[Jacquie] Hawthorn Berry is preferred.  But other parts of the plant are used.  Medicinal Uses – Hawthorn has been documented as being used for heart conditions since the first century. Today, the leaf and flower have both been used for congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. It is sometimes used for hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia. It has also been used for digestive and kidney issues. Flowers and berries are astringent, and are useful for sore throats.
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How it helps High Blood Pressure – Hawthorn seems to work its magic by relaxing and opening up blood vessels that feed the heart, and by enhancing the overall workings of the heart muscle. This combination goes a long way toward stabilizing blood pressure because the heart no longer has to work as hard to pump blood around the body. A potent antioxidant, this herb may also help to relieve chest pain and reinforce a normal heartbeat.
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What to look for – Be patient. You may have to take hawthorn for four to eight weeks or more before seeing any improvement in your blood pressure.
I want to know what this hawthorn looks like. I have a hawthorn hedge and wonder if it’s the same hawthorn (flowers, has berries after the flowers).
Thank you
I talked to Mick, and here’s her reply: “Annie, you could get one of the plant apps (Picture This is one) and take a picture of one of the trees in your hedge. The app will help you identify the tree. These apps aren’t foolproof (they sometimes wrongly identify a plant if there are other plants that look a great deal like the one you’re trying to identify), but it’s a good start. You could also do an internet search for Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus oxyacantha, and Crataegus laevigata (some of the most common hawthorn species in America) and click on “images.” If you find an image of a plant that looks like the ones in your hedge, then go to that webpage and verify the Latin name of the plant in that image. Lastly, it would help if you bought a field guide that is specific to your region of the country. This book would help you to identify many kinds of wild plants in your region.” – Mick
Thank you, both of you!!
I just found out that we have Indian Hawthorn. It has flowers and berries, but is a very different shaped leaf.