This recipe was pulled from Dr. Christopher's herbal medicine recipes.
The heart is our vital pump, and when it's not properly nourished with wholesome foods, it can suffer from malfunctions and even lead to heart failure. For quick assistance, we turn to an excellent "heart food or tonic"—the hawthorn berry. This natural remedy is believed to help support overall heart health and function.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup dried organic hawthorn berries
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated organic ginger
- 1/2 cup local raw honey
Instructions:
- In a pot, combine the water, hawthorn berries, and ginger.
- Cover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to let it simmer.
- Simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Use a potato masher or the back of a fork/spoon to mash the berries and extract more juice.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.
- Stir in the honey until well combined.
- Transfer the syrup to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.
Note: This syrup is not as long-lasting as an alcohol tincture or glyceride and is not shelf-stable. However, it is a quick and easy alcohol-free alternative.
Medicinal implications: Crataegus spp. is indicated for use with: Abdominal pain, amenorrhea, arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, boils, Buerger’s disease, congestive heart failure, coronary circulation problems, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, enteritis, epigastric distension, frostbite, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypotension, indigestion, itching, pulmonary disease, sores, tapeworm, and ulcers (Peterson, 2023).
Precautions and contraindications: Hawthorn is unsafe during pregnancy, as it has potential to cause uterine activity.
DISCLAIMER: The content of this blog is for educational purposes. This information is not medical advice.
Reference: Petersen, D. (2023). HERB 502: Advanced materia medica I. Portland, OR. American College of Healthcare Sciences