Hawthorn (aubepine, Chinese hawthorn, crataegus laevigata, English hawthorn, hagthorn, hedgethorn, ladies' meat, maybush, mayflower, maythorn, oneseed hawthorn, shanzha, whitehorn): Dosing and Uses

Suggested dosing of Aaubepine, Chinese hawthorn (hawthorn)

Brewed tea

TID after meals; 1 tsp of leaves and flowers/ 8 oz boiling water

Fruit

Dried powder: 300-1000 mg PO TId

Liquid extract: 0.5-1 ml PO TId

Tincture: 1-2 ml PO TId

Solid extract: 1/4-1/2 tsp PO qd

Syrup: 1 tsp PO BID-TId

Leaf/flower

Extract: 160-900 mg/d PO div BID-TId

Powder: 200-500 mg PO TId

Tincture: 20 gtts PO BID-TId

Other Information

Extract standardized to 1.8% vitexin-4-rhamnoside or 20% procyanidins

Up to 2 weeks of treatment necessary to produce observable effects

Suggested uses of Aaubepine, Chinese hawthorn (hawthorn)

Arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, Buerger's disease, circulatory disorders, CHF, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hypotension, indigestion, tapeworm infections

Efficacy

Contradictory evidence about the effects of hawthorn extract in heart failure patients.

Increase coronary circulation confirmed by double-blind studies; comparable to captopriL

Decrease serum lipids in animal studies

Aaubepine, Chinese hawthorn (hawthorn) adverse (side) effects

Frequency not defined

Agitation

Circulatory disturbances

Dizziness

Fatigue

GI disturbances

Headache

Sleep disturbances

Nausea

Palpitations

Sweating

Warnings

Contraindications

None reported

Cautions

Concurrent cardiovascular meds, vasodilatory agents, or CNS depressants

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: unsafe

Lactation: avoid use

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

Pharmacology of Aaubepine, Chinese hawthorn (hawthorn)

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

Mechanism of action

Proanthocyanidins: ACE inhibitor; vasodilator

Dehydrocatechins: CNS depressant