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Experiences using hawthorn as a supplement?

 
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I'm interested in using hawthorn in a standardized supplement form for several reasons so I'm looking for personal anecdotal experiences from others who are using it in any form for any length of time?

Thanks!

 
Rusticator
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John and I have both been using it for years, with good results. What kind of information are you looking for?
 
steward
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I am curious, what are the health benefits?
 
gardener
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I used Hawthorne for high blood pressure but find beets or beet juice does a better job.
 
Judith Browning
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Carla Burke wrote:John and I have both been using it for years, with good results. What kind of information are you looking for?



I want to try it for circulation and as a heart tonic but I have low blood pressure so one concern is if it lowers blood pressure much at all?



 
Carla Burke
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It's an awesome heart tonic. But, John and I have both always taken it with passionflower, which is also known for lowering blood pressure, strengthening and making the circulatory system more elastic. John has had multiple heart attacks, and it's prevalent in my family history, so for me, it's preventative. But, I'm not sure, via experience, how much of his lowered blood pressure is due to which herb.
 
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Clinical trials have shown that for many people it does lower blood pressure, though can take three months of daily dosing to see a significant reduction and for some people it doesn't seem to have this effect at all.
I took it for high blood pressure and my BP did stabilise lower after three or four months. No side effects noted, but as my BP is now fine I've stopped taking it.  Hubby took it for his heart and had to stop as his BP dropped too low. I used a powdered supplement.

The tricky thing with hawthorn is that leaves, flowers, and berries all have somewhat different properties and many commercial formulas aren't clear which part of the plant they're using.
 
pollinator
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I've been trying to find a nursery where I could buy a tree.  I live in Vermont, so it will probably have to be mail order, but geez, I've been looking for days using different search terms.  I don't want a B&B tree but rather a bare root.  Also, I'd prefer one that's spineless.  Today, I thought I'd try the Arbor Day Foundation, and they do have two varieties that are hardy here and keep their fruit through the winter for wildlife and pretty winter color.  They carry 'Washington' and 'Winter King'.  From what I've read, 'Winter King' sounds like it might be better.  Any thoughts from anyone who has some growing?  I'm 63 and was diagnosed with heart failure over seven years ago, so I don't have a lot of time to waste while the tree is growing to a fruit producing age.  Any nurseries in this vicinity that don't charge $600 a tree like they do at Horsford's Nursery?
 
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Barbara Simoes wrote:I've been trying to find a nursery where I could buy a tree.  I live in Vermont, so it will probably have to be mail order, but geez, I've been looking for days using different search terms.  I don't want a B&B tree but rather a bare root.  Also, I'd prefer one that's spineless.  Today, I thought I'd try the Arbor Day Foundation, and they do have two varieties that are hardy here and keep their fruit through the winter for wildlife and pretty winter color.  They carry 'Washington' and 'Winter King'.  From what I've read, 'Winter King' sounds like it might be better.  Any thoughts from anyone who has some growing?  I'm 63 and was diagnosed with heart failure over seven years ago, so I don't have a lot of time to waste while the tree is growing to a fruit producing age.  Any nurseries in this vicinity that don't charge $600 a tree like they do at Horsford's Nursery?



Realistically, growing from a bare root tree to gaining enough fruit for regular consumption will be at least a couple of years into the future.  I'd go with whatever tree(s) you want and not worry about immediate production.  If you want to consume hawthorn in the meantime, there are plenty of places you can purchase prepared hawthorn supplements.  For example: I use a capsule supplement from Swanson.  It is made with ground berries, leaves and flowers.

I have a very small hawthorn tree that I purchased at 1 year old this last year.  I know it will be years before it produces enough for me to use it as my primary source.
 
Barbara Simoes
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I have found a place right here in Vermont that has 6' bare root 'Winter King' hawthorns for $45. (East Hill Tree Farm)  I've actually gotten plants there before, and they are all well-developed trees.  I've paid for it and have a pick up date of April 19th, so I'm psyched! I will probably use your source for supplements in the meantime, but I'm hoping it won't be too long before it fruits!  Thank you.
 
Barbara Simoes
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Would you be interested in making your own?  There are tons of videos on how to make hawthorn tinctures, capsules, etc.  It looks very easy.  If you have a place to harvest some berries in the fall and some leaves and blossoms in the spring, you'd be all set.  

Jane Mulberry wrote:Clinical trials have shown that for many people it does lower blood pressure, though can take three months of daily dosing to see a significant reduction and for some people it doesn't seem to have this effect at all.
I took it for high blood pressure and my BP did stabilise lower after three or four months. No side effects noted, but as my BP is now fine I've stopped taking it.  Hubby took it for his heart and had to stop as his BP dropped too low. I used a powdered supplement.

