Hawthorn berries are tiny fruits that grow on trees and shrubs of the genus Crataegus. The genus includes hundreds of species that are common in Europe, North America and Asia. These nutrient-rich berries have a sour, tangy taste and mild sweetness.
Hawthorn berries range in colour from yellow to dark red. Hawthorn berries are high in antioxidants. They can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce inflammation, improve skin health and aid digestion. Here are potential health benefits of hawthorn berries.
Full of Antioxidants
Hawthorn berries are a rich source of polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidant compounds found in plants. (1, 2)
Polyphenols are associated with numerous health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a reduced risk of (2, 3,4)
some cancers
type 2 diabetes
asthma
some infections
heart problems
premature skin aging
Although early research in animals and cells is promising, more human studies are needed to
assess the effect of hawthorn berries on disease risk.
May Have Anti-inflammatory Properties
Hawthorn berries may have anti-inflammatory properties that could improve your health. Research has shown that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers (5). In a study of mice with liver disease, hawthorn berry extract significantly reduced levels ofinflammatory compounds, leading to less liver inflammation and injury (6). In one study, researchers gave mice with respiratory problems vitexin – a compound found in hawthorn leaves. This treatment reduced the production of molecules that trigger inflammation and reduced the response of white blood cells to inflammation (7). These promising results from animal and test-tube studies suggest that the supplement may have anti-inflammatory benefits in humans. However, more research is needed.
May Lower Blood Pressure
Animal studies show that hawthorn can act as a vasodilator, meaning it can relax constricted blood vessels, ultimately lowering blood pressure (8, 9, 10, 11). A 10-week study looked at the effects of taking hawthorn extract in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure. The researchers found that those who took 500mg of the extract daily had a reduction in diastolic blood pressure – the lower number in a blood pressure reading (12). In a 2006 study, researchers gave 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract daily for 16 weeks to 79 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The people who took the extract experienced more improvements in blood pressure than those in the placebo group (13). However, more research is needed to confirm these findings. It’s also important to note that using an extract is not the same as eating the berries.
May Reduce Blood Cholesterol
Some studies indicate that hawthorn extract may improve blood cholesterol levels thanks to its flavonoid and pectin content. (14) In one animal study, mice that received two doses of hawthorn extract had lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as 28–47% lower liver triglyceride levels, compared with mice that did not receive the extract (15). Similarly, a 6-week study in rats showed that when rats were fed hawthorn berry supplements, they had significantly reduced levels of fasting triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol (16). Lastly, a 6-month study in 64 people with atherosclerosis found that taking hawthorn extract at a dose of 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight significantly reduced the thickness of harmful plaque buildup in the carotid artery (17). Though this research is promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effect of hawthorn extract on blood cholesterol.
Used to Aid Digestion
One observational study in people with slow digestion found that each additional gram of dietary fiber people consumed was associated with a 30-minute decrease in the time between bowel movements (18). In other words, the more fiber people ate, the more frequently they pooped. Additionally, a rat study observed that hawthorn extract dramatically reduced the gut transit time of food in the digestive system (19). Furthermore, research in rodents suggests that compounds in hawthorn berries could enhance the production and activity of digestive enzymes — namely those needed for the digestion of fatty and protein-rich foods (8).
May Have Anti-aging Properties
Hawthorn berries may help prevent premature skin aging caused by collagen degradation due to excessive sun or ultraviolet light exposure. One test-tube study found that a mixture of hawthorn and ginseng extract could prevent signs of aging by inhibiting wrinkle formation and increasing skin moisture (20).
May Reduce Anxiety
Scientists have been investigating hawthorn as a potential novel therapy for anxiety disorders (21, 22, 23). In an older study in 264 people with anxiety, a combination of hawthorn extract, magnesium, and California poppy flower significantly reduced anxiety levels compared with a placebo. However, it’s unclear what specific role hawthorn played (24). Hawthorn appears to have few side effects compared with traditional anti-anxiety medications. That’s one reason scientists continue to research it as a potential treatment for central nervous system disorders such as anxiety and depression (1). If you want to try a hawthorn supplement to manage your anxiety, don’t stop using your current medications, and be sure to discuss it with a healthcare professional beforehand to make sure it’s safe for you.
May treat heart failure
Hawthorn berry is best known for its use in traditional contexts in treating heart failure, alongside other traditional medications. Multiple studies have suggested hawthorn berry may have beneficial effects without severe adverse effects in people with heart failure (1, 8). Researchers have suggested that compounds called flavonoids in hawthorn might be behind these beneficial effects (8). More research is needed.
