This plant is native to North Africa and West Asia, but other subspecies of this plant can be found in North America and Canada. It grows mostly in or near beech forests, forest areas that reach up to 1600 meters altitude, some specimens can reach the age of 500 years, are leafy and robust, well support the cutting from there that are used as a hedge.
The hawthorn is a thorny tree with a smooth light gray bark, up to 9 m tall. The leaves are bright green, 2-4 cm long, pentalobulate shallow, obtuse, and finely toothed.
People who know about it, know that its flowers appear between April and June, gathered in fragrant corymbs, have five sepals and five white or slightly pink petals. The fruit is a small oval drupe, with a bright red color inside, contains two to three seeds (subspecies C. monogyna has only one).
If you want to make the most of the properties of the hawthorn, use the flowers that are collected in the spring, collect the single flower or the set of flower heads with the leaflets at the base, use the leaves as well. Once collected, it must dry quickly. The fruit can be used in compotes, jams, or marinated in brandy.
Its properties are several. These are:
- Those related to the cardiovascular system, represent its antispasmodic activity, which determines the appearance of coronary vasodilation. This appearance has the role of improving the oxygenation of the myocardium, and for this reason, it is recommended in cases of angina pectoris and in patients who have already suffered a myocardial infarction as a preventive treatment. Excellent cardiotonic and antiarrhythmic negative), increases the strength of the heart contraction and at the same time decreases the excitability of the heart. The moderate hypotensive effect, but prolonged over time.
- Properties related to the nervous system. People should be aware that it has a sedative effect on the sympathetic nervous system. It is recommended to be administered in cases of anxiety, nervous tension, nervous cough, tension bruxism, nervous insomnia, and dizziness. It is effective in neuro-vegetative dystonias.
- Properties of hawthorn related to the urinary system. Researchers say it is a mild diuretic, thus supplementing the activity of the heart.