Crataegus: "tapering off" -myth.

To: herb.franklin.oit.unc.edu
Subject: was psa & colestral - now stopping hawthorn
From: NEHrbSup.aol.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 13:24:49 EST

n5wuh.ionet.net writes:
<< I understand hawthorne is nothing to play around with. Meaning, one should not take it a while and get off of it all of a sudden. >>

Not true - simply not true!! Someone has confused drugs with herbs or vice-versa or was giving you some bad advice. This is a general statement but applies unless there are a whole host of other things that are at play at the same time - like a laundry list of prescription drugs that are being taken at the same time which DO have serious side effects when taken with any number of other things. lopressor and coumadin are a couple that come to mind that would be appropriate. (if you don't really believe in a pure herbal protocol or can't seem to live without the cardiologist who insists you take his medicine) A good rule to follow is that unless you have a "personal" herbalist or someone that really knows about what is safe, mixing drugs and herbs for a specific and serious disorder is like playing Russian roulette with four of the 6 chambers loaded instead of only one bullet in the gun! It can be quite dangerous.

With regard to the use of Hawthorn, it should really be taken a looooong time to get the maximum benefit - like daily for 4-6 months and longer. If you have no "other" issues (medicines) there is absolutely nothing to concern yourself about if you are away from your routine for a few days or even if you stop completely - unless of course you are still living the same lifestyle that brought you to use the stuff in the first place - in which case you will pick up where you left off.

When it comes to Hawthorn as a 'treatment" or protocol for cardiovascular health, I prefer a tincture form to any other as it appears to be the way to get it properly into your system. 20-30 drops 3x/day I have, for a long time, been tincturing it with Linden flower, and Mistletoe leaf. The last time I made a batch, I further strengthened the "brew" by add bilberry (whole berry) and yarrow flower as well for their benefits. Seems to be working pretty well.
peter

From: May Terry <mterry.snet.net>
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 21:10:25 -0500

NEHrbSup.aol.com wrote:
> Seems to be working pretty well.

How are you evaluating that? Has your blood pressure gone down? My understanding is the same as yours regarding risk--it's not very, being a 'normalizer'.

When you refer to mistletoe, which herb do you mean?

May

From: NEHrbSup.aol.com
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 12:20:58 EST

mterry.snet.net writes:
<< When you refer to mistletoe, which herb do you mean? >>

May,

Sorry, Mistletoe is Viscum alba - use the leaf - NOT the berry which can be a "bit difficult" like poisonous - actually, without the berry its the same stuff you stand under around the holidays when "trolling" for affection.
peter