Hawthorn (Craetagus spp.) is a small tree/large shrub related to roses and apples.
It grows wild or planted in landscapes and hedgerows in Northern regions of the world.  It has white-pink flowers, red rose-hip like fruit, and thorns.

Hawthorn blooms in May, around the same time as your local apple trees.  In England and Ireland it is often found blooming on May Day.  

Traditionally it was used in fertility rituals of Beltane and to decorate the May Pole and crowns and garlands in wedding ceremonies.  It was considered to be an herb of love, fertility, and the heart.

The trees were seen as protection for homes, land, and family.  If a protective Hawthorn was cut down, it was thought that bad luck would fall upon the family because they would no longer be under the care and protection of it.

Today, Hawthorn is known as a wonderful tonic for the whole cardiovascular system, from the heart to the tiny capillaries.  It is an excellent herb to protect the aging heart.  In a country, where heart disease is the number one cause of death, this is an herb that is of great importance.

It has a modulating effect on the heart beat and blood pressure, easing palpitations as well as returning blood pressure to healthy levels. It helps the heart to uptake oxygen and use it efficiently.

It helps the arteries to relax and dilate and improves the elasticity of the blood vessels, preventing hardening and allowing the blood to flow optimally.  It improves circulation to the extremities and the brain.  This is helpful for people who have chronically cold hands and feet or feelings of brain fog.

It can be helpful for people in the early stages of congestive heart failure, but less so in advanced stages.

Just at the thorns on the shrub, help to protect its delicate flowers and nutritious fruit, hawthorn has the ability to protect our emotional heart.  It is considered an herbal ally for those who want a more courageous heart.  It is also beneficial for people who need boundaries to protect their hearts and for people who are grieving heartbreak.

Hawthorn supports our nervous system by easing the nerves, anxiety, and feelings of agitation.  It can be helpful for people who are have a hard time sleeping due to grief or anxiety.

Hawthorn is a physical and emotional nourishing heart tonic. It is as safe as eating applesauce. It is slow working, because it builds and modulates health, rather than forcing a specific action. It must be taken over a few months to have the best benefits. It can be enjoyed as a daily tincture or tea. All parts of the plant can be used including the flowers, young leaves, bark, and fruit.

If you want to tend to your heart, hawthorn is the herbal ally to help you.