# Blood-red hawthorn: beneficial properties

> Blood-red hawthorn: beneficial properties, use of flowers and fruits, harvesting, preparation methods and important precautions.

- URL: https://celitel.online/en/blog/boyaryshnik-serdce/
- Author: Dr. Boris Wydoff — https://celitel.online/en/about/
- Published: 2026-09-29
- Language: en

Blood-red hawthorn is a shrub or small tree with white flowers and red fruits. In herbal medicine, its flowers and fruits are used mainly. According to herbal medicine reference books, hawthorn preparations are traditionally used to support heart function, the nervous system and blood circulation.

## What is this plant and how can you recognize it?

Blood-red hawthorn — Crataegus sanguinea Pall., a shrub or small tree from the Rose family. It is widespread in the steppe and southern forest zones of Siberia, the Urals, the Caucasus, as well as in the southern and southeastern regions of the European part of the former USSR. It grows on forest edges and clearings, near rivers, in valleys, ravines and on mountain slopes.

Hawthorn usually reaches 2.5–5 m in height. Taller specimens are sometimes found. The branches of the blood-red species are thin, purplish-brown and shiny. Some shoots have thorns. This is an important feature when gathering the plant in the wild.

The leaves are arranged on petioles. The leaf blade is deeply divided into 5 lobes, although leaves with 3–7 lobes are also found. In blood-red hawthorn, the leaves are covered with short hairs on both sides. The flowers are white and arranged in corymbs. Flowering usually occurs in May–June, and flowers of the described wild species are also noted in June.

The fruits ripen by autumn. They are red, round or oval-spherical, hard and wrinkled. Blood-red hawthorn is characterized by 3–4 stones. One botanical description of this species gives elongated fruits 12–14 mm long and about 8–11 mm wide.

When harvesting, it is important not to mix different species unless the plant has been confidently identified. Hawthorn has many closely related species, and their external features can differ. Reference books specifically note that the taxonomy of the genus is complicated by the large number of species and hybrid forms.

### How can you distinguish blood-red hawthorn from similar species?

Blood-red hawthorn has several features that help identify the species. A reference book specifically notes thin, shiny purplish-brown branches, short hairs on both sides of the leaves, and fruits with 3–4 stones. These features are useful when comparing it with other members of the genus.

There are many hawthorn species that look similar to one another. More than 40 wild species are described in Russia, while ornamental plants from other regions may hybridize with local forms. Therefore, identifying the plant only by its red fruits is not enough.

Older pharmacopoeial editions also differed in the number of officially accepted species: one edition mentioned two species, while the next listed twelve. This shows why accurate plant identification is especially important before harvesting the raw material yourself.

### Where is hawthorn grown and used?

Hawthorns tolerate cold well and are considered undemanding shrubs. Cultivated forms are found in gardens and vegetable plots, and because of their thorny shoots, the plant is also used as a protective hedge. Such a planting can serve as a natural barrier for animals and people.

The genus Crataegus is very diverse: reference books give about a thousand species, although the number depends on the taxonomy used. Several species are considered for medicinal purposes in different sources, while many members of the genus are used in folk practice.

## What substances do the flowers and fruits contain?

According to herbal medicine reference books, hawthorn contains several groups of biologically active compounds. The fruits contain flavonoids, including quercetin, hyperin, hyperoside and vitexin. Organic acids, carotenoids, tannins, fatty oils, triterpene and flavonoid glycosides, sugars and vitamins have also been found.

In the fruits of different hawthorn species, citric, caffeic, chlorogenic, malic and tartaric acids have been described. Vitamin C content is also reported — up to 200 mg%. Carotene is noted among the constituents of the fruits.

Flavonoids, including quercetin and quercitrin, carotenoids, essential oil, choline and acetylcholine have been found in the flowers. Organic acids and mineral elements, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, cobalt and selenium, have also been described.

At the same time, a separate reference book on wild plants notes that the chemical composition of blood-red hawthorn itself has not been fully studied. Therefore, data on the composition of related species should not automatically be treated as an exact analysis of every Crataegus sanguinea plant.

### What else is described in the composition of the fruits?

Reference books give a sugar content of up to 10% for hawthorn fruits. In addition to hyperoside, saponins, steroids, anthocyanins and various glycosides are listed. The mineral elements named include calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and selenium, as well as B vitamins.

The seeds are separately reported to contain the cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin. Alkaloids, catechins and flavonoids have been described in the leaves, while the bark of the shoots contains the glycoside esculin. These data concern different parts of the plant and do not mean that all of them are present in medicinal raw material made from flowers and fruits.

