Overview

Hawthorn is a type of plant. It is available over the counter as a dietary supplement, usually as a tablet, capsule, or powder. People take hawthorn for many different reasons, although its benefits are not well defined. Common side effects may include dizziness, headache, fast heartbeat, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects may be more likely to happen in people who are also taking heart medicines. Before taking hawthorn, make sure to tell your health care provider about any health conditions you have or medicines you are taking.

Uses

What is hawthorn used for?

Hawthorn is a plant used for many different reasons. However, the benefits of hawthorn are not well defined. Some common reasons that people use hawthorn include the following.

• Heart failure
• Chest pain (angina)
• High blood pressure
• Vertigo
• Weight loss

Note: The FDA has not reviewed hawthorn for safety and effectiveness. Learn more about dietary supplements here.

How does hawthorn work (mechanism of action)?

Dietary supplements made from hawthorn contain plants that belong to the Crataegus genus, such as Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus mexicana, and Crataegus pinnatifida. These products may contain various parts of the plant, including the flowers, leaves, and fruit. However, most hawthorn supplements studied in clinical research contain only the flowers and leaves.

Hawthorn flowers and leaves contain many different chemicals that have effects in the body. These chemicals, including flavonoids and procyanidins, may help improve blood flow in the heart. They may also help the heart pump blood through the body with more force. These effects are thought to be helpful in people with heart failure, chest pain, and other heart problems. But the benefits of hawthorn for these uses are not well defined. Although there are many studies of hawthorn for heart failure. Some studies show that it can help, while others show that it doesn’t.

It is unclear whether or how hawthorn may work for other uses, such as vertigo and weight loss.

Herbal products like hawthorn naturally contain many different chemicals, including flavonoids and procyanidins. The amounts of each chemical in a specific hawthorn product may vary, which may change how hawthorn affects the body.

How should I store hawthorn?

You should store hawthorn according to the product label. Most dietary supplements should be kept in a cool, dry location that is out of the reach of children and pets and not in direct sunlight.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of hawthorn?

The most common side effects of hawthorn are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on the dose you are taking or the specific product you are using. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fast heartbeat
• Nausea or vomiting

There may be other side effects of hawthorn that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a supplement. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or by calling 888-SAFEFOOD (888-723-3366). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of hawthorn?

While less common, the most serious side effects of hawthorn are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Hawthorn may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking hawthorn and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

• Breathing problems or wheezing
• Racing heart
• Fever or general ill feeling
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
• Itching or skin rash
• Bumps on the skin called hives, which can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
• Stomach cramps
• Joint pain

Precautions

Who should not use hawthorn?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take hawthorn.

• Crataegus species
• English hawthorn
• Hawthorn
• Mexican hawthorn
• Shanzha
• Tejocote
• Any of the ingredients in the specific product

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific hawthorn products they stock.

What should I know about hawthorn before using it?

Hawthorn is a dietary supplement. It cannot be marketed to treat or cure a disease.

Read and follow the directions on the specific product you are taking, or take it as recommended by your health care provider.

Keep hawthorn out of the reach of children.

Hawthorn can affect your alertness or coordination, especially if you are taking medicines for heart problems. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how hawthorn affects you.

Herbal products, such as hawthorn, naturally contain many different chemicals. The amount of each chemical in a specific hawthorn product can change for many reasons, including the area where the plant was grown, the weather during growth, the time of year when it was harvested, and the way the plant was processed after it was harvested. If you switch to a new bottle or a different brand, you may not have the same effects or side effects because of this variability. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns.

Most dietary supplements that contain hawthorn are made from the flowers and leaves of the plant. These are also the products that have been studied in clinical research. But some dietary supplements may contain the fruit of the plant. It is important to read the label to confirm which part of the plant was used to make that product.

Some hawthorn products have been found to contain toxic chemicals instead of hawthorn. The FDA has not tested hawthorn products to confirm that they contain the ingredients stated on their labels. Some dietary supplements have been tested by third-party organizations to confirm that they contain the ingredients listed on their labels and do not contain any harmful chemicals. Learn more about how to choose a safe dietary supplement product here.

What should I tell my health care provider before using hawthorn?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if hawthorn is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Other Current and Past Health Conditions.Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

• Heart failure or other heart problems
• Kidney or liver problems

Other Medicines and Supplements.Hawthorn may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking hawthorn, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how hawthorn could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if hawthorn passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does hawthorn interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between hawthorn and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect hawthorn.

Does hawthorn interact with medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking hawthorn.

• A beta-blocker, such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), or propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL), which is a medicine that may be used for certain heart conditions or to lower blood pressure
• A calcium channel blocker, such as diltiazem (Cardizem CD and others) or verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM), which is a medicine used for high blood pressure or other conditions
• An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, such as enalapril or lisinopril, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain kidney problems
• An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), such as losartan or valsartan, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart conditions
• Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure

The interactions between hawthorn and medicines are not fully understood. As with most dietary supplements, the research on drug interactions with hawthorn is incomplete. Always check with your health care provider before taking hawthorn with any medicines.

Dosing

What should I do if I accidentally use too much hawthorn?

If you or someone else has used too much hawthorn, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

Hawthorn dietary supplements are usually made from the flowers and leaves of the plant. Read the product label closely and speak with a health care provider about how to take hawthorn safely. Do not take double or extra doses, even if you miss a dose.