UPDATE - Herbal extract extends heart patients' lives: study

Posted originally March 2007
It is unfortunate that Bill Berkot failed to do his research when he wrote this story report.

Hawthorne has been the preemminent herb for the heart for hundreds of years and is used in the states (US) daily for CHF and related cardiovascular conditions.

It has additional uses as well for health especially in people over 40. When using hawthorne make sure that you inform your physician as it can and will lower your blood pressure.

Send us your questions about its use and effectiveness. You can order organic hawthorne extract made in the proper way from us too.

Hawthorn contains oligomeric procyanidins, flavonoids (including vitexin-2-rhamnoside) and other compounds. This product is standardized to contain 6.01 mg per tablet of vitexin-2-rhamnoside and 15 mg per tablet catechin polymers to ensure optimal strength and quality.
The substances in Hawthorn, particularly the oligomeric procyanidins and flavonoids, work together to:
support the healthy functioning of the heart muscle
help maintain normal blood pressure within a normal range
supports normal coronary blood flow
promote cardiovascular system health
provide antioxidant protection
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Bill Berkrot 34 minutes ago

An extract from the leaves of the crataegus, or hawthorn tree, already available in Europe, extended the lives of patients with congestive heart failure who were already receiving medicinal treatment by an average of four months, a study found.

Results of the 2,681-patient clinical trial that tested the extract known as WS 1442 against a placebo, were presented on Tuesday at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting here.

The extract from the crataegus tree, which has its origins in Europe and Ireland and grows throughout North America, is a natural antioxidant that has been used in parts of Europe to treat heart failure, a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to the body's other organs.

Patients in the trial had severely impaired left ventricular function, indicating advanced congestive heart failure.

The primary goal of the study was time to first cardiac event, defined as sudden cardiac death, death due to progressive heart failure, fatal and nonfatal heart attacks or hospitalization due to heart failure.

Researchers found that patients who received the extract had a 20 percent reduction in cardiac-related deaths, which translated into four months of added survival time during the first 18 months of the study.

They said the lower number of deaths in the WS 1442 group compared with those who received placebo on top of their regular medicines was an indication of the safety of the crataegus extract.

"It postpones death of cardiac cause after 18 months and sudden cardiac death in an important subgroup of patients," said Dr. Christian Holubarsh, lead investigator of the study that was sponsored by the Germany-based Dr. Willmar Schwabe Group.