Hawthorn has positive side effects such as lower blood pressure and better cardiovascular health, but also negative effects like drowsiness and heart palpitations. It is believed to combat various ailments and is loaded with antioxidants that improve blood flow and strengthen the heart muscles. Hawthorn can be consumed in various forms, but excessive intake may cause drowsiness and low blood pressure.
The most common side effects of hawthorn include positive benefits like lower blood pressure and better cardiovascular health, as well as detrimental effects like drowsiness and heart palpitations. Taken for generations as a botanical cure, hawthorn is also credited with lowering bad cholesterol, relieving pain from gout and other forms of arthritis, and curing insomnia. It is also believed to combat diarrhea and throat infections. The superstitious believe that it can also fight demon spirits.
Loaded with age-fighting antioxidants, the herb produces its positive hawthorn side effects through a type of antioxidant known as bioflavonoids. The most effective bioflavonoids behind hawthorn side effects are vitexin, oligomeric proyanidins, and hyperoside. Bioflavonoids are natural pigments that give the hawthorn plant its color. When digested, the chemicals in these pigments offer protection to the heart by improving blood flow in the arteries, stopping irregular heartbeats, and strengthening the heart muscles.
A key reason for heart-related side effects of hawthorn is that the herb interferes with enzymes in the body that weaken the heart muscles. The supplement, therefore, can preserve heart muscle tone, allowing the heart to pump more vigorously. This benefit often appeals to athletes and other highly active people who take the supplement to protect the heart during vigorous activity. It is also a favorite of older people who have suffered from heart disease.
Another bioflavonoid known as rutin produces hawthorn side effects for the circulatory system. Rutin has the ability to make blood vessels more flexible so they can widen more as they accommodate circulating blood. The effect of getting the blood to flow through wider pathways with less pressure means that high blood pressure is often reduced, the blood gets more oxygen and the organs, particularly the heart, get more blood. Alternative medicine practitioners often recommend this herb to people suffering from chest pains due to lack of oxygen and restricted blood flow to the heart.
The berries, leaves, and flowers of the hawthorn bush are crushed, crushed, and dried for medicinal use. Many herbalists recommend using the leaves to prepare a tea to benefit from the side effects of hawthorn. The herb can also be purchased in extract form or in capsules containing powdered leaves and berries. The recommended amount to experience hawthorn side effects is approximately 200 mg per day.
While most holistic practitioners claim there is no harm in doubling or tripling that dose, some users claim that taking too much hawthorn can cause drowsiness. Others have reported fainting due to extremely low blood pressure as one of the negative side effects of hawthorn when the herb is taken in excess. The plant is not toxic, but some doctors warn that it may interfere with beta-blockers and other types of medications.
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