Plant Comparison

Midland Hawthorn vs Raspberry Leaf

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant

Second plant

Plant AMidland HawthornCrataegus laevigataRosaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BRaspberry LeafRubus idaeusRosaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Midland Hawthorn and Raspberry Leaf: both belong to the Rosaceae family; they share 2 indicated uses (menstrual cramps, skin irritation).

Midland HawthornRaspberry Leaf

Constituents23

Pharmacological actions43

Indicated uses76

Safety notes21

Cited sources2214

Indicated uses

Only Midland Hawthorn

Arthritis / joint painCardiovascular / heart healthInflammation (general)Insomnia / sleeplessnessMuscle spasm

Shared (2)

Menstrual crampsSkin irritation

Only Raspberry Leaf

DiarrhoeaPMS / premenstrual syndromePregnancy supportWounds

Pharmacological actions

Only Midland Hawthorn

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAntispasmodicSedative / sleep support

Shared (0)

none

Only Raspberry Leaf

AntidiarrhoealAstringentEmmenagogue / uterine tonic

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Midland Hawthorn	Raspberry Leaf	Verdict
Menstrual cramps	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Raspberry Leaf
Skin irritation	1/10	6/10	Stronger for Raspberry Leaf

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins and flavonoids^[5]

The principal cardioactive and antioxidant constituents, the basis for extract standardisation.

ProanthocyanidinsFlavonoidsQuercetin

Phenolic acids

Additional antioxidant constituents of the flower, leaf and fruit.

Phenolic acidsChlorogenic acid

Tannins^{[1, 8]}

Astringent constituents of the leaf.

Tannins

Flavonoids and the alkaloid fragarine^{[1, 2]}

Fragarine is the constituent proposed to give the uterine-toning effect.

FlavonoidsAlkaloids

Vitamin C and minerals^[1]

Nutritive constituents.

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[9, 15, 16]}

Antioxidant^{[2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16]}

Antispasmodic^{[2, 10, 11, 15, 16]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Sedative / sleep support^{[12, 15, 16]}

Antidiarrhoeal^[1]

Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins)

Astringent^[1]

Astringent for menstrual cramps (traditional); Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins)

Emmenagogue / uterine tonic^{[1, 7, 13, 14]}

Traditional uterine tonic taken in late pregnancy to tone the uterus and support labour - one small double-blind RCT found a shorter second stage of labour and fewer forceps deliveries (no effect on the first stage), alongside observational signals; robust proof is still lacking

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Inflammation (general)^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

Menstrual cramps^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Menstrual cramps

Muscle spasm^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Muscle spasm

Skin irritation^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Diarrhoea^[1]Moderate · 5/10

Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins)

Evidence: 5

Label: Diarrhoea

Menstrual cramps^{[1, 7, 11]}Moderate · 5/10

Astringent for menstrual cramps (traditional)

Evidence: 5

Label: Menstrual cramps

PMS / premenstrual syndrome^{[1, 11, 13, 14]}Good · 7/10

inferred from emmenagogue action

Evidence: 7

Label: PMS / premenstrual syndrome

Pregnancy support^{[1, 10]}Moderate · 6/10

Evidence: 6

Label: Pregnancy support

Skin irritation^{[1, 5, 9, 12]}Moderate · 6/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 6

Label: Skin irritation

Wounds^[1]Moderate · 5/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 5

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[15, 16]}Caution

Generally safe and well tolerated. High doses may cause low blood pressure and sedation. May interact with cardiac glycosides (digoxin) and antihypertensive drugs. Consult a physician before using with existing heart medications.

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17]}Info

Duke (2002) rates hawthorn (Crataegus spp., including C. laevigata) as a triple-plus herb (+++) with Commission E approval (score 2-3) for decreasing cardiac output in functional Stage II heart insufficiency (NYHA). Clinical evidence supports hawthorn standardized extracts (80-500 mg, standardized to flavonoids or procyanidins) for angina, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Hawthorn may potentiate digitalis and other cardiac medications and is not considered suitable for self-medication without professional guidance (Duke, 2002).

Safety note^{[1, 13]}Caution

Despite widespread popular use, there is no robust (randomised-trial) evidence of efficacy or safety. Use in pregnancy should be discussed with a midwife or doctor and is generally reserved for the last few weeks rather than early pregnancy.

