Hawthorn shrubs provide berries and flowers used in traditional herbal medicine to support heart function. Hawthorn refers mainly to the genus Crataegus, a large group of thorny shrubs and small trees in the rose family. Preparations commonly use the fruit, or “haws,” and flowering sprigs containing leaves and flowers; some products focus on one plant part, while others combine them.
Several species are used, especially common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata). Their flowers contain flavonoids and other polyphenols, while fruits contain additional phenolic compounds and tannins. Hawthorn has been investigated as an adjunct for chronic heart failure and other cardiovascular symptoms, although evidence and product quality vary.
A botanical detail often missed is that hawthorn’s “berries” are not technically true berries. They are berry-like pomes, usually red, and contain stone-like pyrenes. Hawthorn is also easily confused with elderberry or rose hip, which are different fruits. Because hawthorn may interact with cardiovascular medicines, especially digoxin, it should not be treated as automatically harmless simply because it is herbal.