Hawthorn Extract Helps People with Chronic Heart Failure
By Maureen Williams, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (August 7, 2003)—Hawthorn extract is beneficial in the treatment of chronic heart failure, according to a new review published in the American Journal of Medicine (2003;114:665–74).
Hawthorn is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in the United States and Europe. The leaves, flowers, and berries of the hawthorn tree (Crataegus spp.) have been used historically to treat ailments of the cardiovascular system. Extracts have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and ability to dilate blood vessels, including those supplying the heart. Studies have found that hawthorn can improve the function of the heart muscle, increase blood flow to the heart, lower blood pressure, promote regular heart rhythm, and lower cholesterol levels. It has also been shown to improve the symptoms of heart failure such as fatigue and shortness of breath. Hawthorn extract has been approved in Germany for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of chronic heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure).
The current review analyzed the available research on the effects of hawthorn extract in the treatment of chronic heart failure in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. The trials used extracts of hawthorn leaf with flower, either alone or in conjunction with conventional drug therapies, in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Twenty-six studies of hawthorn extract were identified, and eight trials, including a total of 632 people, provided data used in the statistical analysis.
The amount of hawthorn extract used in the studies ranged from 160 to 900 mg per day. (Although one treatment group in one study received 1,800 mg of hawthorn extract per day, excluding this data did not alter the outcome of the analysis.) Most of the participants in these studies were also treated with conventional medications. The duration of the studies ranged from 3 to 16 weeks. The combined analysis showed that treatment with hawthorn increased exercise tolerance, relieved heart disease-related symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, and improved certain objective measures of heart function. Moreover, hawthorn had few negative side effects.
Although these results are encouraging, longer-term studies are needed to confirm the benefits of hawthorn, as none of the studies performed to date have lasted longer than 16 weeks. Due to the serious nature of this condition, people with chronic heart failure are advised to consult with their doctors before beginning treatment with hawthorn extract or any other self-treatment.
Maureen Williams, ND, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. She has a private practice in Quechee, Vermont, and does extensive work with traditional herbal medicine in Guatemala and Honduras. Dr. Williams is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.
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