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Original price €39,90

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Current price €35,51

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Kidney + · 180 capsules

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Big Zone

Kidneys as a key organ: Essential for waste filtration. Risks in bodybuilding: Steroids and other substances can damage the kidneys. Need for chec...
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Original price €39,90

Original price €39,90 - Original price €39,90

Original price €39,90

Current price €35,51

€35,51 - €35,51

Current price €35,51

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Save 11% Save %

The name of the species probably comes from the Greek 'kratys = hard' and refers to the very hard wood of the hawthorn. The German name 'Weißdorn' is due to the white flowers, while the very old name 'Hagedorn' is said to refer to the red fruits, as 'hag' is related to 'cock'. The plant was first mentioned as a remedy for gout in the writings of Petrus de Crescentiis. For Lonicerus, the fruits are a remedy for side stitches, colic and diarrhea and for Matthiolus for kidney stones, dysentery and heavy menstruation. In the 19th century, the Irish doctor Green successfully used hawthorn to treat heart complaints. The calming influence on the nervous and circulatory system and the heart increasingly crystallized as the main effect. There were folk medicine applications in many countries, e.g. in Bohemia against kidney sand and lung diseases, in China as an antidiarrheal and for breaking up retentions. The hard wood was often used to make toys, tool handles, walking sticks and for heating. The fruits were also used to make alcoholic drinks. The species includes many varieties. Hawthorn flowers, hawthorn leaves, hawthorn fruits and various mixtures of these plant parts are used medicinally.

Hawthorn to support heart health

In the near future, hawthorn will have a permanent place in the treatment of heart failure. Studies show that the plant can do more than just keep old hearts healthy. Hawthorn is good for the heart. What was previously only proven by small studies has now been confirmed in a large study involving more than 1000 patients. After 24 weeks, it was shown that hawthorn extract reduced blood pressure and heart rate and significantly increased the patients' exercise capacity - measured on a stationary bicycle. In 43 percent of the patients who suffered from cardiac arrhythmia at the start of the study, the heartbeat became regular again. The study was published in the journal "Herz", the official organ of the German Association of Registered Cardiologists. Further studies are also planned to test whether hawthorn extract can also help with advanced stage III cardiac insufficiency. A corresponding study with hawthorn extract began in 1999, and an initial evaluation showed a positive interim result.

Folk medicine

Especially in the early stages, active ingredients from hawthorn bushes can strengthen the weakened heart effectively and with few side effects. The medicinal plant of the Crataegus genus has been part of folk medicine for centuries as a heart-strengthening remedy. In the middle of the 19th century, the herbal heart remedy experienced a real boom. It was only when hawthorn began to compete with foxglove and its ingredients, digitalis glycosides, that its importance faded.

Hawthorn complements the therapy

However, according to study author Professor Dr. Michael Tauchert, one result is already clear: Hawthorn goes well with medication prescribed by doctors for heart failure: With digitalis glycosides from the foxglove, which increase the heart's beating power, as well as with dehydrating agents and ACE inhibitors, which relieve the heart. Beta-blockers, which are becoming increasingly important in heart failure, are also compatible with the medicinal plant. "Hawthorn can therefore support therapy," says Tauchert. Doctors urgently need to supplement treatment for chronic heart failure. Despite all the progress made, chronic heart failure is still a serious illness.

Hawthorn strengthens and protects the heart of older people

Hawthorn is approved for the treatment of heart failure in stages I and II. There is also evidence that hawthorn, in combination with a healthy lifestyle, can prevent the risk of heart failure developing in the first place. Hawthorn contains substances that keep the heart young: With increasing age, heart muscle cells die and are partly replaced by connective tissue. This makes the heart muscle less elastic and it cannot react quickly enough to sudden exertion. The patient gets out of breath more easily during physical exertion. Hawthorn slows down precisely this transformation process and thus keeps the heart working for longer. In addition, hawthorn extract intervenes in the metabolism of the heart muscle cell and increases the heart's beating power.

The active principle is still being investigated

Scientists have not yet been able to determine with absolute certainty which ingredient is responsible for the plant's diverse effects. However, the flavonoids of hawthorn and a group of ingredients known to experts as oligomeric procyanidins certainly play an important role. However, it is also possible that the interaction of all the ingredients is responsible for the plant's effectiveness. "In any case, all efforts to isolate a single component as the main active ingredient have so far failed," summarizes expert Tauchert.

Heart protection from the plant kingdom

Hawthorn increases the performance of weak hearts. In the early stages of the disease, the herbal medicine can even compete with synthetic drugs. If the familiar mountain hike suddenly forces you to take unusually long breaks or if climbing stairs every day can only be managed with severe palpitations and shortness of breath, then heart failure may be on the horizon: The heart muscle is no longer able to pump enough blood into the circulatory system. The symptoms are not just a nuisance, but a serious warning sign. Without appropriate treatment, the condition will progress. Even at rest, severe symptoms then occur.

