Traditional preparations use the ripe fruit. Dioscorides, a Greek herbalist, used hawthorn in the first century A.D . Although numerous passing mentions are made for a variety of conditions, support for the heart is the main benefit of hawthorn. The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain a variety of bioflavonoid-like complexes that appear to be primarily responsible for the cardiac actions of the plant. The action of these compounds on the cardiovascular system has led to the development of leaf and flower extracts, which are widely used in Europe.
Hawthorn has numerous beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels.
It may improve coronary artery blood flow 1 and the contractions of the heart muscle. This reduces resistance in arteries and improves extremity circulation. The bioflavonoids in hawthorn are potent antioxidants. 3 Hawthorn extracts may mildly lower blood pressure in some individuals with high blood pressure but should not be thought of as a substitute for cardiac medications for this condition. Extracts of the leaves and flowers are most commonly used by nutritionally oriented doctors.