"Hawthorn takes a long time to do its best -- six months or longer. In the style of a true herbal tonic, it can be taken safely and effectively over time for its best effects," says Amanda McQuade-Crawford.
The berries of the Hawthorn bush are best used for the heart, says MMcQuade-Crawford. Hawthorn aids the heart's pumping action by opening the coronary arteries to nourish the heart muscle. The herb can also slow a rapid heart rate and strengthen a failing heart. It usually lowers high blood pressure, especially a raised diastolic high blood pressure, and it benefits low blood pressure due to weak heart muscles with arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).
And although it doesn't seem to have any negative side effects when taken as directed on the hawthorn supplement bottle, it does have one great positive benefit. It enhances the effects of digitalis and beta blocker drugs. So it might let you reduce the amount of these drugs if you're taking them. Of course, you'd want to check with your doctor before you did this.
One of the best ways to get the benefits of the hawthorn berry is to use it in making hawthorn tea. To make the tea, just steep one teaspoon of dried hawthorn berries or leaves in a cup of water for 10 minutes or so. Drink a cup of this tea in the morning and evening. You can also take the dried hawthorn supplement in a capsule. Be sure you purchase this from a reputable herbal supply company to get the best product you can. You deserve the best and so does your heart.