Hawthorn: Research · Nutrient Desk

Earlier studies suggested symptom relief

A 2008 Cochrane review included 14 trials, usually adding hawthorn to conventional heart-failure treatment. Pooled results suggested improvements in exercise tolerance, breathlessness and fatigue. The review provided little information on serious clinical events. 1

What did the larger trial find?

SPICE followed 2,681 patients with heart failure for two years using 900 mg/day of WS 1442 or placebo alongside treatment. It found no significant benefit for time to the first cardiac event. A sudden-death signal in a subgroup with less impaired pumping function remains a hypothesis, not proof of overall survival benefit. 2

A later symptom trial was negative

HERB CHF studied 120 patients on standard therapy for six months. Hawthorn did not improve six-minute walking distance or quality of life. A small improvement in a measure of heart pumping did not translate into better function or symptoms. 3

What about nervousness and sleep?

EMA recognizes traditional use of leaf-and-flower medicines for temporary nervous heart complaints, mild stress and sleep support. This rests on longstanding use, not sufficient clinical trials; serious causes of heart symptoms must first be excluded medically. 4

AnxietyToo little evidence

Traditional use does not establish treatment of an anxiety disorder. 4

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.