External Ids

Gbif: 8252683

Wikidata: Q159553

Gbif: 2993094

Wikidata: Q12252383

Botanical Description

Small deciduous tree or large shrub with thorny branches and glossy, shallowly lobed leaves (less deeply cut than common hawthorn). Clusters of small, five-petalled white (occasionally pink) flowers with a strong scent appear in spring, followed by small red berries (haws), each usually containing two seeds (nutlets).^[1]

Height: 4-8 m

Habit: Small deciduous, thorny tree or large shrub

Leaves: Glossy, shallowly lobed (less deeply cut than C. monogyna)

Flowers: Clusters of small, five-petalled white to pink, strongly scented flowers

Stem: Thorny branches; grey, fissured bark on older wood

Root: Deep, spreading root system

Fruit: Small red berry (haw), usually with two seeds

Flowering Period: April-May

Deciduous, thicket-forming shrub (Rosaceae), 1-2 m tall, with upright, prickly, biennial canes (vegetative in the first year, fruiting in the second). Leaves are pinnate with 3-7 toothed leaflets, whitish-felted beneath. Small white, five-petalled flowers are followed by the aggregate red raspberry fruit, a cluster of drupelets.^[2]

Height: 1-2 m

Habit: Deciduous, thicket-forming shrub with biennial canes

Leaves: Pinnate, 3-7 toothed leaflets, whitish-felted beneath

Flowers: Small, white, five-petalled

Stem: Upright, prickly canes

Root: Spreading suckering root system

Fruit: Aggregate red raspberry (cluster of drupelets)

Flowering Period: May-June

Habitat

Grows in woodland, woodland edges, hedgerows and scrub, typically on richer, damper soils than common hawthorn; native to western and central Europe.^[1]

Native to Europe and northern Asia, widely cultivated as a fruit crop and naturalised on woodland edges, hedgerows and disturbed ground in temperate regions.^[2]

Harvesting

Flowers are picked as they open in spring, leaves are picked with the young flowering shoots, and the ripe red berries (haws) are gathered in autumn; all three parts are used, often combined, in hawthorn preparations.^[1]

Parts: Flower, Fruit, Leaf

Season: Flower and leaf in spring; fruit in autumn

Leaves are picked fresh during the growing season - before or during flowering is considered optimal - and dried; fruit is picked when fully ripe in summer.^[2]

Parts: Leaf

Season: Leaf before/during flowering; fruit in summer

Traditional Uses

Hawthorn flower, leaf and berry have a long European tradition, and substantial modern clinical study, as a cardiovascular tonic - supporting heart function, mild circulatory complaints and calming nervous tension - reflected in its traditional use for 'heart strengthening' and its modern standing as a well-studied botanical for mild heart failure symptoms.^[1]

Raspberry leaf has a long, very widely known folk tradition as a 'pregnancy tea', taken in the final weeks of pregnancy as a uterine tonic to prepare for labour. Observational studies and a small randomised controlled trial suggest a possible modest effect on labour duration, though robust proof is still lacking.^{[1, 13]}

Preparations

Standardised extract^[1]

Leaf-and-flower extract standardised to flavonoid or oligomeric proanthocyanidin content, taken as tablets or capsules; the best-studied clinical form.

Infusion (tea)^[1]

Dried leaf steeped in hot water - the classic late-pregnancy preparation.

Standardised leaf extract^[2]

Used in some observational and clinical research.

Dosage

Standardised extract^[14]

The EU herbal monograph on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore gives dry extracts in divided daily doses of 240-900 mg (single dose 80-450 mg) or, for one quantified extract, 570-1750 mg daily (single dose 190-350 mg), in adults and elderly. If symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks a doctor should be consulted, and hawthorn is never used as a substitute for prescribed heart medication without medical supervision. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Herbal tea^[14]

The EU herbal monograph gives 1-2 g of the comminuted leaf and flower in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, up to 4 times daily (maximum 6 g daily), in adults and elderly. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Infusion (tea)^{[1, 13]}

Popular guidance and observational studies generally describe starting raspberry-leaf tea or tablets in the last few weeks of pregnancy, at roughly 1-3 cups of tea daily; use should be discussed with a midwife or doctor given the lack of robust trial evidence. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-0782, REF-0783, REF-0784, REF-1779, REF-1780, REF-1781, REF-1782, REF-1783, REF-1784, REF-1785, REF-1786, REF-1787, REF-1788

REF-0497, REF-1536, REF-1537, REF-1538, REF-1539, REF-1540, REF-1541, REF-1542, REF-1543, REF-2574, REF-2575, REF-2576

Drug Class Interactions

Safety note^{[18, 19, 20]}Caution

Drug Class: cardiac-glycosides

Mechanism: Hawthorn has its own positive effect on the heart (a Cochrane review found it improves heart-failure symptoms and exercise tolerance) and shares P-glycoprotein handling with digoxin, so combining it with digoxin or other cardiac-glycoside heart drugs should be supervised even though a controlled study found no major change in digoxin levels.