Picked up a 2nd hand book at Vinnies today on Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen (1990) (actually went there as a pacifier in the midst of all the rain deluges). Anyway first ‘recipe’ I open up to is one for hawthorn capsicum and garlic composition as a cardiotonic and circulatory system stimulant.
It says that hawthorn combination has traditionally been used to treat dropsy atherosclerosis thrombosis hyperlipidemia hypercholesterolemia edema heart weakness and angina pain. Hmm. I knew garlic was good for hearts and cayenne pepper for circulation.
It says that hawthorn berry contains bitter compounds that increase coronary blood flow and myocardial metabolism allowing the heart to function with less oxygen. These compounds also lower blood pressure by decreasing cardiac output and dilating peripheral blood vessels. It has been used to treat hypertension coronary heart disease ahterosclerosis blood clots and insomnia. [Please don’t take this as some recommendation.]
There is another composition of ginkgo and hawthorn that is also described as a cardiotonic and circulatory stimulant – primary function to increase vascular blood flow. The book says this function improves alertness and one’s sense of well being. (Very Chinese herbalist stuff). It says the ginkgo and hawthorn combination has traditionally been used to treat poor circulation atherosclerosis vertigo headache tinnitus deafness diminished mental capacity Alzheimer’s disease diabetes and skin disorders. [Just about everything!]
These come with no information or suggestions on quantities or proportions of each ingredient or suggested amounts to imbibe or method of use.
They say that Chinese herbalists would describe both these herbal combinations as a ‘fire enhancing formula’.
Well there you are. Our humble hawthorn grows as a weed locally.