Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)FIRST OFF: THINK OF THIS RAW HERB AS A MEDICINAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT
Hawthorn does lots of nice, potent things for the heart and cardiovascular system. However, the effects have been tested and evaluated using Hawthorn that was usually standardized for "1.8-2.2% vitexin" from "leaves and flowers", versus this raw herbal product of unspecified composition. The problem is simply this; when dealing with chronic life threatening ailments such as Congestive Heart Failure, Angina, artherosclerosis and hypertension, precision in dosing is vital so that the effects can be adequately predicted.
In plain english, this is good stuff, but it should be taken by healthy people, for those with serious ailments need the standardized product and a qualified physician's care.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS RAW HERB - HAWTHORN CAPSULE FROM SWANSON
My experience with this specific product is simple, it does not seem to have much of an effect compared to the "Nature's Way" standardized product, even when taken in much larger doses. However, bear in mind that this observation is made by someone with all of the aforementioned cardiovascular ailments, has blood-pressure monitored 4-6 times daily, and takes 9 different prescription drugs for the aforementioned maladies, on a daily basis, NOT counting the herbal ones.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT -- -- -- -- --
IN A NUTSHELL: WHAT IS HAWTHORN?
Promotes heart health by strengthening heart muscles, improving blood flow, and reducing blood pressure especially in standardized doses.
A standardized Hawthorn extract can be used to promote healthy cardiovascular function. Hawthorn works by strengthening the contractions of the heart muscles which improves coronary artery blood flow, and thus reduces blood pressure.
PLEASE NOTE: THE PRODUCT ON THIS PAGE IS NOT STANDARDIZED!!!
In the June 2003 edition of the "American Journal of Medicine", a review of 13 studies demonstrated that there was a "significant benefit" from hawthorn extract as an "accompanying treatment for chronic heart failure".
Taking 160-900 mg of hawthorn extract per day for 8 weeks, the congestive heart failure patients showed "improved quality of life", such as a "greater ability to exercise without shortness of breath and exhaustion". The results of this study have fueled additonal research, and has helped promote the inclusion of Hawthorn extracts into mainstream medical practice.
HAWTHORN ALSO LOWERS CHOLESTEROL:
Recent studies have also shown that Hawthorn extracts "effectively inhibit LDL, [bad] cholesterol". This action lowers peripheral blood vessels' resistance to blood flow, thereby improving circulation to the extremities. STANDARDIZED NATURE'S WAY HAWTHORN IS SERIOUS MEDICINE FOR CARDIAC & CIRCULATORY AILMENTS! WHAT IS HAWTHORN GOOD FOR?
According to "HEALTHNOTES", Hawthorn may be useful for the following ailments; Congestive heart failure, Angina, Cardiomyopathy (if congestive heart failure is also present), Cardiac arrhythmia, Cardiomyopathy (if congestive heart failure is not present, & Hypertension.
KNOWING YOUR HAWTHORN:
This standardized Hawthorn is serious medicine for cardiac and circulatory ailments. The problem though is "BERRY". According to most but not all informed sources, modern medicinal extracts primarily use the leaves and flowers. Traditional preparations use the fruit. The Berry is the fruit. In this "Nature's Way" product it is standardized from the "tops" and "flowers", but also has 300 mg. of the crude herb added, for balance. This blend is unique to "Nature's Way", and I do feel this product is the most beneficial for cardiac health, from my personal experience over several years.
Bear in mind if you have the misfortune of having "congestive heart failure" or "angina" the specifics of the Hawthorn's composition can hardly be considered a trivial matter.
Next, standardization! Standardization for what? This "NATURE'S WAY" product is "standardized to 1.8 - 2.2% vitexin" from "leaves and flowers". Even where it is grown affects whether it is more useful for cardiac problems or arthritis and other chronic ailments. This is serious stuff and these are very easily confused issues, too easily confused for someone with a potentially fatal chronic heart ailment to be fiddling around with at home without proper medical supervision.
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IS VITAL IF YOU ARE USING STANDARDIZED HAWTHORN TO TREAT HEART DISEASE!!!
If you do hit the right combination of Hawthorn in an effective dose it may effect the way your prescription heart medication works in a somewhat unpredictable manner. If you take Digitalis the interaction could be fatal. For other drugs commonly taken such as "ACE Inhibitors", "Calcium Channel Blockers" and "Beta Blockers" the result is dicey but usually results in a potentiation of the drugs effects which in essence means your blood pressure drops without warning. Also, Hawthorn extracts are most effective when used in combination with varying dosages of Ginkgo, Co-Enzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, Kudzu, Grapeseed Extract, Coleus Forskohlii, Taurine and Arginine to name just a few, depending on the individual.
So what I am saying is simply that Hawthorn is a very difficult medicinal herb to use on yourself safely without constant monitoring of BP [3-6x daily] and other vital signs. The research is just not that complete and the stuff can really be potent, especially when combined with other herbals and prescription meds. Generally, I take 1 capsule of this product with Coleus Forskohlii each time I take a BP med and I have reduced the amount of prescription blood pressure meds probably as a result. However, the exact effect is day to day and depends on a lot of other factors and herbals. This is why you must be medically monitored [Blood pressure at least] several times a day at least, if you are trying this out for treatment of a severe heart ailment.
PLEASE NOTE:
The standardized products like those that "Nature's Way", offers are my favorite and while I do get very good results I am under daily medical scrutiny. While I do firmly believe from experience that this Nature's Way STD. Hawthorn is most the potent, I am on a comprehensive herbal/amino acid/flavonoid regimen. Therefore, it is difficult and probably ridiculous to try to disaggregate the affects and attribute them to individual natural products since they all effect one another. This is one very good reason why this type of treatment requires strict medical supervision.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS: THIS SPECIFIC HAWTHORN PRODUCT IS NOT STANDARDIZED!!
There is very little reason for taking Hawthorn outside of its cardio-benificial effects. Other herbals like Bilberry, Gotu Kola and Grapeseed Extract are safer and more effective for other non-cardiac applications than Hawthorn and should be considered first.
ABOUT THE RAW HERB: AN EXCELLENT VALUE
Taking 2-4 grams per day is a good regimen for relatively healthy people looking for a safe medicinal effect without the needed potency of the standardized product. It is also roughly about 1/6 the price per gram or less, compared to say the "Nature's Way" standardized product. On this basis, this product may be a good adjunct to a healthy lifestyle for people who feel concerned about their cardiovascular health both now and in the future.[I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY PRODUCT OR COMPANY]
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