Evidence supporting the use of: Hawthorn
For the health condition: Heart Valves

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Synopsis

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

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has a long history of traditional use in Europe for various heart-related conditions, including heart failure and angina. In recent decades, scientific research has explored its effects on heart health, particularly in chronic heart failure, but evidence specifically related to heart valve support or treatment is limited. Some preclinical studies suggest hawthorn extracts may have cardiotonic, vasodilatory, and antioxidant effects, which could theoretically benefit overall cardiac function. There are a few small clinical trials and observational studies indicating modest improvements in symptoms of heart failure (such as fatigue and exercise tolerance), which sometimes involve patients with valvular dysfunction as a component of their disease, but hawthorn has not been robustly studied as a targeted therapy for structural heart valve disease.

Hawthorn’s potential mechanisms include improving coronary blood flow, reducing peripheral vascular resistance, and enhancing myocardial contractility, primarily attributed to flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins. However, no large-scale randomized controlled trials have specifically assessed hawthorn for heart valve disorders. Most clinical guidelines do not recognize it as a treatment for valvular disease. While it may support general cardiovascular health, current evidence does not strongly validate its use for treating or supporting heart valves, and further research is needed to clarify its role. Therefore, while there is some scientific foundation for its cardiovascular effects, the evidence for direct benefit to heart valve function remains weak.

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