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Crataegus monogyna

Crataegus monogyna

Other names: Hloh

Thorny branches; flowers and haws in folk use.

Pinnate leaves, white flowers, red pomes.

Family
Rosaceae
Plant type
Shrub / small tree
Safety level (indicative)
Caution
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.
Hloh obecný — habitus rostliny (Wikimedia Commons).

Fotografie na Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Plant habit

Safety — read before use

For this herb it is important to check warnings, mix-ups and cautions. Start with the Safety section.

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Caution·details
Scientific sources on the card
Yes — sources are listed with claims·Science section
When and what to harvest
  • Flower — May–August
Full harvest section
Processing methods

Herbal infusion (tea), Syrup, Honey macerate, Herbal wine

All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Circulation comfort (folk), Fatigue and low energy, Heavy legs & vein comfort…

Topics section · Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Typically one stone in the fruit.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Other hawthorns by stone count and leaf.

Similar herbs

No related herbs are linked yet.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Geographic occurrence

  • Czechia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Austria

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Germany

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Hungary

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Poland

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Slovakia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

Harvest

  • FlowerMay–August

    léto

    Region: Czechia

    Notes: Harvest note (full translation pending): Kvetenstvi v plnem kvetu.

Storage

  • Drying(Leaf)

    Sušený rostlinný materiál uchovávej v uzavřené nádobě.

    Light:
    Mimo přímé UV.
    Moisture:
    Nízká relativní vlhkost.

Processing methods on this herb card

  • Herbal infusion (tea)(Flower)Suitability: High suitability

    Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    In the narrow sense, “tea” often means an infusion: you pour water just off the boil over the dried plant matter and let it steep for a few minutes. Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.

    Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Procedure (recipe)

    Crataegus monogyna — Herbal infusion (tea) (Flower)

    About 12 min · Difficulty: Beginner

    Extraction parameters (rough guide): 250 ml water · 95–100 °C · 8–15 min steep

    1. Use 1–2 teaspoons dried flowers per cup.
    2. Pour boiling water, cover, and steep 8–12 minutes.
    3. Strain — flowers are not the same as fruit; drink in moderation.

    If you use heart medicines or tend toward low blood pressure, consult a qualified source — see the herb card.

    Why this way (extraction / behaviour of constituents)

    Regulační dokument pokrývá list s květem hlohu; čaj jen z květů je užší domácí varianta. Kardiovaskulární potíže musí vyloučit lékař — text není návod k léčbě diagnózy doma.

    What is typically released
    Polární frakce z květních tkání.
    Solvent / water
    Voda.
    After preparation
    Čerstvě.

    Extra literature for the recipe

  • Syrup(Flower)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Decoction or infusion with sweetener and reduction; shelf life depends on sugar and storage.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Syrups combine a herbal base with sugar or honey and often a short boil to concentrate and improve hygiene. Preservation depends strongly on water content, sugar level, and bottling practice.

    Home syrups may fall under food rules; store in the fridge after opening per recipe.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Procedure (recipe)

    Hawthorn flower syrup

    About 45 min · Difficulty: Beginner

    1. Pick over the flowers and cover with cold sugared water, or make a light syrup and macerate 24 hours cold.
    2. Strain, add lemon juice, warm briefly to dissolve sugar, and bottle.
    3. Store chilled; drink diluted — prepare fruits separately.

    If you use heart medicines or have low blood pressure, check a professional source.

    Why this way (extraction / behaviour of constituents)

    Home preparation following this recipe is mainly educational and cultural; it should not be assumed to match the extractive or safety profile of registered medicines or standardized extracts. Check specific effects, drug interactions, and contraindications on the herb card and with your clinician if you use prescription drugs.

    What is typically released
    orientační domácí extrakce — profil závisí na teplotě, čase řezu a poměrech
    Solvent / water
    mediální složení (voda, alkohol, olej, med…) viz jednotlivé kroky
    After preparation
    po přípravě uchovávej hygienicky a podle typu výrobku (chlad, světlo, alkohol)

    Extra literature for the recipe

  • Honey macerate(Flower)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Macerating plant material in honey (a honey conserve).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Honey as a maceration medium creates a viscous mixture with its own biochemistry: water activity, acidity, and enzymes influence shelf life and flavour. Traditionally it is used with delicate flowers or herbs when you want aroma bound into honey.

