Hawthorn

Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a shrub with many branches and thorns. It belongs to the Rosaceae family and grows to be between 50 centimeters and 6 meters in height. Its fruits are 1 cm in size, oval, red when ripe. Although they’re edible, they’re usually not eaten fresh, but in jams or syrups. In herbal medicine, Hawthorn is used as a tonic, hypotensive, cardiotonic, thanks to its active ingredients: flavonoids, triterpene compounds, amines, sterols, and tannins. Hawthorn regulates cardiovascular function and promotes relaxation and mental well-being. It has antioxidant functions and regulates blood pressure.