Is Is Hawthorn Safe To Take With Aspirin? Safe To Take With Aspirin?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses combining aspirin and hawthorn.
Can you take a small dose of aspirin with Hawthorn berry tea?
Aug 23, 2023- Hawthorn may have mild blood-thinning effects, but evidence is inconsistent and the actual risk when combined with aspirin remains unclear. Healthy people taking low-dose aspirin (81mg) with typical hawthorn doses are likely safe, but you should watch for signs of bleeding and talk to your doctor first if you have a history of bleeding problems or take other blood-thinning medications.
Answer
There is some evidence suggesting that hawthorn may have mild blood-thinning effects, which could be a concern when combined with drugs that also have blood-thinning effects, like aspirin.
However, the findings from studies focusing on hawthorn's effects are inconsistent, and the clinical significance of any potential interaction between hawthorn and medications with blood-thinning properties remains uncertain.
For instance, an observational study reported that individuals who consumed hawthorn shortly before undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or valve replacement exhibited a 10% incidence of postoperative bleeding, compared to a 1% incidence among those who didn't take hawthorn extract. This indicates that hawthorn may increase the risk of bleeding.
However, another study focused on a specific preparation of dried hawthorn leaves and flowers (Crataesor, Soria Natural Lab). This study showed that a dosage of 800 mg taken three times daily for 15 days did not significantly affect platelet aggregation or levels of thromboxane B2 (a metabolite of thromboxane A2) in healthy humans. In other words, there were no blood-thinning effects noted.
Approaching the Interaction
Although concerns about the blood-thinning effects of hawthorn have been noted in animal and laboratory research (mentioned in the section above), the available information remains limited. Specific hawthorn-drug interaction studies are extremely limited.
Overall, individuals in good health with no history of cardiac or bleeding issues are likely to experience minimal to no ill effects from combining 81mg of aspirin and typical doses of hawthorn (whether in tea or supplement form). However, it's important to exercise caution and always be vigilant for signs and symptoms of bleeding.
If you are taking other blood-thinning drugs, like Plavix, there may be more to be concerned about.
Considering Individual Factors
As a precautionary measure, it's advisable to consult with your doctor before making any modifications to your medication regimen, especially if you have had serious health in issues in the past.
As mentioned, it is unlikely that combining hawthorn and a 'baby' aspirin (81mg) will cause an unwanted effect, but individual health factors and medical history are important to consider.
Final Thoughts
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References & sources
- Hawthorn Herb Increases the Risk of Bleeding after Cardiac Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach — PubMed
- Effects of hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers — PubMed
- Inhibition of platelet aggregation and 5-HT release by extracts of Australian plants used traditionally as headache treatments — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Blood-thinning effects
- The ability of a substance to reduce the blood's tendency to clot or form blockages.
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
- A surgical procedure that creates an alternate route for blood flow around a blocked heart artery.
- Postoperative bleeding
- Bleeding that occurs in a patient after a surgical procedure has been completed.
- Platelet aggregation
- The clumping together of blood cells called platelets, which is the first step in forming a blood clot.
- Thromboxane B2
- A chemical messenger in the body that helps promote blood clotting.
- Metabolite
- A substance produced when the body breaks down or processes another chemical.
- Medication regimen
- A prescribed schedule or combination of medicines that a person takes regularly.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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