Hawthorn for High Blood Pressure

Can a small, fruit bearing shrub be used in the treatment of high blood pressure, the silent killer? As high blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, heart failure and heart attack in the U.S. it isn't surprising that people would look to almost any leaf, berry or root in search of a natural remedy. However, there are a lot of reasons why hawthorn extract could be an effective herb for high blood pressure treatment.

High blood pressure symptoms

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an increased pressure of blood in the arteries. The increased pressure can be down to a number of reasons; however when the heart pumps blood with excessive force there is only one result: hypertension. Prolonged high blood pressure can impair the function of the arteries and heart, causing stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, vision loss, brain hemorrhage and heart attack.

High blood pressure is often labeled the "silent killer" because symptoms are not easily noticeable. High blood pressure symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, fits, black-outs, and nausea, but only your physician can accurately diagnose hypertension.

Once diagnosed, high blood pressure treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. The natural treatment of high blood pressure is done through life style change, maintenance of ideal weight, and avoidance of alcohol and other risk factors. In addition medicinal herbs for high blood pressure treatment have also been used to control high blood pressure.

Use of Hawthorn in High Blood Pressure Treatment

Hawthorn is one of the effective herbs for high blood pressure used many in natural treatments for hypertension. Hawthorn (crataegus oxyacantha) is a fruit bearing shrub, which bears white strong smelling flowers and bright red colored fruits. It is used to treat a number of ailments such as kidney stones, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular disorders. It is an effective natural remedy for high blood pressure treatment because it contains flavonoid glycosides, procyanidins, saponins, and tannins compounds, which are all known to help in lowering high blood pressure.

The latest research conducted on hawthorn herbs shows their effectiveness in the treatment of Cardiac Heart Failure (CHF), a notoriously difficult condition to control. A recent double-blind study showed hawthorn extract to be also effective in the treatment of hypertension in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

What is that hawthorn has that makes it an effective treatment for high blood pressure?

• Hawthorn is a Vasodilator: Hawthorn controls hypertension by dilating the blood vessels, i.e. making them larger so that blood flow increases, and pressure decreases. It does this by reducing the action of ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) on the arteries and so increasing the supply of blood to the heart to control high blood pressure symptoms.

• Hawthorn Improves Blood Flow: Hawthorn acts as a useful hypertension treatment by preventing the narrowing of blood vessels, reducing the blood volume, and strengthening the heart muscles. All of this leads to increased blood flow, and that means a lower blood pressure.

• Hawthorn Energizes the Heart: Hawthorn is an effective herb for high blood pressure treatment because not only does it increase the strength and capacity of the heart, but it also energizes enables the heart to pump blood more slowly and effortlessly.

• Hawthorn Protects the Heart: Hawthorn has a number of cardio-protective properties. It protects coronary arteries from damage against plaque, the layer of fat that can coat the arteries of people suffering from high cholesterol. Hawthorn can also help to prevent the degeneration of the blood vessels due to its anti-oxidant properties. It is also a mild diuretic, used as a tonic to control blood pressure and for high blood pressure treatment.

Dosage of Hawthorn

Hawthorn has shown to be an ideal herb for the treatment of high blood pressure in its early stages. Hawthorn extract is usually taken in doses of 300 to 600 milligrams, three times a day. Higher doses of hawthorn used for hypertension treatment may cause dizziness, sleepiness, rashes, sweating, and heart palpitations. Drug-supplement interactions between hawthorn and certain vasodilatation medicines has been recorded, so always check with your physician before starting a course of natural high blood pressure treatment.

There are many aspects to modern life that can bump up our blood pressure little by little. The good news is that there are just as many things we can do to bring our numbers down to healthy levels. Along with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and a full compliment of vitamin supplements, hawthorn extract is another herb that can be used for the treatment of high blood pressure.