A deep-dive into the world of
Hawthorns
Introduction
Hawthorn is a plant that has a significant role in British history and folklore. It is important for May Day and is believed to be home to fairies. Superstition states that bringing hawthorn home can lead to sickness and death but read on and learn how it can treat disease.
Culinary
Is hawthorn edible?The leaves, berries and flowers are all edible. The only part of the hawthorn that is not safe is the seed, which can give you cyanide poisoning.
What can you make?A herbal tea can be brewed using the leaves. The berries and flowers have been used to make jellies, liqueurs, and ketchup. Follow the link to find four fun recipes using the berries.
You can forage the berries in early to mid-autumn. Do this as a fun day out with friends or family! Just ensure you leave plenty of berries on each tree you harvest for the surrounding wildlife to enjoy and be careful of the sharp thorns.
Species of Hawthorn
Crataegus are a large an often under-looked genus in the ecological world.
It’s home to hundreds of species of trees, bushes, and shrubs, more commonly known as hawthorn.
Crataegus monogyna
The species name is derived from the greek terms ‘mono–’, meaning one, and ‘–gyna’ meaning female/fertility.
It refers to the single pistil of the hawthorn flower. A pistil is the part responsible for reproduction (creating more and more hawthorn plants).
The Crataegus genus is believed to have started out in Eurasia during a time period known as the "Eocene Epoch”, when new life began to emerge across the world.
Today, common hawthorn is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, where the winters are long and cold and the summers don’t get exceedingly hot.
Health and Hawthorn
You will have previously learned that hawthorn has been conceived as an omen for death. As you will discover from the following page, this could not be more ironic!
In both traditional and modern medicine, hawthorn and its products have a great number of useful properties. Have a go at guessing what some of these are:
Below are three examples of how scientists have used hawthorn in research - hover your mouse over the words to find out more about hawthorn can be used in medicine!
Hawthorn leaves have been useful to scientists, as they contain types of pigments known as flavonoids, allowing them to use the leaves to create antimicrobial products. One of these had been found to be most effective against the bacteria species Klebsiella pnuemoniae - which can cause pneumonia!
The fruit of hawthorn itself contains a substance called phenolic acid, which scientists explain can increase the number of white blood cells (these are very important to the immune system) according to what they had discovered in mice!
Hawthorn seeds contain a group of chemicals known as a lignans, which have been found to be effective in acting against brain deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease.
The magical world of
Neem
Antimicrobial Plant - Neem
Neem is a tree that grows in warm climates like India, Africa and Trinidad and Tobago.
Its leaves, seeds, and bark are used for many things because they are very helpful. Neem has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. It is sometimes called the "village pharmacy" because it has so many uses. The neem tree is known for its bitter taste, but its benefits are worth it.
Neem is like a superhero tree, helping people and animals in many ways. Neem is like a natural medicine cabinet that can help with many different problems. The tree is very strong and can survive in tough conditions. Neem is also good for the environment because it is a natural and sustainable resource. The tree has beautiful white flowers and small green fruits that look like olives.
Neem is a special tree that is respected in many cultures for its healing properties.
Uses of Neem
Neem leaves can be used to make tea that is good for your health. Neem oil is used in soaps, shampoos, and lotions because it can help with skin problems. Neem can also be used to keep bugs away from plants and animals. Some people even use neem to brush their teeth because it can help keep them healthy.
Neem is very good at fighting off bad germs that can make us sick. It can also help with things like stomach problems and fevers. Neem is safe for most people to use, but it's always good to ask an adult before trying something new. Farmers use neem to protect their crops from pests without using harmful chemicals.
Learning about neem can teach us how nature provides us with everything we need to stay healthy and happy.
Sources
Woolf, J. (2020). Britain’s trees: A treasury of traditions, superstitions, remedies and literature. Pavilion Books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus
Nabavi SF, Habtemariam S, Ahmed T, Sureda A, Daglia M, Sobarzo-Sánchez E, Nabavi SM. Polyphenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq.: From Chemistry to Medical Applications. Nutrients. 2015; 7(9):7708-7728. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7095361
https://mynaturenook.com/hawthorn-berry-recipes/
https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/hawthorn/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9498108/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10876-021-02054-z#additional-information
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31745939/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14786419.2017.1399378
https://www.britannica.com/plant/neem-tree
Made with ❤️ from Guildford to Trinidad and Tobago