## How is hawthorn useful for the heart and blood vessels?

The main area of traditional medicinal use of hawthorn is related to the cardiovascular system. Reference books describe a tonic effect of hawthorn preparations on the heart muscle. They also note an effect on blood circulation in the coronary vessels of the heart and the vessels of the brain.

According to reference data, galenic hawthorn preparations have a cardiotonic effect. This effect is described especially for a fatigued heart muscle. In addition, the plant preparations have antispasmodic properties and may selectively dilate the coronary vessels and vessels of the brain.

Herbal medicine reference books also describe a moderate hypotensive effect. Flower preparations were used as part of complex treatment for high blood pressure. Hawthorn was also traditionally used for functional disorders of heart activity, palpitations and vascular neuroses.

Some older reference books describe the use of hawthorn for early forms of hypertension. In modern practice, such conditions require medical supervision. A herbal remedy should not replace prescribed treatment.

## How is hawthorn related to the nervous system?

According to reference books, hawthorn preparations may reduce the excitability of the central nervous system. Therefore, the plant was traditionally used not only for functional disorders of heart activity but also in situations where heart sensations were accompanied by increased nervous excitability.

Older medical sources also describe the use of hawthorn preparations for sleep disturbances and cardiac neuroses. This effect is considered in connection with the plant's calming influence. It is important to remember that such information mainly concerns the traditional and medical use of hawthorn preparations. Modern safety data specifically for Crataegus sanguinea are limited.

## In what form is the plant used?

For medicinal purposes, hawthorn flowers and fruits are harvested. Medical practice describes flower and fruit tinctures, a water infusion and a liquid fruit extract.

One reference book gives a flower infusion: 1/2 cup is taken 2 times a day. For hawthorn tincture, a dose of 20–40 drops several times a day before meals is given. A separate dose of 20–30 drops 3–4 times a day before meals is given for liquid fruit extract.

Another reference book gives a dose of 20–30 drops 3–4 times a day for preparations made from flowers and fruits. A medicinal plant reference book also describes a cold extraction from flowers and fruits: 1–2 teaspoons of raw material.

These doses refer to specific medicinal forms described in reference books. They should not be mechanically applied to homemade infusions, pharmacy products with a different composition or concentrated preparations made at home.

### How should it be prepared correctly?

If we are talking specifically about an infusion, the reference book states that hawthorn flower infusion is taken at a dose of 1/2 cup 2 times a day. For a cold extraction from flowers and fruits, the amount of raw material given is 1–2 teaspoons.

Liquid fruit extract is also mentioned in reference literature. A separate regimen is given for it: 20–30 drops 3–4 times a day before meals. This is already a concentrated preparation, so it should not be replaced with an ordinary infusion.

Older sources also describe combined preparations containing hawthorn. For example, hawthorn extract was included in the composition of “Cardiovalen”. Such medicinal products have their own composition and regimen of use.

## What can be made from the fruits?

Hawthorn fruits were traditionally eaten fresh after frost. They were used to make preserves, jam, pastila, jellies and beverages. Dried or ground fruits could be added to dough and were also used as a coffee or tea substitute.

These methods refer to the food use of the fruits. Medicinal use is a different matter. For this purpose, reference books describe mainly flowers, fruits, tinctures and liquid extract.

## When and how should the flowers be collected?

Hawthorn flowers are collected during flowering. One guide recommends harvesting the entire inflorescence at the beginning of flowering, when a significant part of the flowers has not yet opened. Collection is carried out in dry, sunny weather.

The inflorescences are picked or cut with pruning shears. The raw material is then dried immediately in attics or other well-ventilated rooms. It is spread in a thin layer.

Another reference book recommends drying the flowers outdoors in the shade. The raw material is also spread in a thin layer. This method helps avoid direct sunlight during drying.

Finished flower material should consist of inflorescences or individual flowers with peduncles up to 3.5 cm long. The reference book also describes permissible moisture and impurity levels.

### Why are the flowers collected at the beginning of flowering?

For medicinal raw material, not only the flowering period but also the condition of the inflorescences matters. One guide specifically says to collect them at the beginning of flowering, partly with buds. After collection, the entire inflorescence can be divided into several parts and spread out to dry in the shade.

This method differs from harvesting the fruits: flower inflorescences are dried without direct sunlight, while mature fruits may be dried in the sun. Separate harvesting helps keep the origin of each type of raw material clear.

## How should the fruits be harvested and stored?

The fruits are collected when fully ripe. One guide gives September as the harvesting time. The corymbs are picked whole, after which the stalks are removed. Unripe and spoiled fruits are then discarded. The raw material can be dried in the sun or in dryers and low-temperature ovens. Good-quality dried fruits are round or oval-spherical. They are hard, wrinkled, dark red or brownish-orange. Sometimes there is a white coating of crystallized sugar on the surface.

