Hawthorn
Since ancient times, the healing powers of the plant have been used for mild cardiac insufficiencies, such as the so-called "senile heart", with nervous heart disorders, minor circulatory disorders and mild arrhythmia. Hawthorn fruit pulp is suitable to naturally protect the heart on a long-term basis and is also helpful as an accompanying, gentle therapy for chronic heart diseases. The heart-strengthening effect of the medicinal plant sets in slowly – it does not provide immediate results with acute heart diseases.
Especially in high doses, procyanidins which are considered to be the cardioactive constituents of the hawthorn are abundant in hawthorn fruit pulp (e.g. 40 grammes of procyanidins in 100 grammes of tonic). Only the fruits – but not the leaves or flowers and therefore no infusions – also contain potassium. The mineral potassium counteracts fluid retention in the tissue, thus relieving the heart still further.