Mountain Hawthorn

Hawthorn /Crataegus monogyne Jacq./

It grows in forests and bushes up to 1500 m above sea level throughout Bulgaria.

Origin: Born and grown in the northern temperate zones of Asia, Europe, and North America.
Colors: Red, black or yellow.
Forms ovoid or spherical, 1 cm long.
Taste of color: bitter; Fruit: sour.

Both the flowers and the fruit are used. The flowers are picked before full flowering around April or May, and the fruit is collected when it is fully ripe, around September October.

History

Hawthorn is used for therapeutic and decorative purposes, dating back 2,000 years. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it for corsages and wedding bouquets for wedding ceremonies. The Romans believed that the leaves had the ability to counteract evil spirits. Hawthorn is grown as a hedge plant in England and continental Europe. In folk medicine, leaves and flowers are used as a tonic for the heart.

Chemical composition:

The flower and leaves contain acetylcholine, choline, hyperoside, quercetin, quecitrin, trimethylamine, essential oil, amygdalin, organic acids, dyes, tannins and more.

Healing actions and application of Hawthorn:

• Cardiovascular health

Hawthorn has a positive effect on heart health. It has the ability to reduce the chances of cardiovascular problems by increasing endurance, increasing energy, lowering shortness of breath and also eliminating fatigue. These small fruits contain catechins, saponins, organic compounds and other antioxidants that counteract free radicals that affect heart health.

• Normalizes blood pressure

Hawthorn helps to normalize blood pressure levels. The mixture of compounds found in hawthorn contributes to healthy blood pressure and is useful for patients with hypertension and hypotension.

• Improves immune system

Antioxidants help eliminate harmful toxins in the body. Vitamin C helps promote the activity of white blood cells to promote overall health.

• Reduces anxiety

Hawthorn is useful in psychological conditions such as anxiety, stress, and depression. It is effective for improving mood. Has a vital effect on hormone levels.

• Improving knowledge

Hawthorn helps blood circulation in the body, which leads to a high level of alertness and energy. Proper oxygenation of all parts of the body improves cognitive skills, increases energy levels and metabolism.

• Digestive health

Hawthorn has organic compounds that improve digestion. Improves the digestive process and eliminates problems such as constipation, cramps, bloating and other serious conditions such as ulcers and colon cancer.

• Skin health

The antioxidants found in Hawthorn are useful in treating wounds, burns and acne if applied topically to the skin. It has anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce itching in healing wounds and skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

• Prevents infections

Along with improving digestive health, hawthorn promotes the absorption of nutrients and also eliminates constipation. It eliminates intestinal infections such as tapeworm from the body.

• Dilates blood vessels

(especially of the heart and brain), regulates heart activity, has a calming and diuretic effect. The therapeutic effect is attributed to the contained flavonoid mixture, in which the most active are hyperoside, quercetin, vitexin, and Vitexin rhamnoside.

It is used in cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, cardiac neurosis, arrhythmias, atherosclerosis), insomnia.
It is also used for shortness of breath, thyroid disease, enlarged prostate.

Hawthorn has been used for centuries to treat heart problems, respiratory diseases and circulatory disorders. The fruits are used to treat high blood pressure, heart rhythm and hardening of the arteries, chest pain and heart failure Flowers and leaves are also used for medicinal purposes. Laboratory studies show that hawthorn has antioxidants such as quercetin and oligomeric procyandins, which help eliminate free radicals that damage cell membranes and also cause cell death. Flavonoids help promote blood flow, help dilate blood vessels, and prevent damage to blood vessels. Flowers and leaves contain more flavonoids than fruits.