Evidence supporting the use of: Hawthorn
For the health condition: Abdominal Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in China and Europe. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), hawthorn fruit (known as "Shan Zha") is frequently used to aid digestion and alleviate abdominal pain, bloating, and food stagnation, especially after consuming fatty or heavy meals. The traditional rationale is that hawthorn promotes the movement of food through the digestive tract and helps resolve stagnation that leads to discomfort.
Scientifically, there is limited direct evidence to support hawthorn’s efficacy specifically for abdominal pain. Some in vitro and animal studies suggest that hawthorn extracts may have gastroprotective and prokinetic effects, such as enhancing gastric motility and protecting the gastric mucosa. However, few clinical trials have directly evaluated hawthorn for the relief of abdominal pain in humans. Most of the available research focuses on hawthorn’s cardiovascular benefits rather than digestive effects.
Overall, the use of hawthorn for abdominal pain is primarily justified by traditional usage rather than robust scientific validation. While preclinical data are somewhat supportive of potential digestive benefits, clinical evidence is lacking. Therefore, hawthorn remains a traditional remedy for abdominal pain, with limited scientific backing at present.
Other ingredients used for Abdominal Pain
allspicealoe vera
green chiretta
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bacillus coagulans
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barberry
basil
myrobalan
berberine
beta caryophyllene
betel
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black pepper
radish
blackberry
bromelain
rice
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cannabis sativa oil
celery
chamomile
chen pi
cinnamon
cissus quadrangularis
citrus oil
clove
cowage seed
cucumber
turmeric
dandelion
devil's claw
melon
fennel
fenugreek
fiber blend (proprietary)
fu ling
garlic bulb
gentian root
ginger
ginseng
goldenseal
greek mountain tea
green banana
green tea
hawthorn
hemp oil
horseradish
Indian gum arabic tree
Japanese sophora
l-glutamine
lactase
lactobacillus gasseri
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
licorice root
lipase
lovage
magnesium
marshmallow
mastic gum
milk thistle
mint
mustard seed
okra
olive
oregano
papain
parsley
peppermint oil
phytocannabinoids
plantain
plum fruit
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
butyric acid
psyllium
pumpkin
raspberry
rhizome
rhubarb root
rosemary
schizonepeta
slippery elm bark
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
triphala
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white willow
zhejiang fritillary
bentonite
yellow root
squawvine
chickweed
typhonium
xanthium (cockleburs)
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
papaya
shen-chu
capsicum
mugwort
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alpinia galangal
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ferula assafoetida
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pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
commiphora
holarrhena antidysenterica
paederia foetida
tinospora cordifolia
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fumaria parviflora
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swertia
chaff flower
peony
lingusticum wallichii
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
buckthorn
prickly ash
lemongrass
myrrh
elecampane
root tuber
juniper berries
solomon's seal
siler root
amber
flowering quince
dogwood
dioscorea
fern
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
sweetgums
morinda
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
queen of the meadow
caraway
purslane
assam indigo
wintergreen
camphor oil
menthol oil
aster root
wood betony
paw paw
white oak
herbal blend (proprietary)
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indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
soursop
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Agastache
Alseodaphne andersonii
Angel's Trumpet
Aquilegia viridiflora
Anthraquinone
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
acacia
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Amomum
Asarum heterotropoides
Alchemilla
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Anserina
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
American Liverleaf
Anemone
Aquilegia formosa
Asam gelugor
Angostura
Arrowroot
Areca
Alsonia scholaris
Actaea spicata
Agonandra
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteracea
allyl isothiocyanate
Alisma
Asarabacca
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Alstonia macrophylla
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bee Propolis
Betony
Bifidobacterium
Bermuda Grass
Bryonia
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Bidens pilosa
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Balsam
Brassica
Bishop's Weed
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Bistort
Bran
Butea monosperma
Black galingale
Barleria
Berberis (unspecified)
Big Quaking Grass
Bitter Grass
Bougainvillea
Bael
Butternut
boldo
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Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Banyan
Black willow
Bur-Reed
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bee products
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus Palm
Borassus aethiopum
Black root
banana
Bifidobacteria
Bupleurum
Bassia scoparia
Black Hellebore
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
Bottle gourd
Borneol
Cumin
Centaury
Camellia sinensis
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Caryophyllene
Casearia esculenta
Common Monkey Flower
Cinnamomum
Croton seeds
California Redbud
Calotropis gigantea
Carqueja
Chervil
Cucurbita
Combretum quadrangulare
Coriander
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cactus
Cape Aloe
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Citron
Curcuminoid
Carry Me Seed
Capsaicin
Cymbidium goeringii
Cajuput
Chinese Raisintree
Chuchuhuasi
Cowherb
Carvone
Curcumen
Catechu
Coca
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Ceylon Leadwort
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Centipeda
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cypress
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Chirata
Cranesbill
Cornus
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
Calamus
Carrapichinho
Clostridium butyricum
Corydalis
Cynodon dactylon
Chiococca alba
Costus
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Collinsonia
Castor Oil
Carthamus
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cola nut
Cynanchum
Celosia
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Casearia sylvestris
Culvers Root
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Davilla rugosa
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Erythropalum scandens
Erigeron
Elephant Vine
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Eclipta
Echinodorus
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Essential Oil Blend
Elephant's Head
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
Embelia
Emodin
Eugenol
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Goldthread
Galangal
Lotus
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Oak
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Rhubarb
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Squash
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Other health conditions supported by hawthorn
Abdominal PainAngina
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Cold Hands and Feet
Congestive Heart Failure
Edema
Heart (weakness)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Heart Valves
Hypertension
Mitral Valve
Triglycerides (high)
Products containing hawthorn
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas TCM
Nature's Sunshine Blood Pressurex
Nature's Sunshine Cardio Assurance
Nature's Sunshine Circulatory System
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Ginkgo & Hawthorn Combination
Nature's Sunshine Hawthorn Berries
Nature's Sunshine Hawthorn Berries (Extract)
Nature's Sunshine HS II
Nature's Sunshine Nattozimes Plus
Nature's Sunshine Red Beet Root Formula
Nature's Sunshine SF