✪ Key Takeaway: Hawthorn typically lowers blood pressure, making it unsuitable for people with hypotension who need to raise their levels.
Introduction
You walk into a health store looking for something to help your low blood pressure, and someone mentions hawthorn.
The confusion starts immediately because most information about hawthorn focuses on high blood pressure, not low blood pressure.
Hi, I’m Abdur, your nutrition coach, and today I’m going to explain exactly how hawthorn affects blood pressure and whether it can help people with hypotension.
What Does Hawthorn Actually Do to Blood Pressure?
Hawthorn berries contain powerful compounds called flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidins that directly affect your cardiovascular system.
These compounds work by relaxing blood vessels and improving the efficiency of your heart muscle contractions.
When blood vessels relax, they become wider, which allows blood to flow more easily and reduces the pressure against vessel walls.
Multiple clinical studies show that hawthorn consistently lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension.
A 2008 study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that hawthorn extract reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 5.4 mmHg over 16 weeks.
This means hawthorn works in the opposite direction of what people with low blood pressure need.
✪ Fact: Hawthorn has been used in traditional medicine for over 2000 years, primarily for heart conditions.
Why People Get Confused About Hawthorn and Low Blood Pressure?
The confusion comes from hawthorn’s reputation as a heart tonic that strengthens cardiovascular function.
People assume that anything good for the heart must help with low blood pressure, but this thinking is flawed.
Hawthorn does strengthen heart muscle contractions, which improves cardiac output and circulation efficiency.
However, the simultaneous vasodilation effect means that even though your heart pumps more efficiently, your blood vessels are more relaxed.
The net result is still lower blood pressure because the vessel relaxation effect is stronger than the improved heart function.
Some people also confuse hawthorn with other herbs that might have different effects on blood pressure regulation.
✪ Note: Always research individual herbs rather than assuming all heart herbs work the same way.
What Happens If You Take Hawthorn With Low Blood Pressure?
Taking hawthorn when you already have low blood pressure can make your hypotension worse.
Your blood pressure could drop to dangerously low levels, causing symptoms like dizziness, fainting, and extreme fatigue.
The vasodilation effect of hawthorn means your blood vessels will relax even more than they already are with hypotension.
This creates a situation where your heart has to work harder to pump blood through overly relaxed vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular stress.
Some people experience what feels like heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats when their blood pressure drops too low from hawthorn use.
The combination of low blood pressure and hawthorn can also interfere with your body’s natural blood pressure regulation mechanisms.
✪ Pro Tip: Monitor your blood pressure regularly if you take any cardiovascular herbs or supplements.
What Actually Helps With Low Blood Pressure?
Instead of hawthorn, people with low blood pressure need approaches that increase blood volume or constrict blood vessels slightly.
Increasing your salt intake moderately can help raise blood pressure by increasing blood volume through water retention.
Staying well hydrated is crucial because dehydration makes low blood pressure worse by reducing blood volume.
Small, frequent meals help prevent the postprandial hypotension that occurs when blood pools in your digestive system after large meals.
Compression stockings can help by preventing blood from pooling in your legs and improving venous return to your heart.
Regular exercise, particularly activities that strengthen your leg muscles, helps improve circulation and blood pressure regulation over time.
✪ Fact: Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, but tolerance develops quickly with regular use.
The Bottom Line
Hawthorn is not suitable for people with low blood pressure because it consistently lowers blood pressure rather than raising it.
The right herb for the wrong condition can make your health worse, not better.
I would love to hear about your experiences with natural approaches to blood pressure management, so please share your thoughts or questions in the comments below.
References
At NutritionCrown, we use quality and credible sources to ensure our content is accurate and trustworthy. Below are the sources referenced in creating this article:
- Healthline: 9 Impressive Health Benefits of Hawthorn Berry
- Medical News Today: Hawthorn Berry: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage
- NCBI: Hawthorn Extract for Treating Chronic Heart Failure
- Drugs.com: Hawthorn Uses, Benefits & Dosage
