Few herbs are so steeped in folklore as the Hawthorn. In fact, Hawthorn is only one of the many names for this mythical tree. Also known as Mayflower and Hedgethorn, it was the mythology of this tree that attracted me before I knew of it's medicinal properties.
Both the flowers and the fruits are medicinal and have long histories of use in herbalism. This week, like I have many springs past, I spent each morning hand harvesting the flowering tops - the flowers plus two to three adjacent leaves.
I often read in books that the berry is most sought after for medicine. Personally I prefer the fresh flowers and their tender leaves and include them in many heart-healing tea mixes.
The berries, which ripen in fall, are ideal used in decoctions or tinctures and much care must be made to be sure they are sufficiently dried before storage. For this reason tincturing the berries fresh or making them into jams is a good option. The berries are a subject to be considered in fall. Right here and now, is the Hawthorn flower harvest.
Hawthorn flowers, leaves, and berries are all considered cardiac tonics. When consumed fresh, in jams, or teas, the work on the heart and improve circulation throughout the whole body.
Just after harvesting the flowers in the morning, I lay them out in baskets and over clean cotton so that they dry out completely before being stored in sealed jars or packaged.
Spiritual Medicine:
Hawthorn is recommended to support the emotions during, or after, heartbreak. Even an emotionally trying time can be softened by hawthorn tincture. Living through loss, grief, or prolonged periods of stress take a toll on the physical organs and also the nervous system and spirit which are all so intertwined.
Drinking a calming tea including hawthorn flowers can help take off the edge of living through stress. The act of slowing down, making tea, and then taking time to enjoy it in itself will help relieve tension in the body. And lucky for us there are many herbs besides hawthorn that can help us recover the anxieties of living.
The Folklore of Hawthorn:
This tree and the medicine it has to share has long been associated with the Fae as well as witches good and bad. The diversity of mythology surrounding hawthorn is all over the place and even contrary to one another. Some say that witches are repelled by this tree. Others say that you know you are approaching a good witches' home when you reach the edge of town, pass the hedgerows and cross the border of hawthorn trees.
The Fair Folk, also known as the Fae or Faeries are said to dance around the tree, especially during liminal times and pagan festivals. I haven't yet seen an elemental with my own eyes but I can say that my cats have always had a special relationship with our hawthorns and were with me during the harvests, and even seek out this magical tree on their own.
I wonder what they see when they look into the wild branches of the hawthorn?