Own mode of action

The thorny shrubs are now experiencing a renaissance. Recent studies have shown that although Crataegus extract has a less spectacular effect than digitoxin, for example, it is more comprehensive. Even in times of modern heart medication such as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors, hawthorn extracts therefore have a firm place in the range of medicines. "Crataegus is based on its own principle of action," confirms Professor Dr. Volker Fintelmann, "which primarily includes cardioprotection." According to the internist at Hamburg's Rissen Hospital, hawthorn is not a substitute for synthetic heart medication, but it can "limit the need for their prescription". A sufficiently high dosage is important for success: depending on the severity of the disease, the daily dose is 600 to 900 milligrams of standardized dry extract. Of course, over-the-counter medicines do not eliminate the need to see a doctor. Only the doctor can decide whether the condition can be treated appropriately with a hawthorn preparation.

Medical studies on the effect of hawthorn berries on heart failure

A review of 14 randomized studies with a total of 850 subjects concluded that the subjects who took hawthorn extract in combination with their medication to treat heart failure showed improved heart function and increased exercise tolerance. They also suffered less shortness of breath and fatigue (23). A two-year observational study of 952 subjects with heart failure found that those who supplemented with hawthorn berry extract suffered less shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations. The group taking the hawthorn extract also needed less medication to treat their heart failure (24). Another large-scale study with over 2,600 participants suffering from heart failure suggests that supplementation with hawthorn berry could reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death (25). Patients suffering from heart failure are often recommended to use a hawthorn berry extract in combination with their current medication, as these extracts are considered safe and have few side effects (26).

Other health benefits of hawthorn berries

Hawthorn is packed with antioxidants

Hawthorn berries are a rich source of polyphenols - powerful antioxidant compounds found in plants (1). Antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals, which can damage the body when present in large quantities. These molecules can come from a poor diet or enter the body in the form of environmental toxins and cigarette smoke.

Due to their antioxidant activity, polyphenols have been associated with numerous health benefits and may reduce the risk of a number of diseases including the following (2, 3):

Some cancers
Type 2 diabetes
Asthma
Some infections
Heart problems
Premature skin ageing

However, although the initial studies are promising, further research is needed to assess the full effects of hawthorn berries on disease risk.

Hawthorn berries could have anti-inflammatory properties

Hawthorn berries may have anti-inflammatory properties that could improve health. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many diseases including type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers. In a study of mice with liver disease, hawthorn berry extract significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory compounds (4). In addition, research conducted in mice with asthma showed that supplementation with hawthorn berry extract was able to reduce inflammation enough to significantly reduce asthma symptoms (5). Based on these promising results from animal and test tube studies, scientists believe that this supplement may also have anti-inflammatory benefits in humans. However, further research is needed.

Hawthorn berries could lower blood pressure

In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berries are the most commonly recommended food for the supportive treatment of high blood pressure (6). Several animal studies have shown that hawthorn can dilate the veins and relax constricted blood vessels, which ultimately leads to a reduction in blood pressure (7, 8). In a twelve-week study of 36 subjects with slightly elevated blood pressure, no significant reduction in blood pressure was observed in subjects taking 500 mg of hawthorn extract daily, although these subjects showed a trend towards lower diastolic blood pressure (the lower blood pressure value) (9). Another sixteen-week study of 79 subjects with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure observed that subjects taking 1,200 mg of hawthorn berry extract daily showed greater improvements in blood pressure than subjects in the placebo group (10). However, a similar study with 21 subjects with slightly elevated blood pressure did not observe any differences between hawthorn extract and a placebo (11).

Hawthorn berries could improve blood lipid levels

Some studies suggest that hawthorn extract could improve blood lipid levels. Cholesterol and triglycerides are the two types of fats that are always present in the blood. At normal levels, they are healthy and play important roles in hormone production and nutrient transport in the body. However, an imbalance in blood lipid levels - particularly high triglyceride levels and low levels of the good HDL cholesterol - play a crucial role in the development of arteriosclerosis or plaque formation in the blood vessels. If plaques accumulate in the blood vessels, this can lead to a blockage of the blood vessels, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. In one study, mice given two different doses of hawthorn extract had lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels that were 28 to 47% lower than the placebo group (12). In another study with mice fed a high-cholesterol diet, both a hawthorn berry extract and the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin were able to reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels to about the same extent, with the extract also lowering levels of bad LDL cholesterol (13). Although these study results are promising, further research is needed to assess the effect of hawthorn berries on blood lipid levels in humans.