    Infant botulism guidance for honey and honey safety in general sit outside a single herb page; maceration time, ratios, and storage must follow a vetted recipe and source, not this general overview alone.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Procedure (recipe)

    Hawthorn flower honey

    About 30 min · Difficulty: Beginner

    1. Fill a jar about one third with flowers, cover with honey, and press lightly.
    2. Macerate 3–4 weeks, then strain — prepare fruits separately if needed.

    Maceration takes weeks; if you use heart medicines or have low blood pressure, check a professional source.

    Why this way (extraction / behaviour of constituents)

    Home preparation following this recipe is mainly educational and cultural; it should not be assumed to match the extractive or safety profile of registered medicines or standardized extracts. Check specific effects, drug interactions, and contraindications on the herb card and with your clinician if you use prescription drugs.

    What is typically released
    orientační domácí extrakce — profil závisí na teplotě, čase řezu a poměrech
    Solvent / water
    mediální složení (voda, alkohol, olej, med…) viz jednotlivé kroky
    After preparation
    po přípravě uchovávej hygienicky a podle typu výrobku (chlad, světlo, alkohol)

    Extra literature for the recipe

  • Herbal wine(Flower)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Maceration in wine alcohol; home distilling and liquor law are sensitive topics.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Herbal wine combines plant material with wine as the maceration medium. Alcohol and wine acids change extraction over time. Home distillation or spirit production is legally regulated — this text is a general description, not guidance to circumvent rules.

    Storage, wine oxidation, and bench hygiene all affect results.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Procedure (recipe)

    Hawthorn flower macerate in wine

    About 35 min · Difficulty: Advanced

    1. Fill a clean bottle about one fifth with flowers and cover with good red or white wine.
    2. Macerate 2–3 weeks in a cool place, strain — use only sparingly in drops.
    3. Heart medicines and low blood pressure — consult a doctor; no driving with alcohol.

    Why this way (extraction / behaviour of constituents)

    Home preparation following this recipe is mainly educational and cultural; it should not be assumed to match the extractive or safety profile of registered medicines or standardized extracts. Check specific effects, drug interactions, and contraindications on the herb card and with your clinician if you use prescription drugs.

    What is typically released
    orientační domácí extrakce — profil závisí na teplotě, čase řezu a poměrech
    Solvent / water
    mediální složení (voda, alkohol, olej, med…) viz jednotlivé kroky
    After preparation
    po přípravě uchovávej hygienicky a podle typu výrobku (chlad, světlo, alkohol)

    Extra literature for the recipe

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

Related guides in the library

  • Traditional folk context

    General

    The herb appears in older folk customs referenced on Czech cards. This note is cultural memory and seasonal storytelling — not a dosing guide, clinical indication, or substitute for the safety section.

    Form:
    různé
    Claim strength:
    Tradition
    Source note:
    Cultural framing only.

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified
The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature
Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence
Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings
First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence
Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence
Stronger design or consistency of results within the study’s stated limits.
Review article
A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text
Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study
Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study
Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study
Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial
Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial
Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study
A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review
Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis
Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)
Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations)
Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

  • Evidence summary (full translation pending): O ucincich a bezpecnosti existuje odborna literatura; zaznam je orientacni a nenahrazuje peci odbornika.

    Evidence level not specifiedNarrative / expert text

    Limitations: Limitations (translation pending): Seed katalogu — dopln konkretni studie podle obsahu.

    Vyhledávání studií (PubMed apod.)

  • Evidence summary (full translation pending): EMA HMPC pro hloh list s kvetem (folium cum flore); caj jen z kvetu je pribuzna domaci forma — regulacni text primarne pokryva list+kvet.

    Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2016

    Preparation form in the study: infusion

    Active compound / focus: flavonoidy, proanthokyandidy (dle dokumentu)

    Limitations: Limitations (translation pending): Kardiovaskularni potize vylucuje lekar; dokument neni navod k lecbe diagnozy.

    Dose note (from literature): Dosage notes (translation pending): Viz indikace a vekove limity v PDF.

    EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) — European Medicines Agency

    EMA: Final assessment report on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • Safety information (full translation pending)Moderate severityInteractions / medicines

    This warning is being translated to English. Czech editor text: Srdecni glykosidy a leciva na krevni tlak Hloh se v literature objevuje u interakci s nekterymi leky na srdce a tlak — konzultuj odbornika pri soucasnem uzivani leku.