Am J Health-Syst Pharm
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rigelsky, J.
Right arrow Articles by Sweet, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rigelsky, J.
Right arrow Articles by Sweet, B.
American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Vol 59, Issue 5, 417-422
Copyright © 2002 by American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Articles

Hawthorn: pharmacology and therapeutic uses

JM Rigelsky and BV Sweet


The uses, pharmacology, clinical efficacy, dosage and administration, adverse effects, and drug interactions of hawthorn are discussed. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is a fruit-bearing shrub with a long history as a medicinal substance. Uses have included the treatment of digestive ailments, dyspnea, kidney stones, and cardiovascular disorders. Today, hawthorn is used primarily for various cardiovascular conditions. The cardiovascular effects are believed to be the result of positive inotropic activity, ability to increase the integrity of the blood vessel wall and improve coronary blood flow, and positive effects on oxygen utilization. Flavonoids are postulated to account for these effects. Hawthorn has shown promise in the treatment of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II congestive heart failure (CHF) in both uncontrolled and controlled clinical trials. There are also suggestions of a beneficial effect on blood lipids. Trials to establish an antiarrhythmic effect in humans have not been conducted. The recommended daily dose of hawthorn is 160-900 mg of a native water-ethanol extract of the leaves or flowers (equivalent to 30-169 mg of epicatechin or 3.5-19.8 mg of flavonoids) administered in two or three doses. At therapeutic dosages, hawthorn may cause a mild rash, headache, sweating, dizziness, palpitations, sleepiness, agitation, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Hawthorn may interact with vasodilating medications and may potentiate or inhibit the actions of drugs used for heart failure, hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. The limited data about hawthorn suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of NYHA functional class II CHF.
 



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
J. A. Olalde Rangel, M. Magarici, F. Amendola, and O. del Castillo
The Systemic Theory of Living Systems. Part IV: Systemic Medicine--The Praxis
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., December 1, 2005; 2(4): 429 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Clin PharmacolHome page
R. Tankanow, H. R. Tamer, D. S. Streetman, S. G. Smith, J. L. Welton, T. Annesley, K. D. Aaronson, and B. E. Bleske
Interaction Study between Digoxin and a Preparation of Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)
J. Clin. Pharmacol., June 1, 2003; 43(6): 637 - 642.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2002 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.