Hawthorn (aubepine, Chinese hawthorn, crataegus laevigata, English hawthorn, hagthorn, hedgethorn, ladies' meat, maybush, mayflower, maythorn, oneseed hawthorn, shanzha, whitehorn)
Classes: Cardiovascular, Herbals
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
