Ask A Healer Healthy Heart Series

Using Herbal Tonics Longterm
Drug Interactions with Herbal Tonics
© Neva J Howell, all rights reserved


Askahealer-recommended for your heart

This is part four of a four-part article on Cardiovascular Health. On this page, we are talking about whether hawthorn berry supplements can be safely taken longterm and also addressing prescription drug interactions that need to be considered before adding this herbal tonic to your cardiocare regimen.

If you've arrived here directly, please start with part one on Hawthorn, the natural cardiac tonic


One of the common questions about any supplement aimed at helping a chronic condition, is whether you can take it longterm. This is particularly important when talking about an herb designed to help the heart restore and strengthen over time.

Because it is a tonic herb, that is an herb that works over time to gradually strengthen the body system, hawthorn is considered safe for longterm use. In fact, using it longterm is recommended because the true benefits will only be seen over time.

That having been said, one should always check with their doctor before adding anything new to their heartcare regimen and check in with your doctor periodically on whether to keep taking something or not.

Given time to do so, hawthorn can help improve cardiovascular function and is considered one of the safest herbs for that purpose.

The amount of studies done on hawthorn and heart health lead most holistic practitioners and not a few medical doctors to believe it to be very safe; however, we're talking about hawthorn taken alone, as an herbal tonic. Adding other herbs to it requires additional research and careful monitoring.

Hawthorn Berry for Memory Loss:


Hawthorn is sometimes combined with ginko biloba to address memory loss but it should be noted that ginko biloba may have different reactions with any drugs one is taking than hawthorn would, if taken alone.

Related heart-healthy article: Can Cayenne Tea Stop a Heart Attack?

Drug Interactions with Hawthorn:
Please note, this is a partial list. If you are taking ANY other drugs, you should always discuss your entire drug list with your pharmacist, doctor and nutritionist before adding natural supplements to the mix. However, in particular, please check with your doctor before taking hawthorn berry if you take any of the following:

Cialis

Levitra

Viagra

beta-blockers

phspodiesterase-5 inhibitors

nitrates

digoxin

calcium channel blockers

More on Prescription Drug Interactions:
Drug Reactions with Liquid Nutritionals

Heart Health Disclaimer: If you are under a doctor's care for any type of heart condition including but not limited to afib, mitral valve prolapse, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, heart murmor or coronary heart disease, consult with a qualified specialist in the cardiovascular field before taking hawthorn.

Note that other herbal cardiac tonics have not been studies as much as hawthorn so use particular caution if trying other herbal cardiac tonics.

Check with your doctor before adding hawthorn to your cardivasular health regimen.