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My mind was always wandering and I was not paying enough attention, as a result, at the time of collection. I got stitched on the back of the hand, at the time I didn’t feel it, but now blood is flowing and I’m in pain. “But why didn’t you wear gloves?” she asks, in a stern and worried tone at the same time, she who foresees everything and, because of her young age, knows everything. I have mitigating factors: because picking the white inflorescences and small leaves of mullein (Crataegus monogyna) is delicate work that requires bare fingers, while the glove also offers little protection from its strong thorns.
But logical arguments, as it has been proven, do not advance our relationship. Now that I think about it, neither does any other, of any type. In bitter thoughts I rolled, better to put a full stop. “Is there any gain without sacrifice?” I ask emphatically. I then point, with a theatrical movement, to the spectacular flowering tree behind me. “Only when it mingles with danger does beauty become irresistible.” The well-rehearsed Nietzschean adage worked perfectly; so run for the first-aid kit. The magnificent scene created by the flowering hawthorn hedge every spring was certainly a reason, this year I even found that after fifteen years of life it has become impenetrable. They certainly grow in the conditions they prefer: clay soil, sunny position, frequent rains. I don’t ever remember them getting sick, they don’t ask for pruning or other care.
Only twice a year do I dig, crouched among them, to collect the small red fruits in autumn and, in spring, flowers and leaves. Now they are at the beginning of flowering, I am captivated by their subtle, wonderful fragrance, I have to note, however, that two weeks later, when they start to fall, an animalistic, according to others “fishy” smell prevails. This is a clever trick of the plant to ensure pollination, as it attracts flies and other insects that feast on the rotting flesh. Our tastes differ; so I filled a bag with the fragrant inflorescences and elegant leaflets, dried them in the shade, then dropped them into the medicinal container, to be joined with the fruits later.
The flavor of the infusion they give is very pleasant, it combines soft notes of fruit and flowers, however, there is also a hint of bitterness in the background, which I extinguish with a few stevia leaves or honey. I drink three cups of this daily if I feel severe anxiety starting to overwhelm me, with chest tightness, shallow breathing and restless sleep being the main symptoms. It is probably a pandemic, the bellicose spirit of the time certainly worsens everything. If you are also facing such problems, try it without fear, side effects rarely occur, which are even mild. However, it should be noted that, as is the case with all phytotherapeutic preparations, patience of at least ten days is required until its potential is manifested.
For centuries, hawthorn leaves and flowers have been used in the folk herbal medicine of many European countries, due to their astringency, mainly in cases of chronic diarrhea or excessive menstruation. Relatively late, however, only at the end of the 19th century, their cardiotonic effect was discovered, as a result of which they are today the most popular natural remedy for heart problems worldwide. Many people make daily use of it, because it effectively helps with problems of hypotension and hypertension, tachycardia and bradycardia.
For centuries, hawthorn leaves and flowers have been used in folk herbal medicine in many European countries, due to their astringency.
It certainly seems paradoxical that hawthorn has a balancing effect on diametrically opposed conditions and disorders. However, it is absolutely valid and its mechanism of action has been adequately explained. Many also claim – and the undersigned also adopts this – that hawthorn has the ability to heal the wounds of the mental sphere, when due to repeated disappointments or after a great loss, the horizons of life become suffocatingly narrow.
