Hawthorn Berries!
You can find hawthorn supplements highly priced at your local health food store… or you can simply forage them yourself as we have a true abundance that bulk out our hedge rows.
This medicinal berry has been used to treat heart disease since the 1st century. It’s still used at present day to help protect against heart disease as well as help control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Both animal and human studies suggest hawthorn increases coronary artery blood flow, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. It has also been used on the skin to treat boils and skin sores as well as to treat hair by stimulating hair growth.
These berries are packed with nutrition and loaded with antioxidants. They have a tart, tangy taste and mild sweetness.
There are lots of ways to prepare and use hawthorn berries such as eating them raw, making tea, jams, wine and vinegar to name a few.
Hawthorn provides us with medicine and nutrition for many months of the year. Starting with it’s delicious, nutty spring leaves then to it’s medicinal flowers and then finally it’s wonderful and powerful berries!
Happy foraging!!
Scientific name: Crataegus