Charms & Harms: Hawthorn

Abstract

SUMMARY MESSAGE: Some evidence exists for hawthorn extracts having beneficial effects when taken concurrently with optimal medication for the treatment of mild chronic heart failure, although further long-term studies involving large numbers of patients are needed. Evidence is less convincing for its efficacy in hypertension, angina, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and other cardiac conditions. As with all herbal medicines, different hawthorn products vary in their pharmaceutical quality, and the implications of this for dosage, efficacy and safety should be considered.