The magic of Heritx and the hawthorn 🧚
The hawthorn - magic tree
Today we turn our attention to the hawthorn tree/shrub, whose flowers, leaves and berries are ingredients in some of our elixirs.In many cultures, the hawthorn is called a magical tree. And yet it is often underestimated by its inconspicuous image.
Its white flowers are delicate and lie like a breeze above the densely branched thorny branches. They produce small red fruits much later in the year, which are looked forward to by birds, who also love the dense branches, which are good for building nests. It is also amazing that the hawthorn can live up to 500 years.
The hawthorn bush played an important role in many eras and appeared early in mythological tales and legends throughout Europe.
In the Celts it belonged together with oak and ash to the three holy trees in which elves and fairies were at home.
In Ireland one believes still today that one should not touch a lonely hawthorn tree, because one fears the revenge of the fairies and some road was rather led in the curve around such a tree around it not to have to cut down. However, whoever had such a tree on his land was sure of happiness and prosperity.
Merlin, the most important wizard in Great Britain and advisor to King Arthur, was bewitched by the fairy Viviane after she coaxed his magic powers from him, and now sleeps for all time under a hawthorn bush.
Sleeping Beauty is said to have been put into an enchanted sleep by a hawthorn thorn and slept for 100 years in her castle protected by hawthorn hedges.
In the Middle Ages, when someone had to leave his homestead, he took with him his staff of hawthorn, which gave protection in the supernatural sense.
Hawthorn = Crataegus = Greek: strong; defensive, hard.
From it arose the druid's staff and later the bishop's staff, as a strong defensive magic staff.
Hawthorn in medicine
Although hawthorn, like many other plants, was already discovered for medicinal purposes thousands of years ago in China, and the Indians in North America recognized hawthorn as a panacea for the general promotion of health, it was not until the 14th century that the authors of the various herbal books described the beneficial effects of hawthorn on the heart, circulation and nerves. During the lifetime of Paracelsus (1493-1541), wine with hawthorn was a very well-known remedy for heart complaints. It took until the end of the 19th century until the positive effects of hawthorn on heart and circulation were scientifically studied.
Hawthorn is an unconditional and strong supporter of the heart, there are no time restrictions on its use and it is free of side effects, which is also rather the exception in herbal remedies.
Leaves, flowers and berries of hawthorn in the various dosage forms leads to an increase in cardiac strength and acceleration of conduction of excitation at the heart. Due to its vasodilatory properties, hawthorn leads to an increase in blood flow to the coronary vessels. This in turn improves the oxygen supply to the heart. Thus, the cardiac activity is increased.
Hawthorn on Fartàritx
This power and strength of heart has been recognized and used for many hundreds of years up here in the mountains of Fartàritx, strengthening the resilience of the different cultures that have epochally inhabited the Tramuntana.
We add this heart-strengthening, blood pressure-balancing and vasodilating effect of hawthorn in its purest form to our elixirs, such as RESILIENCIA and SENSUALITAT, along with other powerful herbs of the Tramuntana, which we will continue to tell you about over time.
Simple preparation
Your morning routine...
...can be supported in a strengthening and beneficial way e.g. by a drink with RESILIENCIA:
1 tablespoon on a glass of warm water drunk sip by sip right after getting up slowly wakes up your digestive system and makes you ready to eat.
Honey and apple cider vinegar, on the basis of which our elixirs are made, also have an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effect. They have a balancing effect on the mucosal flora and thus support the start of the day.