The 2016 A-Z CHALLENGE brought to you by The Letter "H"

Hello! And welcome to the 2016 A-Z CHALLENGE!!

* confetti *

This year, I’m blogging my way through a botanical alphabet. 

I hope you enjoy your time here and by all means, 

come back tomorrow and see what plant I’m highlighting next! Cheers!!

***

HAWTHORN

crataegus oxycantha

aka: English hawthorn, mayflower, may blossom, bread-and-cheese tree

photo found at www.botanical.com

Christian tradition holds that it was the Hawthorn Tree that provided Christ's crown of thorns. now whether or not it was, it is true the thorns of the Hawthorn are formidable. Native American ballplayers drank a tea of the bark and bathed in it to ward of tacklers. Perhaps they wanted to channel those dangerous spikes. it was commonly known that "no one wants to run into the thorns" and they believed imbibing and infusing themselves in the tea would give them an advantage.

Hawthorn is most commonly used for circulation and to increase oxygen to the heart. If used on a regular basis, it can be a good cardiac tonic used to strengthen the heart and possibly as a preventative and a treatment of heart disease.

Hawthorn has a rich folkloric history. Old crones in Ireland tell many fantastic tales which relate to Hawthorns reputation with the Fairy Folk. It appears it is especially liked by banshees. (By the by, "banshee" or correctly "ban sidhe" means nothing more than "fairy woman" in Irish.) In most of Europe, the Hawthorn is believed to be inhabited by all types of fairies and it is bad luck to cut one down without asking permission of the Folk. And even then it may not bode well for you.

***

All research references can be found in my Library of Botanical Miscellany. 

Disclaimer

These posts are in NO WAY medical suggestions. They are intended for informational purposes only.

If you are interested in pursuing natural, herbal remedies, get thee to a reputable herb shop (preferably one that is locally and independently owned and operated) and get educated!

Disclaimer II

It’s ridiculous that anyone writing about herbal and traditional remedies should have to put a disclaimer at the end of anything. 

Use your brain and think for yourself! Just as you shouldn't take a pharmaceutical at face value, 

do your herbal research and learn about the amazing plants around us.