The tricky thing with hawthorn is that leaves, flowers, and berries all have somewhat different properties and many commercial formulas aren't clear which part of the plant they're using.

 
pollinator
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Barbara, I am in Eastern Ontario and not far from Vermont and hawthorn is pretty common around here.  It is a 'weed' shrub most often found in hedgerows. I think once you learn to recognize it you will see it everywhere especially in the fall once it fruit ripens.

I had open heart surgery last year, a triple bypass and in the care of a cardiologist. Everything went well and I am back to my old self again while  I am interested in herbal medicine I wont take anything without my cardiologist's approval.  
 
Barbara Simoes
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I will definitely check with my physician before partaking, as well!  Good to hear you're doing well.  Me too; my cardiologist said that I didn't need to see him anymore unless I had concerns, so that's good. Yeah, it's probably like elderberry, which I think I see all along streams and such, but never bothered to pull the car over to trudge over and see!  Those too, I wanted to plant at my own place and not have to worry.  They've started fruiting, and I've made some tincture with the little bit of fruit it gave me last year.  My concern is also how much alcohol I'll be consuming with all of the various tinctures I'll have!  They each say to take about one to two dropperfuls two or three times a day!  I put a teaspoon of the turkey tail tincture into my morning coffee!  At least that is half water! I've read in herbal books and medical sites as well as from herbal practitioners, that it is safe, but always good to have that discussion.

Jeff Marchand wrote:Barbara, I am in Eastern Ontario and not far from Vermont and hawthorn is pretty common around here.  It is a 'weed' shrub most often found in hedgerows. I think once you learn to recognize it you will see it everywhere especially in the fall once it fruit ripens.

I had open heart surgery last year, a triple bypass and in the care of a cardiologist. Everything went well and I am back to my old self again while  I am interested in herbal medicine I wont take anything without my cardiologist's approval.  

 
Jeff Marchand
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Funny you mention alcohol.  Ive never been much of a drinker other than those years when I was young and stupid! But I have mostly cut out alcoholic drinks since my surgery opting more for another herb recently legalized on this side of the border .  But that leaves me with my hard apple cider orchard I planted in 2020! If I cant drink it what am I going to do with all that stuff! lol.

I am glad you are doing well too.  Keep us posted on what hawthorn does for you.
 
Barbara Simoes
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Funny!  With getting into permaculture, I've realized that I'd have to broaden my knowledge in other areas, too. That's when I started making salves and tinctures and I will learn how to can this summer, I got myself a freeze-dryer, and I've made two batches of wine: strawberry and dandelion--just because I have either heard songs or heard stories about each of them!  They both came out amazingly well!  I got a nifty apple peeler,corer, slicer which I plan to use for dried apple rings, but if you have a whole orchard of apples...yikes!  I only have four apple trees and that's got me worried! Are breweries and the like big where you are?  I have Woodchuck hard cider right in town that probably would take loads of apples; I'm wondering if there is a place that makes cider or even wine near you, to which you could sell.  You could always have a "You pick your own" kind of thing, and if you didn't want to man it, maybe an honor system would work?
 
Jane Mulberry
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Barbara Simoes wrote:Would you be interested in making your own?  There are tons of videos on how to make hawthorn tinctures, capsules, etc.  It looks very easy.  If you have a place to harvest some berries in the fall and some leaves and blossoms in the spring, you'd be all set.



I'm very interested in making my own and use tinctures and syrups and herbal teas made from herbs I have accessible to me. Unfortunately, though I like where there should be plenty of hawthorns, the only ones I've found so far have been in other people's yards. Though if asked people would probably let me take enough to make a batch of tincture, neither of us need it at present, and I have plenty of the powdered version available. I'm planting hawthorn on my own land in Bulgaria, though I'm not sure it will be drought tolerant enough to survive there.
 
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Jane Mulberry wrote:I'm planting hawthorn on my own land in Bulgaria, though I'm not sure it will be drought tolerant enough to survive there.



That will likely be a problem.  Hawthorn prefers a good amount of moisture.  If you have a low area that tends to collect water, that might be a good location for them.
 
Barbara Simoes
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I'm sure that anyone would give you some if you asked nicely...and especially if you gave them some of the tincture when it was ready!  I was watching videos where people were making it by the gallon and it really didn't take them long to pick the berries for such a large amount; it might take one branch's worth of fruit to do!

Jane Mulberry wrote:

Barbara Simoes wrote:Would you be interested in making your own?  There are tons of videos on how to make hawthorn tinctures, capsules, etc.  It looks very easy.  If you have a place to harvest some berries in the fall and some leaves and blossoms in the spring, you'd be all set.



I'm very interested in making my own and use tinctures and syrups and herbal teas made from herbs I have accessible to me. Unfortunately, though I like where there should be plenty of hawthorns, the only ones I've found so far have been in other people's yards. Though if asked people would probably let me take enough to make a batch of tincture, neither of us need it at present, and I have plenty of the powdered version available. I'm planting hawthorn on my own land in Bulgaria, though I'm not sure it will be drought tolerant enough to survive there.

 
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