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Haw7.5
Hawthorn Research
Probably helpsHigh safety
28 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Hawthorn helped in about half (4/6) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2005–2026 with a typical study size of 79 participants.
Based on 28 studies · 5 meta-analyses · 16 RCTs · 45,933 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
4helped2unclear· 22 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Heart & blood pressureImproved cardiac function and blood pressure support within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
Probably helps15 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
InflammationImproved heart function and exercise capacity · 6-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Liver health
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Anxiety & stress
Too few graded studies2 studies
Energy & fatigue
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cholesterol & lipidsImproved cardiac function and blood pressure support within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 21 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
33%
across studies
People studied
46k
typical study: 79 people
Strongest designs
21
5 pooled, 16 randomised
Showed benefit
67%
4/6 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
Populations Studied
NAFLD patients3
Heart failure patients2
General population2
Stroke patients1
Active research area
11 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2022
200520152026
1Stroke rehabilitation efficacyMeta-AnalysisCited 37×n=6,339 · very large study2022
Our results indicate that the combined use of CM and WM could be more efficacious in stroke rehabilitation compared with the use of WM therapy alone.
Zhong LL et al. · Stroke and vascular neurology (2022)
Our results indicate that the combined use of CM and WM could be more efficacious in stroke rehabilitation compared with the use of WM therapy alone.
However, most studies were short in duration (2 to 4 weeks) and prone to different types of biases, which prevents making any conclusion regarding the long-term effects and raises concerns regarding true efficacy in context of high likelihood of Hawthorn bias.
So, more randomised controlled trials with more rigorous design and longer duration of treatment and follow-up need to be conducted to compare WM alone versus WM and CM combined.
2Blood lipid, glucose levels and liver function in NAFLDSystematic ReviewCited 9×n=829 · large study2023
In patients with NAFLD, dietary intervention using medicinal and food homologous substances can ameliorate blood lipid and blood glucose levels and liver enzymes to some extent.
Zhang Q et al. · Lipids in health and disease (2023)
In patients with NAFLD, dietary intervention using medicinal and food homologous substances can ameliorate blood lipid and blood glucose levels and liver enzymes to some extent.
Exercise tolerance increased by approximately 7 watts compared to placebo
Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were significantly reduced
4NAFLD treatment efficacyMeta-AnalysisCited 67×n=25,661 · very large study2012
In conclusion, TCM is of modest benefit to the treatment of NAFLD.
Shi KQ et al. · Molecular biology reports (2012)
Comparing with western medicines mentioned above, TCM had a better effect on the normalization of alanine aminotransferase and disappearance of radiological steatosis in the treatment of NAFLD.
Furthermore, 246 kinds of Chinese herbs were included in our present study, with an average of 10 herbs (range 1-31) in each formulation.
Hawthorn Fruit (321 times in 17,670 patients) was the most often used herb in the treatment of NAFLD.
8Adverse eventsSystematic ReviewCited 48×n=7,311 · very large study2006
Moreover, the unsupervised use of this drug can be associated with problems, especially if given with concomitant medications.
Daniele C et al. · Drug safety (2006)
The extracts most used in the clinical trials were WS 1,442 (extract of hawthorn standardised to 18.75% oligomeric procyanidins) and LI 132 (extract of hawthorn standardised to 2.25% flavonoids).
In the identified trials, the most frequent adverse events were dizziness (n = 6), nausea (n = 5), fall (n = 2), gastrointestinal haemorrhage (n = 2), circulation failure (n = 2) and erythematous rash (n = 2).
The herbal supplement is safe and enhances mood, reduces subjective anxiety, and improves cognition under stress, though cognitive effects are variable without stress exposure.The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05757050).
Dodd F et al. · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (2025)
A higher proportion of subjects experienced ⩾30% gains in social satisfaction scores after 7 days.
The herbal supplement is safe and enhances mood, reduces subjective anxiety, and improves cognition under stress, though cognitive effects are variable without stress exposure.The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05757050).