Hawthorn berries could support digestion

Hawthorn berries and hawthorn extracts have been used for centuries to treat digestive problems - especially indigestion and stomach pain. The berries contain fiber, which has been shown to aid digestion by reducing constipation and acting as a natural prebiotic. Prebiotics serve as food for healthy gut bacteria and are crucial for maintaining healthy digestion (14). An observational study in humans with slow digestion found that each additional gram of fiber reduced the time between bowel movements by about 30 minutes (15). In addition, a study in rats found that hawthorn extract dramatically reduced the time food spent in the digestive system (16). This means that food moves through the digestive system faster, which can alleviate stomach upset. In another study conducted with rats suffering from stomach ulcers, hawthorn extract showed the same stomach-protecting effect as a medication for stomach ulcers (17).

Hawthorn berries can help prevent hair loss

Hawthorn berries may even prevent hair loss and are a common ingredient in commercial hair regrowth products.

A study conducted with rats found that a hawthorn extract stimulated hair growth and increased the number and size of hair follicles, which promoted healthier hair (18). The polyphenol content of hawthorn berries is believed to be responsible for this effect. However, further research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.

Hawthorn berries could reduce anxiety and fear

Hawthorn has a very mild sedative effect that could reduce anxiety symptoms (19). In a study investigating the effects of hawthorn on blood pressure, no significant reduction in anxiety was observed, but a trend towards a reduction in anxiety was observed (20). In another study of 264 subjects with anxiety disorders, a combination of hawthorn, Californian golden poppy and magnesium significantly reduced the level of anxiety compared to a placebo. However, it is unclear what exact role hawthorn played in this (21). Since hawthorn has very few side effects compared to traditional medications used to treat anxiety disorders, it is being further investigated as a potential treatment for central nervous system disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression (22). However, further research is needed to accurately determine the effects of hawthorn on these types of disorders in humans. People who wish to use hawthorn supplements to treat anxiety disorders should not discontinue their current medications and should consult with their treating physician before use.

Hawthorn berries can easily be added to the daily diet

There are a number of ways to add hawthorn to your diet:

Raw fresh hawthorn berries: Fresh hawthorn berries have a tart, slightly sweet flavor and make an excellent snack.
Tea: You can either buy ready-made hawthorn tea or make it yourself from dried hawthorn berries, flowers and leaves.
Jam and desserts: In America, hawthorn berries are often used to make jam, syrup and pie fillings.
Wine and vinegar: Hawthorn berries can be fermented into an alcoholic beverage or vinegar.
Supplements: Hawthorn is found in a variety of supplements in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder form as a sole or accompanying ingredient.

Hawthorn berry supplements usually contain the berry in combination with leaves and flowers. Some supplements contain only leaves and flowers, as these are a more concentrated source of antioxidants than the berries themselves. Different brands and dosage forms of hawthorn supplements have different dosage recommendations. According to one report, the lowest effective dosage for the treatment of heart failure is 300 mg of hawthorn extract per day (27). Typical dosages are 250 to 500 mg three times a day.

Safety and side effects

Hawthorn is potentially safe and harmless when used at the recommended doses for up to 16 weeks. It is not known whether long-term use is safe and harmless. In some people, hawthorn may cause side effects such as nausea, stomach upset, fatigue, sweating, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, nosebleeds, insomnia, agitation and other problems.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the safety of hawthorn during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid hawthorn to be on the safe side.

Heart disease: Hawthorn can interact with many prescription medications used to treat heart disease. If you suffer from heart disease, you should only use hawthorn after consulting your doctor.

Interactions

Hawthorn should not be used in combination with the following medications:

Digoxin

Digoxin helps the heart to beat more strongly. Hawthorn also appears to affect the heart. Taking hawthorn in combination with digoxin could increase the effect of digoxin and the risk of side effects. For this reason, hawthorn should only be used after prior consultation with your doctor if you are taking digoxin.

Medication for high blood pressure (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers)

Hawthorn could lower blood pressure. Taking hawthorn in combination with medication for high blood pressure could lower blood pressure too much.

Medication for erectile dysfunction (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors)

Hawthorn could lower blood pressure. Some erectile dysfunction drugs can also lower blood pressure. Taking hawthorn in combination with erectile dysfunction medication could lower blood pressure too much.

Some erectile dysfunction medications include sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra).

Medications that increase blood flow to the heart (nitrates)

Hawthorn increases blood flow. Taking hawthorn in combination with medications that also increase blood flow to the heart could increase the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness.

Hawthorn

Kidney + · 180 capsules