Dried flowers are stored in bags or plywood boxes. The room should be dry and well ventilated. For medicinal raw material, it is important to prevent hawthorn from being mixed with other plants.

## How can you find blood-red hawthorn abroad?

Abroad, the name of blood-red hawthorn may differ, so it is better to rely not only on the translation but also on the Latin name *Crataegus sanguinea*.

- **USA:** Siberian hawthorn or redhaw hawthorn.
- **Germany:** Blutroter Weißdorn.
- **France:** aubépine sanguine.
- Simple words such as hawthorn, Weißdorn or aubépine refer to hawthorn in general and do not guarantee the species you need.

For *C. sanguinea*, dried whole fruits for infusion and ground fruits are the main forms encountered. Tea bags, tinctures and capsules labeled “hawthorn” or its equivalent should not be considered products of this particular species without checking the label.

You can look:
- in the USA — in herbal and health-food stores, as well as online;
- in Germany — at an Apotheke, Reformhaus, tea and herbal shops, and online;
- in France — at a pharmacie, herboristerie and online.

Check the packaging for *Crataegus sanguinea*, the plant part (fruit/berries, Früchte or fruits), the ingredients of the mixture and the product category. For organic products, look for the appropriate certification rather than just the word “natural”. Sales and labeling rules vary by country: for example, in Germany Arzneitee must be labeled as a medicinal product (Arzneimittel), but this alone does not confirm the plant species.

## Contraindications and precautions

Modern safety data specifically for Crataegus sanguinea are limited. Much of the available information concerns other hawthorn species or other preparations. Therefore, this information cannot be considered proof of the complete safety of blood-red hawthorn.

If you have a known allergy to hawthorn or plants from the Rose family, medicinal use should be avoided. Hawthorn should not be used instead of prescribed treatment for heart failure. With this condition, use of the plant should first be discussed with the treating physician.

If you take anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, digoxin or medicines that lower blood pressure, you should discuss hawthorn with a doctor or pharmacist. Data on possible interactions with some of these medicines are based mainly on laboratory studies or limited evidence, so a clinically significant interaction has not been established.

Medicinal hawthorn extracts are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding because of insufficient safety data. It has not been established whether plant components enter breast milk or whether they are safe for a child.

The safety of Crataegus sanguinea in children has not been established. Therefore, children should not use medicinal hawthorn preparations without professional advice. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported with hawthorn preparations. Headache, skin rash, palpitations and muscle pain are also possible.

An overdose may be accompanied by low blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm. Long-term safety is also insufficiently studied: there are no studies of hawthorn preparations that have examined use for longer than 16 weeks. These data do not establish a safe or toxic dose specifically for Crataegus sanguinea.

## When is a doctor needed?

If signs of an allergic reaction, severe dizziness, palpitations, an abnormal rhythm or other unusual symptoms appear after taking hawthorn, use should be stopped and medical attention sought.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid medicinal forms of hawthorn because of insufficient safety data. With chronic diseases, especially those involving the heart and blood vessels, it is better to discuss the use of the plant with a doctor in advance.

Taking medicines at the same time requires particular attention. If a person takes blood-thinning medicines, digoxin or blood-pressure-lowering drugs, the use of hawthorn should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Children should not use medicinal hawthorn preparations without consulting a doctor. For heart symptoms, high blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm, treatment is provided by a doctor, while herbal preparations may be considered only as part of an agreed approach.

## From the editors

The article was prepared using herbal medicine reference books and describes traditional ways of using blood-red hawthorn. The material does not replace a doctor's consultation or prescribed treatment.

## FAQ

**Q: Can hawthorn be used to support the heart?**
A: According to reference books, hawthorn preparations are traditionally used to support heart muscle function and blood circulation.

**Q: How should hawthorn be prepared as an infusion?**
A: For a flower infusion, the reference book gives a dose of 1/2 cup 2 times a day; for a cold extraction, 1–2 teaspoons of raw material are given.

**Q: Which parts of hawthorn are used?**
A: For medicinal purposes, mainly the flowers and fruits are harvested.

**Q: When should hawthorn flowers be collected?**
A: The flowers are collected at the beginning of flowering, when many buds have not yet opened, in dry, sunny weather.

**Q: When should hawthorn fruits be collected?**
A: Fully ripe fruits of blood-red hawthorn are collected in autumn; September is given in reference books.

**Q: Who should not take hawthorn?**
A: It should be avoided with a known allergy to hawthorn or plants from the Rose family, while medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood requires particular caution.

**Q: Can hawthorn be combined with medicines?**
A: If you take anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, digoxin or medicines for lowering blood pressure, the combination should be discussed with a doctor in advance.


_Educational content; it does not replace medical advice._