implicated in everything from cancer to aging and is also a factor in heart disease. Today, we are more at risk from these free radicals because our environment contains more of them thanks to smoking, air pollution, and ultraviolet light.

While understanding the mechanism behind the hawthorne berry’s effectiveness is important, the best news is that they do seem to work in this way. Four separate studies were conducted on the berry’s role in improving heart function after a patient suffered from heart failure. What the studies found was that the herb did significantly improve many of their symptoms and allowed them to being exercising which was important for their overall recovery. One study that included almost 1,000 patients discovered that after taking the hawthorne berry for two years, heart failure patients saw a great decrease in their symptoms and even had to take less prescription medication.

What about Side Effects?

With any chemical – prescription or non-prescription – there can be the risk of side effects. With the hawthorne berry, serious side effects are not common. Generally, some patients who take the herb might feel sick to their stomach, sleepy, or dizzy. Some might have trouble sleeping or may suffer from a mild headache.

The more serious side effects are related to an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and sudden mood changes. These could be signs of a serious reaction to the berry.

To minimize your risks, you should discuss this option with your physician. Because of the growing research showing the positive associated with using the hawthorne berry as a cardiac tonic, doctors are more likely to take this herb seriously. However, it’s always important for your physician to know what you are taking so they can take into consideration possible drug interactions or other potential health problems.

Other natural supplements you could ask your doctor about are CO Q10 100mg and Co Q10 200 Sublingual. Both of these are great for cardiovascular health.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.

2 Responses to “Hawthorne Berry as a Cardiac Tonic”

  1. 1
    Heidi Says:
    Where can I get these hawthorn berries? I'm sure they can be found in supplement form in health food stores, but is it possible to buy the actual berries somewhere?
  2. 2
    Jonathan Says:
    Where can I get these hawthorn berries? I'm sure they can be found in supplement form in health food stores, but is it possible to buy the actual berries somewhere?