The season can be for many, about
bringing a more heart-centered awareness, with gratitude and
the giving of gifts. Hawthorn fits perfectly into this season, as it
is a main heart herb, both physically and emotionally. The physical
effects are documented and extensive. Emotionally, it can give you the
“Christmas morning feeling”, both warming your heart and making
you feel more relaxed.
Hawthorn, also called thornapple, is a
thorny shrub or small tree belonging to the rose family, and is
native to the north temperate zone. It is a tree that has long thorns
and small red (or ranging from yellow to black) berries that
are a bit tangy and are packed with nutrition. The leaves, berries,
and flowers are used as medicine. Known best as a heart medicine,
hawthorn also has a variety of other medicinal properties. It is an
all around heart herb- besides its astonishing ability to regulate blood pressure, it has been shown to
help with conditions such as angina and heart failure.
The berry is also known to activate
bile and gastric secretions, which aids in the digestion of stagnant
food in the GI track, especially food that is rich in protein or fat.
The berries are packed with antioxidants and also contain a variety
of compounds that help gut flora to improve digestion of nutrients.
Hawthorn has a very rich history in the
Celtic tradition, where it was considered a portal to the realm of Fae, and it was written about in many different myths around
the world. It's known as one of the oldest medicinal plants that has
a written history. It was prescribed as a remedy for heart problems
by the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides in the first century AD.
While hawthorn is generally considered safe and has been consumed as a food in jams and syrups throughout history, it's always best to consult your doctor before using hawthorn medicinally if you are on a heart medication.