Hawthorn Berries
Hawthorn berries range in colour from yellow to dark red. Hawthorn berries are high in antioxidants. They can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce inflammation, improve skin health and aid digestion. Here are potential health benefits of hawthorn berries.
Full of Antioxidants
Hawthorn berries are a rich source of polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidant compounds found in plants. (1, 2)
Polyphenols are associated with numerous health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a reduced risk of (2, 3, 4)
Although early research in animals and cells is promising, more human studies are needed to
assess the effect of hawthorn berries on disease risk.
May Have Anti-inflammatory Properties
Hawthorn berries may have anti-inflammatory properties that could improve your health. Research has shown that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers (5). In a study of mice with liver disease, hawthorn berry extract significantly reduced levels of inflammatory compounds, leading to less liver inflammation and injury (6). In one study, researchers gave mice with respiratory problems vitexin – a compound found in hawthorn leaves. This treatment reduced the production of molecules that trigger inflammation and reduced the response of white blood cells to inflammation (7). These promising results from animal and test-tube studies suggest that the supplement may have anti-inflammatory benefits in humans. However, more research is needed.
May Lower Blood Pressure
Animal studies show that hawthorn can act as a vasodilator, meaning it can relax constricted blood vessels, ultimately lowering blood pressure (8, 9, 10, 11). A 10-week study looked at the effects of taking hawthorn extract in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure. The researchers found that those who took 500mg of the extract daily had a reduction in diastolic blood pressure – the lower number in a blood pressure reading (12). In a 2006 study, researchers gave 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract daily for 16 weeks to 79 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The people who took the extract experienced more improvements in blood pressure than those in the placebo group (13). However, more research is needed to confirm these findings. It’s also important to note that using an extract is not the same as eating the berries.
May Reduce Blood Cholesterol
Some studies indicate that hawthorn extract may improve blood cholesterol levels thanks to its flavonoid and pectin content. (14) In one animal study, mice that received two doses of hawthorn extract had lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as 28–47% lower liver triglyceride levels, compared with mice that did not receive the extract (15). Similarly, a 6-week study in rats showed that when rats were fed hawthorn berry supplements, they had significantly reduced levels of fasting triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol (16). Lastly, a 6-month study in 64 people with atherosclerosis found that taking hawthorn extract at a dose of 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight significantly reduced the thickness of harmful plaque buildup in the carotid artery (17). Though this research is promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effect of hawthorn extract on blood cholesterol.
Used to Aid Digestion
One observational study in people with slow digestion found that each additional gram of dietary fiber people consumed was associated with a 30-minute decrease in the time between bowel movements (18). In other words, the more fiber people ate, the more frequently they pooped. Additionally, a rat study observed that hawthorn extract dramatically reduced the gut transit time of food in the digestive system (19). Furthermore, research in rodents suggests that compounds in hawthorn berries could enhance the production and activity of digestive enzymes — namely those needed for the digestion of fatty and protein-rich foods (8).
May Have Anti-aging Properties
Hawthorn berries may help prevent premature skin aging caused by collagen degradation due to excessive sun or ultraviolet light exposure. One test-tube study found that a mixture of hawthorn and ginseng extract could prevent signs of aging by inhibiting wrinkle formation and increasing skin moisture (20).
May Reduce Anxiety
Scientists have been investigating hawthorn as a potential novel therapy for anxiety disorders (21, 22, 23). In an older study in 264 people with anxiety, a combination of hawthorn extract, magnesium, and California poppy flower significantly reduced anxiety levels compared with a placebo. However, it’s unclear what specific role hawthorn played (24). Hawthorn appears to have few side effects compared with traditional anti-anxiety medications. That’s one reason scientists continue to research it as a potential treatment for central nervous system disorders such as anxiety and depression (1). If you want to try a hawthorn supplement to manage your anxiety, don’t stop using your current medications, and be sure to discuss it with a healthcare professional beforehand to make sure it’s safe for you.
May treat heart failure
Hawthorn berry is best known for its use in traditional contexts in treating heart failure, alongside other traditional medications. Multiple studies have suggested hawthorn berry may have beneficial effects without severe adverse effects in people with heart failure (1, 8). Researchers have suggested that compounds called flavonoids in hawthorn might be behind these beneficial effects (8). More research is needed.