Hawthorn in excessive amounts causes depression of the heart muscle
For centuries, hawthorn has been used against heart disorders, high blood pressure, dizziness, insomnia, improving lactation in nursing mothers, increasing male potency and eliminating symptoms of poor digestion in infants.
The use of hawthorn for medicinal purposes has been known since the time of the ancient Roman physician Dioscorides from the 1st century. Namely, Dioscorides described hawthorn in the work “On healing agents”.
Hawthorn (lat. Crataegus) is a tall shrub or smaller tree from the rose family. It can have a height of up to 2 meters. Hawthorn is a long-lived plant because it can survive for 300 to 400 years. It is possible that the Latin name hawthorn (meaning “perseverant”) originates from longevity. Hawthorn is very colorful, especially during autumn, when the blood-red fruits, similar to small red apples, ripen.
Health benefits of hawthorn
Hawthorn fruits are rich in organic acids, tannins, pectins, fatty oils, choline, carotene, vitamin C, selenium. There is essential oil in the flowers. Hawthorn fruit contains 15 flavonoids, the main of which is hyperoside (40% to 50% of the total amount of flavonoids). Hyperoside has sedative and cardiotonic properties, as well as properties that strengthen circulation. Hawthorn flowers and fruits are used for heart disease. Experiments have shown that ursolic and oleanolic acids (from hawthorn) increase circulation in the blood vessels of the heart and brain, and lower arterial pressure. They also increase the sensitivity of the heart to the effect of glycosides (for example, due to hypertension, angina pectoris and cardio-sclerosis, a preparation containing hawthorn and sheboi (lat. Erysimum) is effective – it is rich in cardiac glycosides.
There are many uses of hawthorn in folk medicine
The high therapeutic efficiency of hawthorn in the case of various cardiovascular and nervous diseases was noticed at the end of the 18th century.
-hawthorn preparations show multiple effects on the body. They are successfully used for heart disorders, high blood pressure, angina, angioneurosis, atherosclerosis, nervousness during menopause, poor circulation (they improve blood flow to the brain and memory).
-fruits and flowers of hawthorn are useful against dizziness, shortness of breath, insomnia, nervous disorders

• the result of the application of hawthorn is a decrease in the content of cholesterol and sugar in the blood, there is a noticeable tendency towards the normalization of blood coagulability indicators.
  -hawthorn helps against accelerated heart rate due to thyrotoxicosis
  -hawthorn improves lactation in mothers who breastfeed their babies and removes symptoms of digestive disorders in small children who are still using breast milk.
  -preparations with hawthorn increase male potency at the expense of lowering the negative psychogenic factor and stabilizing blood microcirculation in the pelvic area.
  You should be careful when using hawthorn and products with hawthorn, even though there have been no contraindications to the use of hawthorn. However, uncontrolled use of hawthorn and products with hawthorn can cause depression of heart rhythm. Taking hawthorn fruits on an empty stomach often causes intestinal spasm and even vomiting (so hawthorn fruits are not recommended on an empty stomach).
  Use of hawthorn at home:

1. Apothecary’s tincture of flowers and liquid extract of hawthorn fruits can be used for treatment. You should take 20 to 30 drops several times a day before meals. You can make these products at home. Pour one spoonful of dried fruits (or flowers) with one glass of brandy. Leave covered for 7 days. Strain. Use in the same way as purchased products from a pharmacy.
2. Fresh hawthorn is used for diabetes (in the form of a blood sugar lowering agent). Take 50 to 100 g of fruit several times a day after meals.
3. Hawthorn fruit tea is a medicinal drink. Chopped and fried hawthorn fruits are a substitute for coffee. Fresh fruits are used in the preparation of sweets, cakes, jellies, jams, fillings for cakes, fruit sweets and marmalade.

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