Did you know that your heart is the hardest working organ?

Did you know that your heart is the hardest working organ? 

Your heart beats over 100,000 times per day, pumps almost 10 litres of blood a day and can beat over 3 billion times in your life! 

Your heart is essential for your body's overall health and function and nature has just the right plant to help you support this magnificent organ -Hawthorn berries the ‘healthy heart’ tonic. 

Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) grows as both a shrub and tree across North America, Europe and Asia. It protects itself with sharp thorns. The leaves, berries, and flowers of hawthorn are used to make medicine.  

The bright red berries of the hawthorn which have a mild sweetness and tart flavour have traditionally been taken as a’ cardio-tonic ‘herb for many centuries. Hawthorn is one of the oldest known medicinal plants used in western European herbal medicine with the berries, flowers and leaves all having been utilised in teas, cordials and tinctures to help promote cardiovascular wellness. The berries have particularly high flavonoid content. 

Hawthorn has been identified to have cardiotonic, hypotensive and antioxidant activity. It has traditionally been used to support the cardiovascular system, supporting the flow of blood to the heart muscle, and assisting the heart in its action. It also influences the blood vessels of the body, allowing blood to flow more freely and easily.

A irish physician who first noted to have used Hawthorn for cardiovascualr complaints specifically used berries. Hence, the preference to hawthorn berries only.

It has been found that the effects of Hawthorn are not achieved in a short time frame, hence it is best the herb be taken over a longer term.  

There are many things you can do to keep your heart healthy along with hawthorn berries. Eating healthy foods, being active, and managing your stress are all important ways to help your heart stay healthy.