Extracts derived from plants are commonly used to treat cardiovascular problems. Hawthorn is one of the most effective of these extracts.

Made from the berries of the hawthorn plant — which is a shrub in the rose family — hawthorn has been found to treat a number of ailments.

A few years ago, a group of researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration looked at 14 randomized studies in which hawthorn was given along with conventional treatment.

The review found that the addition of hawthorn improved the heart’s ability to function and reduced symptoms such as shortness of breath.

Hawthorn also has been used to help relieve chest pain, lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, and to regulate heartbeat.

I have added hawthorn to my own heart supplement. You can also get it in an herbal tea form; drink one cup daily.