Use for: Hawthorn is a flowering shrub of the rose family with extensive history of use in cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary heart disease, angina, atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. It is also used as anxiolytic and sedative.
Concerns: Hawthorn shows the vasodilatory effect. When it is used with the medications with vasodilatory effects such as nitrates (eg. nitroglycerin, isosorbide) and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (eg. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra), it may cause the hypotension due to additive vasodilatory effects. Consult with physician when on Hawthorn use consideration.
Hawthorn is mostly well tolerated with short-term use for up to 16 weeks, although use for longer than 16 weeks was not fully researched on safety.
Avoid using on pregnancy and lactation.