Hawthorn by Supreme Nutrition Products
Hawthorn berries (Crataegus monogyna) are in the rose bush family and native to Europe and
parts of Asia. It is often known as the “heart herb” due to its cardio supportive and cardio
protective components. Hawthorn has been traditionally used by people with chest pain, heart
failure, hypertension, anxiety, blood flow issues, etc. Its usage dates back to at least 659AD in
Chinese medicine (1). During the 19 th century it was used by doctors in the USA to help with
respiratory and circulatory issues, heart failure, heart disease, angina pectoris, atherosclerosis,
and altered cardiac rhythm.
Hawthorn berries are rich in polyphenols which are potent antioxidants. Polyphenols have been
associated decreasing risk of certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, asthma, heart issues, skin aging,
as well as certain types of infections. Hawthorn also contains quercetin, rutin, choline, B1, B2,
Vitamin C, calcium, iron, and phosphorus (2).
Multiple studies have shown it can help with congestive heart failure. One study showed
Hawthorne increased working heart capacity and reduced ones’ cardiac symptoms. It also
decreases systolic blood pressure (3), decrease fatigue, alleviates stress dyspnoea, and can
decrease palpitations (4). Hawthorn has also been shown to help lower blood pressure in type 2
diabetes after taking for 16 weeks (5).
The bioflavonoids in hawthorn have been shown to dilate peripheral and coronary blood
vessels, thus improving blood flow to the heart. It can also reduce tension of the blood vessel
walls themselves (6).
Studies on Hawthorn have showed it can reduce overall cholesterol, especially lowering LDL
and triglyceride levels. It also helped lower ones’ body weight (7). Hawthorne also is gastro
protective and anti-inflammatory (8). It also has moderate antibacterial activity against gram
positive bacteria.
Some studies have also found hawthorn may have anti-anxiety effects on the body.
In those with heart failure hawthorn was shown to reduce leg swelling (9). It can also help to
reduce blood leakage from vessels by strengthening the inner lining of the vessels (10).
Hawthorn reduced inflammation in animals with asthma, arthritis, and gum disease. It did this
by lowering TNF-alpha, Il-6, prostaglandins, COX-2, Th2, and others (11, 12, 13, 14, 15).
Hawthorn berries promote the growth of obesity fighting bacteria and could be beneficial as a
weight loss prebiotic (16, 17).
Clinical observations suggest it may be useful in people with post viral endurance and energy
issues due to viral or vaccine related issues.
Recommended dosage: 1 pill 3x per day
Precautions: Consult your doctor before taking if currently on cardiac or blood pressure
medication. Do not take if on blood thinning medication and discontinue for 2 weeks before
surgery.
Sources:
1. Nabavi SF, Habtemariam S, Ahmed T, Sureda A, Daglia M, Sobarzo-
Sánchez E, Nabavi SM. Polyphenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna
Jacq.: From Chemistry to Medical Applications. Nutrients. 2015 Sep
11;7(9):7708-28. doi: 10.3390/nu7095361. PMID: 26378574; PMCID:
PMC4586556.
2. http://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/leungs-encyclopedia-of-common-
natural-ingredients-3rd-edition.pdf
3. Fugh-Berman, A. (2000), Herbs and Dietary Supplements in the Prevention and
Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Preventive Cardiology, 3: 24-
32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1520-037X.2000.80355.x
4. Habs M. Prospective, comparative cohort studies and their contribution to the
benefit assessments of therapeutic options: heart failure treatment with and
without Hawthorn special extract WS 1442. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass
Naturheilkd. 2004 Aug;11 Suppl 1:36-9. doi: 10.1159/000080574. PMID:
15353901.
5. Walker AF, Marakis G, Simpson E, Hope JL, Robinson PA, Hassanein M,
Simpson HC. Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for patients with diabetes taking
prescription drugs: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract. 2006
Jun;56(527):437-43. PMID: 16762125; PMCID: PMC1839018.
