Evidence supporting the use of: Hawthorn
For the health condition: Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations

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Synopsis

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

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has a longstanding history in traditional European herbal medicine for supporting heart health, including conditions such as heart palpitations and, more broadly, irregular heart rhythms. Traditional herbalists have used hawthorn for centuries as a cardiac tonic, claiming that it can strengthen heart function, improve circulation, and alleviate symptoms like palpitations or mild arrhythmias. The plant contains flavonoids, oligomeric procyanidins, and other compounds believed to have mild vasodilatory and positive inotropic effects, which may contribute to its perceived cardiac benefits.

Scientifically, there is some evidence supporting hawthorn’s use in chronic heart failure and hypertension, but evidence specifically for the treatment of heart fibrillation (such as atrial fibrillation) or palpitations is sparse and of low quality. A few small studies and case reports suggest possible antiarrhythmic effects, but these are neither robust nor conclusive. The evidence base primarily focuses on heart failure, not arrhythmias. Most clinical guidelines do not recommend hawthorn for arrhythmias due to insufficient data. However, its traditional use for palpitations remains prevalent in herbal medicine. Overall, while hawthorn is traditionally used for palpitations and sometimes irregular heartbeat, scientific validation for these specific indications is limited, and more high-quality research is needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

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