Herb Profile

Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna and related species) is a hedgerow shrub whose leaves, flowers, and berries are rich in oligomeric procyanidins and flavonoids.

Last reviewed: 1 source citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·Unassigned

Standard caution Dizziness, hypotension Details

Evidence
Editorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies

No human outcome study is recorded on this profile yet.

Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
Low caution
Best for
Cardiovascular
Avoid / review if
Cardiac Medications
Hawthorn monograph visual
Generated profile category visual

At a glance

From this profile's structured data
Evidence
Editorial grade not demonstrated by recorded studies
Safety
Dizziness, hypotension
Profile context
cardiovascular
Next steps

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Safety

Safety & Cautions

Dizziness, hypotension

Standard caution

Caution level: Standard. No specific caution categories were detected in the source record.

Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

  • Cardiac Medications

Full safety note

  • Dizziness, hypotension

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Treat this profile as unresolved until source review is complete.

Needs reviewEditorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies

Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mappedVascular Function Support

Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic researchMechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.

Safety boundary: Safety note availableDizziness, hypotension

This profile cites 1 human study.

Study design details
Evidence Grade

Evidence grade not assigned

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match
Narrative review
Risk of Bias
High
Consistency
Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a narrative review, drawn from 3 recorded studies, none of which measured an outcome in people.
How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 3 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials. A reliable participant total cannot be calculated because sample size is not consistently structured in the cited sources. Source-to-conclusion relationships are not classified in this structured set, so consistency is not yet classifiable.

Profile-wide evidence grade: see the profile grade above · Confidence: not separately assigned

What would change our conclusion?

Larger, well-controlled human trials using comparable populations, doses, preparations, and clinically meaningful outcomes could materially strengthen or weaken this conclusion. Replication in a different population or a high-quality synthesis resolving current disagreement could also materially change confidence.

StudyDesignNDoseDurationPopulationOutcomeResult & magnitudeSource

Hawthorn

PubMed indexed authors · 2012

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Hawthorn

PubMed indexed authors · 2006

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Hawthorn

Fong HH et al. · J Cardiovasc Nurs · 2002

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Dosing & Timing

Dose guidance
160 900 mg extract
How Hawthorn works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Hawthorn Works

How Hawthorn WorksHawthorn acts on biological target pathways via vascular function (support), leading to cardiovascular.HawthornBiological TargetBiological pathwayVascular FunctionSupportCardiovascularObservable outcome
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways

Preclinical pathways. Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.

  • Vascular Function Support

Active Compounds

Key constituents studied in Hawthorn, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.

Compare related active botanicals

Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.

Guides that use Hawthorn

Compare & Sourcing

Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.

Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

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Botanical profile context

How to interpret Hawthorn

Hawthorn herb profile with evidence context, key research topics, source notes, safety context, and references presented in an evidence-first format. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.

When reviewing Hawthorn, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.

For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.