Hawthorn
Hawthorn is traditionally used for heart-related symptoms. Clinical evidence is mixed and depends on extract and outcome.
Overview
What is hawthorn?
Hawthorn contains natural plant compounds called flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, which support heart health.
Dosage
A typical dose is 160-1,000 mg per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most hawthorn research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Congestive heart failure accounts for 12 of 24 studies (50%).
- Anxiety accounts for 3 of 24 studies (13%).
- Orthostatic hypotension accounts for 3 of 24 studies (13%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Cognitive performance, High blood pressure, Angina.
Safety
Hawthorn has been safely used in studies at a dose of 1800 mg per day for up to 16 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources24 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Angina
1 reference1.SupplementDEX Database: Angina — Treating unstable angina with detoxifying and blood-activating formulae: A randomized controlled trial2021
In 144 patients with unstable angina over 4 weeks, a detoxifying formula containing 15 g Polygonum cuspidatum and 10 g hawthorn improved angina symptoms versus control.
SupplementDEX Database · Anxiety
3 references2.SupplementDEX Database: Anxiety — The chronic effects of a combination of herbal extracts (Euphytose®) on psychological mood state and response to a laboratory stressor: A randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind study in healthy humans2022
In healthy adults over 14 days, Euphytose (valerian, passionflower, hawthorn, ballota) improved mood and reduced anxiety versus placebo before a laboratory stressor.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Anxiety — Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders2004
In 264 adults with mild-to-moderate anxiety over 3 months, a fixed Crataegus–Eschscholtzia–magnesium combination significantly reduced anxiety scores versus placebo.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Anxiety — A combination of plant extracts in the treatment of outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood: controlled study versus placebo1997
In 182 outpatients with adjustment disorder and anxious mood over 28 days, Euphytose (containing hawthorn among six extracts) improved anxiety symptoms versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Cognitive performance
2 references5.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — The effects of repeated administration of camphor-crataegus berry extract combination on blood pressure and on attentional performance - a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study2014
In 54 healthy adults (mean age 24), repeated Korodin (camphor plus crataegus berry extract) increased blood pressure and improved attention versus placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — D-camphor-crataegus berry extract combination increases blood pressure and cognitive functioning in the elderly - a randomized, placebo controlled double blind study2009
In 80 women aged 50–80, Korodin (D-camphor plus crataegus extract) increased blood pressure and improved cognitive processing versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Congestive heart failure
12 references7.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — [Hawthorn extract WS 1442 in the treatment of patients with heart failure and LVEF of 25%-35%]2010
In heart failure patients with LVEF 25–35%, hawthorn extract WS 1442 improved symptoms and cardiac function versus control in a clinical trial.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — Hawthorn Extract Randomized Blinded Chronic Heart Failure (HERB CHF) trial2009
In 120 ambulatory NYHA II–III heart failure patients over 6 months, hawthorn extract (450 mg twice daily) as add-on therapy did not improve exercise capacity versus placebo.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — The effect of Crataegus oxycantha Special Extract WS 1442 on clinical progression in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of heart failure2008
In HERB CHF trial patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure, WS 1442 (900 mg/day) for 6 months slowed clinical deterioration versus placebo (46.6% vs higher progression on placebo).
10.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure2008
A Cochrane meta-analysis of hawthorn for chronic heart failure (380 participants across trials) found small improvements in symptoms and exercise capacity versus placebo.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — The efficacy and safety of Crataegus extract WS 1442 in patients with heart failure: the SPICE trial2008
In the SPICE trial (2,681 NYHA II–III heart failure patients over 24 months), WS 1442 (900 mg/day) did not reduce cardiovascular mortality or hospitalization versus placebo.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — A randomised double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of a standardised extract of fresh Crataegus berries (Crataegisan) in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure NYHA II2003
In 143 NYHA II heart failure patients over 8 weeks, Crataegisan (fresh hawthorn berry extract) modestly improved exercise tolerance and symptoms versus placebo.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — Efficacy and safety of crataegus extract WS 1442 in comparison with placebo in patients with chronic stable New York Heart Association class-III heart failure2002
In 209 NYHA III heart failure patients over 16 weeks, crataegus WS 1442 (1,800 mg/day) improved exercise tolerance and symptoms versus placebo.
14.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — Clinical efficacy of crataegus extract WS 1442 in congestive heart failure NYHA class II2001
In 40 NYHA II heart failure patients over 12 weeks, WS 1442 improved exercise tolerance and heart failure symptoms versus placebo.
15.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — [Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442. Assessment of objective effectiveness in patients with heart failure (NYHA II)]1996
In 136 NYHA II heart failure patients over 8 weeks, WS 1442 improved exercise performance and cardiac function measures versus placebo.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — Efficacy of the Hawthorn (Crataegus) preparation LI 132 in 78 patients with chronic congestive heart failure defined as NYHA functional class II1994
In 78 NYHA II heart failure patients over 8 weeks, hawthorn extract LI 132 (600 mg/day) improved exercise performance and symptoms versus placebo.
17.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — [Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442 in NYHA II heart failure. A placebo controlled randomized double-blind study]1993
In 30 NYHA II heart failure patients over 8 weeks, WS 1442 (twice daily) improved cardiac performance and symptom scores versus placebo.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Congestive heart failure — [The clinical effect of Crataegutt in heart disease of ischemic or hypertensive origin. A multicenter double-blind study]1981
In a multicenter double-blind trial, Crataegutt improved symptoms in patients with ischemic or hypertensive heart disease versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · High blood pressure
2 references19.SupplementDEX Database: High blood pressure — Effect of hawthorn standardized extract on flow mediated dilation in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults: a randomized, controlled cross-over trial2012
In a crossover RCT in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults, hawthorn standardized extract (250 mg/day) improved flow-mediated dilation versus control.
20.SupplementDEX Database: High blood pressure — Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for patients with diabetes taking prescription drugs: a randomised controlled trial2006
In 79 type 2 diabetes patients on prescription drugs over 16 weeks, hawthorn extract (1,200 mg/day) produced additional blood pressure reductions versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
1 reference21.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial2024
In 105 overweight adults (ages 20–60) over 12 weeks, a Crataegus extract mixture (400 mg three times daily) improved body fat and lipid profiles versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Orthostatic hypotension
3 references22.SupplementDEX Database: Orthostatic hypotension — The combination of hawthorn extract and camphor significantly increases blood pressure: A meta-analysis and systematic review2019
A meta-analysis of 221 adults found the fixed camphor-hawthorn combination Korodin significantly increased blood pressure versus placebo.
23.SupplementDEX Database: Orthostatic hypotension — A randomized trial of Korodin Herz-Kreislauf-Tropfen as add-on treatment in older patients with orthostatic hypotension2005
In 57 adults aged 50+ with orthostatic hypotension over 1 week, Korodin as add-on therapy improved blood pressure and symptoms versus placebo.
24.SupplementDEX Database: Orthostatic hypotension — [Efficacy and safety of a herbal drug containing hawthorn berries and D-camphor in hypotension and orthostatic circulatory disorders/results of a retrospective epidemiologic cohort study]2005
A retrospective cohort of 490 patients (ages 11–102) found hawthorn plus D-camphor (Korodin) effective and safe for hypotension and orthostatic circulatory disorders in routine care.