A major medical review of 14 placebo controlled studies, with over 1,000 patients, found hawthorn to be helpful in treating the symptoms of heart failure.

In the review, hawthorn extract, an herbal which is often used for heart health, was shown to significantly decrease symptoms and improve exercise performance in chronic heart failure—without significant side effects.

“The best evidence that is available suggests that hawthorn has significant benefits, compared with placebo… for patients with chronic heart failure,” according to the authors, led by Dr. Max H. Pittler of the Peninsula Medical School in the UK.

Hawthorn has significant benefits for heart failure

The data showed that hawthorn extract has improved the strength of heart muscle contraction, while improving blood flow to the heart muscle.

This makes hawthorne a useful addition to other natural and prescription therapies for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

In addition, although the research focused on heart failure (which causes shortness of breath on exertion, swollen ankles, and shortness of breath on laying flat), the data suggests it may also be helpful for angina.

My Five Item Recipe for Heart Health

This is the recipe I recommend for most forms of heart disease to improve the efficiency of your heart’s function (in order of priority):

1. Ribose (Corvalen):

1 scoop (5 gms) 3 times a day for 6 weeks, then twice a day.

2. Coenzyme Q10: 

Take 200-400 mg/day (I would do 400 mg/day for 6 weeks, then 200 mg/day). This nutrient is especially critical for anyone on cholesterol lowering medications, even if there is no heart problem.

3. Magnesium:

200 mg/day and B Complex 50+ mg/day.

4. Acetyl-L-Carnitine: 

500 mg 2x day for 6 weeks, then 500 mg/day.

5. Hawthorn: 

200 mg. 3x day.

Give this recipe 6 weeks to work. You’ll be glad you did!

Reference:
Pittler MH, Guo R, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005312. pub2.

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Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.

Jacob Teitelbaum MD is medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers nationally, author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z” , and author of the best-selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! (3rd revised edition, Avery/Penguin Group) and Pain Free 1-2-3—A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now (McGraw- Hill). His newest book is Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! (Fairwinds Press; March 2010). Dr. Teitelbaum knows Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS) as an insider -- he contracted CFS when he was in medical school and had to drop out for a year to recover. In the ensuing 25 years, he dedicated his career to finding effective treatments and the programs he has developed have now helped tens of thousands of sufferers reclaim the vitality CFS/FMS once robbed from their lives. For more information on how Dr. T.'s methods can help you visit his website Vitality101.com. Dr. Teitelbaum does frequent media appearances including Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News Channel, the Dr Oz Show and Oprah & Friends. He lives in Kona, Hawaii.

Latest posts by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. (see all)

• New Law Makes Health Legal! - August 6, 2011
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