HAWTHORN
(Crataegus species)

Description: Deciduous, thorn shrub or tree, 30 ft. high. Trunk or stems have hard wood, smooth, ash-gray bark, thorny branches. Small, shiny, serrated, 3-irregular toothed lobed leaves are dark green on top, light bluish-green underneath. White flowers with round petals grow in terminal corymbs. The fruit or haw, a 2-3 seeded, fleshy pome, scarlet on the outside, yellowish and pulpy on the inside. Various species found throughout the world. Note: The 1-5 in. straight or curved single thorns of the haw are not found on any of the outer native shrubs or trees on this continent which makes this genus easy to differentiate.

Medicinal: Astringent, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic, vasodilator. Leaves, flowers, haws are helpful in treating heart weakness caused by kidney disease, for irregular heart beat and artery spasms. It dilates the heart's blood vessels which controls both high and low blood pressure and nervous heart. A tea is also good for nervous conditions, particularly insomnia. Steep 1 tsp. flowers in 1/2 cup water. Take 1-1 1/2 cups a day, mouthful at a time. Use concentrated preparation under medical direction.

Back | Home | Next