Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus sp.)

In early September, a couple Apprentices and I made a trip to Idaho to pick Hawthorn Berries. Although I have seen plenty of Hawthorns that been cultivated here, I have yet to find them growing wild or naturalized. This year was a bumper crop for the wild Hawthorn Berries in Idaho. We picked gallons of berries that are tinctured and used specifically for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The actions of Hawthorn extract on the cardiovascular system make the heart a more efficient pump. It partly achieves this by increasing blood supply to the heart muscle. It also increases the output of blood from the heart and decreases the resistance of blood vessels in the body to the normal flow of blood. The result is a stronger and healthier heart and a better flow of blood throughout the body.