Hawthorn Berries

Hawthorn
Hawthorn Berries. Hawthorn has become one of the most popular herbs in the western world and is now taking the UK by storm. It's a member of the Rose family, and it's delicate, small rose-like flowers and bright red berries later in the year have helped to earn the tree a place in gardens as well as wild hedgerows. Modern scientific investigations have identified a number of the important 'actives', the key one being flavonoids and proantho-cyanidins. Both of these plant compounds belong to the flavonoid family of protective phyto-chemicals.
Hawthorn North Fife, Hawthorn grows in many parts of the world, is edible and indeed is a very beneficial health support. Hawthorn contains many substances that may benefit the heart. However, it appears that two substances in particular -- flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) -- are most likely to contribute to hawthorn's beneficial effects on the heart. Flavonoids may help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow, and protect the blood vessels from damage. Both flavonoids and OPCs have antioxidant effects.

The berries, leaves, and flowers of the hawthorn plant are used for medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers are believed to contain more of the active compounds than the berries. I can personally vouch for these properties having had a heart condition for many years and now take Hawthorn daily as a tincture having stopped the intake of pharmaceutical drugs as prescribed which have hospitalised me due to the side effects. Fear not, it really works. An infusion of dried flowers, leaves and or berries can be made also.