Improve Blood Circulation with Hawthorn Berry

Hawthorn berry (Crataegus monogyna) is an herb I use frequently in my cardiology practice, as do many other smart doctors and holistic health practitioners.

A member of the rose family, hawthorn is a small, thorny shrub with colorful flowers and red fruits resembling miniature cherries. Its leaves, flowers, and berries contain a number of biologically active substances, including oligomeric proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and catechins. This herb has acquired a reputation (especially in Europe) as a remedy for a number of cardiovascular problems.

Studies have indicated that hawthorn exhibits vasodilatory reaction, which means it helps you avoid blood circulation problems and increases blood flow to the heart.  

Hawthorn can be taken as a tea, tincture, or in capsule or tablet form, all of which are available in health food stores. The brand of hawthorn I use and recommend is Eclectic Institute’s hawthorn berry capsules. I like their products because they’re organic and preserved using a freeze-drying process.

If you can’t find them in your local health food store, you can order directly from Eclectic Institute. I recommend taking a 500 mg capsule or tablet two to three times a day.