• Total Cardiovascular Tonic

Hawthorn is one of the best herbal tonics for the heart and circulatory system. It also helps your body adapt to physical, emotional and environmental stress. Hawthorn impressively addresses almost every major factor involved in heart disease.

Hawthorn contains the active constituents saponins and glycosides, which can normalize heart function by either stimulating or depressing it, depending on your heart's need. It can balance any heart problem: if you have high blood pressure, Hawthorn lowers it by reducing peripheral vascular resistance; if you have low blood pressure, it rises it.

It can be used for long periods of time to treat heart conditions ranging from heart weakness, palpitations, intermittent claudication (leg pain), cardiac arrhythmia, angina chest pains, shortness of breath to heart failure, and even helps in widening (dilating) coronary arteries, according to a report in Lawrence Review of Natural Products, which is useful in cases of hypertension, atherosclerosis and in preventing heart attacks.

The Hawthorn extract works as well as digoxin (a normally prescribed drug, whose side effects include heart blockages and rhythm disturbances) without the side effects or long-term risks. It is especially useful in treating angina, heart fatigue known as congestive heart failure and reducing serum cholesterol levels--thus preventing the build-up of cholesterol in arterial walls. It increases intracellular Vitamin C levels and decreases capillary permeability and fragility.

By keeping blood vessels relaxed, it reduces blood pressure and permits freer flow of blood to the heart muscle.1 Better blood flow, in turn, increases the heart's oxygen supply and utilization. Stimulates increased enzyme metabolism in the heart muscle.

Heart problems are serious, so be sure to consult a professional before using Hawthorn. Because it functions much the same way as heart medications, it may make the medications excessive, and the doctor may have to lower the dosages.

Traditionally in Chinese medicine, it is also used for its digestive qualities. A rich source of anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins (flavonoids) and can be taken in liberal amounts in treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid. These flavonoids exhibit membrane and collagen stabilizing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, among others.

Warning: If taking prescription heart medicine, consult physician before taking this product.

• See Wellness Web for more information
• Recommended Dosage

Read More About It

• Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine : Hawthorn [HTML] by Lori De Milto.

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