Crataegus

Specific Indications. - Tentatively the indications for crataegus may be stated thus: Cardiac weakness, with valvular murmurs, sighing respiration, or other difficult breathing, especially when associated with nerve depression or neurasthenia; mitral regurgitation, with valvular insufficiency; cardiac pain; praecordial oppression; dyspnea; rapid and feeble heart action; marked anemia, associated with heart irregularity; cardiac hypertrophy; and heartstrain, due to over-exertion or accompanying nervous explosions.

Action and Therapy. - Among the conditions in which crataegus is accredited with good work are angina pectoris, endocarditis, myocarditis, and pericarditis, valvular incompetency with or without enlargement of the rings, rheumatism of the heart, dropsy depending on heart disorders, neuralgia of the heart, tachycardia, and in atheromatous conditions of the vessels.

The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D. (1922)

What the Science Says

There is scientific evidence that hawthorn leaf and flower are safe and effective for milder forms of heart failure.

There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether hawthorn works for other heart problems.

NCCAM-supported research to date includes a study of the mechanism by which hawthorn may affect heart failure.