Hawthorn

"Wild Thing,
you make my heart sing.
You make everything
Groovy!"
–Chip Taylor 1965

Every haw has it's thorn. A truism we might as well get used to. And the black pomes of Hawthorn trees are no exception. We can all be grateful that these thorns at least have edible fruits accompanying them and are not merely thorns for the sometimes sadistic nature of nature.

Black Hawthorn is normal English for Crataegus douglasii, which is Latin for Greek kratos meaning "strength" (Plants of the Southern Interior British Columbia and the Inland Northwest published by Lone Pine) and "douglasii" meaning Northwest Explorer-Naturalist David Douglas probably first described it in English/Latin, in writing, to the name-it-claim-it English-European culture. His name claims many plants.

The Black Hawthorns, prevalent along the paths, streams, roads, and remaining wild hills of the Inland Northwest, are native, deciduous shrubs which grow to tree-like proportions. Luckily our black hawthorn is more haw than thorn with a sparse arsenal of easily avoided barbs. Among these grow an abundance of thick, ovalesque leaves with saw-toothy edges. These are dark and shiny on top with a lighter, matte green on bottom. Dangling among these leaves are clusters of miniature black apples, called pomes, haws, and/or berries. Unfortunately the seeds are not as miniaturized, thus rendering an already mealy-fleshed bland-yet-sweet berry guarded by stout thorns even less desirable.

But desire it you should, for this is a pome for your heart, the Pablo Neruda of vascular health. Just as the thorns of the rose have not deterred lovers, neither should these thorns deter the heart-sick. Studies and lore find this pome reducing hypertension and mildly stimulating the heart (cites at wikipedia.com, and Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies by Linda Kershaw). As with many matters of the heart, perseverance pays off with Hawthorn; the longer it is used, the better the results.

Not so romantically, fresh haws and inner bark tea is said to dam diarrhea (Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies). Surfing the internet, I noticed academic papers referring to Native Americans using the plant to stop diarrhea in children (the conclusions of these papers were held hostage for sums beyond my budget). However other sources complain that haws cause constipation. If you have diarrhea, a little constipation sounds very nice. So, if you get diarrhea from Hawthorns, this is Not also your cure, just stop while you're ahead, go home and eat some cookie dough. If I got diarrhea from some other source, say wild and free Giardia'n'friends, I would give a "moderate" amount of haws a solid chance to show off their talents.

Hawthorn tea is also purportedly used to treat kidneys, nervousness and insomnia. Assays of the local, prolific Black Hawthorns show these dark haws are highest in flavonoids, and a tea is recommended for repairing connective tissues. (Edible and Medicinal Plants…).

Methods of ingestion and preparation vary. Poetically, you might sup or ruminate upon raw pomes. Or you could dry and store them for later teas and infusions. The tea could be made by crushing the hard haws and steeping them in boiled water for a little while. An infusion of the crushed berries could also be made by soaking them overnight in cold water, then boiling and straining them. (Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed). The Native Interior peoples turned them into fruit leather cakes. (Plants of Southwestern Interior…) Mashed and strained of seeds, these high pectin fruits are jammed and jellied by people with way too much time on their hands.

As usual, be sure you've got the right berry before you invite it into your heart. Other berry-bearing, shrubby trees, such as Buckthorn, can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting. Other warnings are for poking out your eye with thorns, of course. Some say they aren't for children, pregnants, or people with heart issues, however others recommend this gentle healer specifically for those sorts.

Robust health and a singing heart are the just rewards for perseverance in the face of thorns and slow cumulative effects. Hawthorn is for spiritual and physical ailments, the heart-sick, the dysenteric and/or the distressed who are determined to make everything groovy.