6. Mashour NH, Lin GI, Frishman WH. Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of
Cardiovascular Disease: Clinical Considerations. Arch Intern
Med. 1998;158(20):2225–2234. doi:10.1001/archinte.158.20.2225
7. Hu HJ, Luo XG, Dong QQ, Mu A, Shi GL, Wang QT, Chen XY, Zhou H, Zhang
TC, Pan LW. Ethanol extract of Zhongtian hawthorn lowers serum cholesterol in
mice by inhibiting transcription of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase via
nuclear factor-kappa B signal pathway. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016
Mar;241(6):667-74. doi: 10.1177/1535370215627032. Epub 2016 Jan 28. PMID:
26825354; PMCID: PMC4950330.
8. Tadić VM, Dobrić S, Marković GM, Dordević SM, Arsić IA, Menković NR, Stević
T. Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, free-radical-scavenging, and antimicrobial
activities of hawthorn berries ethanol extract. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep
10;56(17):7700-9. doi: 10.1021/jf801668c. Epub 2008 Aug 13. PMID: 18698794.
9. Weikl A, Assmus KD, Neukum-Schmidt A, Schmitz J, Zapfe G, Noh HS, Siegrist
J. Crataegus-Spezialextrakt WS 1442. Objektiver Wirksamkeitsnachweis bei
Patienten mit Herzinsuffizienz (NYHA II) [Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442.
Assessment of objective effectiveness in patients with heart failure (NYHA II)].
Fortschr Med. 1996 Aug 30;114(24):291-6. German. PMID: 8974970.
10. Bubik MF, Willer EA, Bihari P, Jürgenliemk G, Ammer H, Krombach F, Zahler S,
Vollmar AM, Fürst R. A novel approach to prevent endothelial hyperpermeability:
the Crataegus extract WS® 1442 targets the cAMP/Rap1 pathway. J Mol Cell
Cardiol. 2012 Jan;52(1):196-205. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.10.020. Epub 2011
Oct 31. PMID: 22085704.
11. Elango C, Devaraj SN. Immunomodulatory effect of Hawthorn extract in an
experimental stroke model. J Neuroinflammation. 2010 Dec 30;7:97. doi:
10.1186/1742-2094-7-97. PMID: 21192826; PMCID: PMC3022819.
12. Jin XN, Yan EZ, Wang HM, Sui HJ, Liu Z, Gao W, Jin Y. Hyperoside exerts
anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in LPS-stimulated human
fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro and in mice with collagen-induced
arthritis. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2016 May;37(5):674-86. doi:
10.1038/aps.2016.7. Epub 2016 Apr 4. PMID: 27041460; PMCID:
PMC4857551.
13. Kao ES, Wang CJ, Lin WL, Yin YF, Wang CP, Tseng TH. Anti-inflammatory
potential of flavonoid contents from dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida in vitro and
in vivo. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Jan 26;53(2):430-6. doi: 10.1021/jf040231f.
PMID: 15656684.
14. Kao ES, Wang CJ, Lin WL, Yin YF, Wang CP, Tseng TH. Anti-inflammatory
potential of flavonoid contents from dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida in vitro and
in vivo. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Jan 26;53(2):430-6. doi: 10.1021/jf040231f.
PMID: 15656684.
15. Elango C, Devaraj SN. Immunomodulatory effect of Hawthorn extract in an
experimental stroke model. J Neuroinflammation. 2010 Dec 30;7:97. doi:
10.1186/1742-2094-7-97. PMID: 21192826; PMCID: PMC3022819.
16. Zhang S, Zhang C, Li M, Chen X, Ding K. Structural elucidation of a glucan from
Crataegus pinnatifida and its bioactivity on intestinal bacteria strains. Int J Biol
Macromol. 2019 May 1;128:435-443. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.158. Epub
2019 Jan 29. PMID: 30703422.
17. Ridaura VK, Faith JJ, Rey FE, Cheng J, Duncan AE, Kau AL, Griffin NW,
Lombard V, Henrissat B, Bain JR, Muehlbauer MJ, Ilkayeva O, Semenkovich
CF, Funai K, Hayashi DK, Lyle BJ, Martini MC, Ursell LK, Clemente JC, Van
Treuren W, Walters WA, Knight R, Newgard CB, Heath AC, Gordon JI. Gut
microbiota from twins discordant for obesity modulate metabolism in
mice. Science. 2013 Sep 6;341(6150):1241214. doi:
10.1126/science.1241214. PMID: 24009397; PMCID: PMC3829625.