Compound or practice · Supplement
Hawthorn
A traditional cardiac tonic with some heart-failure-symptom data — but modern therapy has moved past it.
- Overall grade
- Grade C
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade C — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Heart-failure symptoms (adjunct)Evidence grade C
Hard outcomes neutral
Smallmixed
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Heart-failure symptoms (adjunct) (grade C).
- Caution with Blood-pressure medications: Additive blood-pressure/cardiac effects.
Interactions
Documented pairings with supplements and medicines. A medicine on this list is a conversation for whoever prescribes it.
Blood-pressure medicationsCaution
Additive blood-pressure/cardiac effects.
The evidence in words
What it is
Hawthorn (Crataegus) extract is a flavonoid-rich botanical used for heart health.
How it works
Mild positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects and antioxidant activity.
What the evidence shows
Older trials showed symptom improvement in mild heart failure as an adjunct, but a large trial (SPICE) was neutral on hard outcomes, and it is not part of modern guideline therapy. Interacts with cardiac drugs.
How to use it
Standardized extract if used, and only alongside — not instead of — medical heart-failure care.
Safety & interactions
Generally tolerated; can potentiate cardiac and blood-pressure medications. antihypertensives — Additive blood-pressure/cardiac effects.
Bottom line
A gentle cardiac tonic that modern therapy has outgrown. Never a substitute for real heart-failure treatment; coordinate with a clinician.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- Standard
- Standardized extract, under care.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- GarlicReal, modest blood-pressure lowering and small lipid effects — a legitimately useful kitchen cardiovascular supplement.Evidence grade B
- Green Tea Extract (EGCG)Modest metabolic and cardiovascular benefits from catechins — and a real, if uncommon, liver-toxicity signal at high concentrated doses.Evidence grade C
- Hawthorn for Heart-failure symptoms (adjunct)Evidence grade C — Hard outcomes neutralEvidence grade C
- Hawthorn: dosage and how to take itStandardized extract, under care.Evidence grade C
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.