11Coronary microvascular dysfunctionRCTCited 3×n=78 · small study2023
In conclusion, GXSC could improve CMD by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function.
Dong MY et al. · European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
All patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: GXSC, 38 (48.7%), and control, 40 (51.3%).
Anti-inflammatory adropin was increased in the GXSC group (7.75±0.59 vs. 5.71±0.68, p=0.03).
In conclusion, GXSC could improve CMD by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function.
12Unstable angina frequency and symptomsRCTCited 7×n=144 · medium study2021
Detoxifying and blood-activating formulae can reduce the frequency and relieve symptoms of unstable angina, and this mechanism may be related to a regulation of the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.
Wu M et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2021)
Borderline
After intervention, the hs-CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels decreased, while the IL-10 and adiponectin levels significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).
The ratios of the inflammatory factors significantly decreased after treatment, particularly in the experimental group (P < 0.01).
Detoxifying and blood-activating formulae can reduce the frequency and relieve symptoms of unstable angina, and this mechanism may be related to a regulation of the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.
The combination of herbal extracts contained within the MHEP reduced subjective anxiety in a healthy population and lowered electrodermal skin conductance and concentration of salivary α-amylase in response to a psychosocial stressor, compared to placebo.
Dodd F et al. · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (2022)
The combination of herbal extracts contained within the MHEP reduced subjective anxiety in a healthy population and lowered electrodermal skin conductance and concentration of salivary α-amylase in response to a psychosocial stressor, compared to placebo.
The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT03909906).
Supplementation of Vit C and flavonoids rich hawthorn beverage to heat-exposed workers prevented elevated BP caused by heat exposure which may be attributed to its oxidative stress inhibition effects.
Du W et al. · Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition (2024)
Supplementation of Vit C and flavonoids rich hawthorn beverage to heat-exposed workers prevented elevated BP caused by heat exposure which may be attributed to its oxidative stress inhibition effects.
Further research warranted to confirm findings
15Facial skin phenotypes and telomere lengthRCTCited 1×n=17 · very small study2025
These findings suggest that HF consumption may have potential anti-skin-aging effects.
Kim M et al. · Nutrients (2025)
These findings suggest that HF consumption may have potential anti-skin-aging effects.
Future studies may need to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these effects.
Detoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn has good effect of anti-atherosclerosis and promoting plaque stability.
Liu LT et al. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (2014)
Detoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn has good effect of anti-atherosclerosis and promoting plaque stability.
Its mechanism might be related with anti-inflammation and inhibiting degradation of extracellular matrix, and deserves further studies.
18Flow mediated dilation (FMD)CrossoverCited 33×n=60 · small study2012
We found no evidence of a dose-response effect of hawthorn extract on FMD.
Asher GN et al. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine (2012)
There was no evidence of a dose-response effect for our main outcome (FMD percent) or any of our secondary outcomes (absolute change in brachial artery diameter and blood pressure).
We found no evidence of a dose-response effect of hawthorn extract on FMD.
If hawthorn has a blood pressure lowering effect, it is likely to be mediated via an NO-independent mechanism.
19Plasma nitrite and nitrate levelsRCTCited 68×2011
Patients taking the NO dietary supplement twice a day for 30 days led to a significant increase in both plasma nitrite (P < .01) and nitrate (P < .0001), indicating an increase in systemic NO avail...
Zand J et al. · Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) (2011)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Patients taking the NO dietary supplement twice a day for 30 days led to a significant increase in both plasma nitrite (P < .01) and nitrate (P < .0001), indicating an increase in systemic NO availability.
There was a statistically significant reduction in 72% of patients with elevated triglycerides (>150 mg/dL) after 30 days compared with their starting levels before taking the NO dietary supplement (168 ± 17 mg/dL vs 232 ± 19 mg/dL, P = .02).
The strategy of formulating a combination of natural products and botanicals chosen specifically for their NO activity shows promise in restoring NO homeostasis in human subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease for use as a dietary supplement.