Evidence supporting the use of: Hawthorn
For the health condition: Cold Hands and Feet

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has a long history of use in traditional European and Chinese medicine for supporting cardiovascular health. Its use for cold hands and feet is primarily based on the traditional belief that hawthorn improves blood circulation and helps “warm” the extremities. While hawthorn is well-documented in traditional practices for heart health—helping with issues like mild heart failure and angina—its application for cold hands and feet is less direct but stems from the idea that poor peripheral circulation or “blood stagnation” can cause these symptoms.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), hawthorn (shan zha) is used to “move blood” and alleviate stasis, which is thought to help with symptoms such as cold extremities. In European herbalism, hawthorn’s vasodilatory and cardiotonic properties are believed to support better blood flow, indirectly helping with cold hands and feet.

However, there is limited scientific research directly investigating hawthorn for this specific symptom. Most studies focus on its cardiovascular effects, such as improving cardiac function or endothelial health, which could theoretically improve peripheral circulation. Anecdotal and traditional use persists, but there is a lack of robust clinical trials specifically supporting its effectiveness for cold hands and feet. Therefore, the justification for using hawthorn for this condition is based more on traditional use and theoretical mechanisms than strong scientific evidence.

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