Crataegus, Hawthorn, Shan Zha 山楂

Oxyacantha, White Thorn
Shan Zha (TCM)
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

C. oxyacantha
Flora von Deutschland (25), Kohler, 1886

Chinese Hawthorn fruit slices (Adam, 2017)
Botanical name:
Crataegus laevigata (formerly C. oxyacantha) and C. monogyna are the principle sources used in Europe.
In TCM, C. cuneata and C. oxycantha var. pinnatifida are used.

Parts used:
Fruit; also the leaf, seed and flower

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, Dry. Sour and Sweet

Classifications:
H. Nourish the Heart
O. Promote Digestion

Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Clears Blood Stasis, Regulates the Circulation, Eases Pain (West, TCM):
-Heart disease, Heart pain, Hypertension and Hypotension, Atherosclerosis, Arteriosclerosis

2. Nourishes the Heart, Settles the Spirit (West):
-calm the mind and Spirit when the Heart is unsettled.

3. Moves the Blood, Benefits the Womb (West, TCM):
-prevents Miscarriage (fruit)
-In TCM, it is used for postpartum abdominal pain and amenorrhea from blood stasis associated with heat or cold, as well as to return the uterus to its normal position after birth.

4. Promotes Digestion, Clears Food Stagnation:
-food accumulation, particularly due to excess meat and fat consumption with abdominal pain, distention and diarrhea.

5. Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-retained fluid, as well as edema, especially cardiac edema

6. Others Uses:.
-Exopthalmic Goiter(Ellingwood)
-some older writers commended it for Epilepsy

7. Stops Leakage:
-The charred fruit is used for diarrhea, chronic dysentery and bleeding from food stagnation, or damp heat (TCM)

Main Combinations:
1. Heart disease, Hawthorn with ... available in PRO version
2. To strengthen Heart and Circulation:
i. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
3. Hypertension:
i. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
4. Angina Pectoris:
i. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
5. High cholesterol and Hypertension, Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
6. Arteriosclerosis, Hawthorn with ... available in PRO version
7. Varicose veins:
i. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
8. Anxiety with Palpitations, Nervous exhaustion, Hawthorn with  ... available in PRO version
9. Food stagnation with abdominal distention, fullness, belching, poor appetite, Hawthorn with ... available in PRO version
10. Childhood nutritional impairment with Fever and poor appetite, Hawthorn with ... available in PRO version
11. Inguinal Hernia, Hawthorn with ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas:
Da Shan Zha Wan
Eight Treasure Congee


Cautions:
1. Use cautiously in those with marked digestive weakness, gastric ulcers.
2. May potentiate Cardiac Glycosides (such as Digitalis)

Main Preparations used: