Plant Comparison

Hawthorn vs Tormentil

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 AHawthornCrataegus monogynaRosaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BTormentilPotentilla erectaRosaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Hawthorn and Tormentil: both belong to the Rosaceae family; they share 3 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, inflammation (general), skin irritation); 1 pharmacological action in common.

HawthornTormentil

Constituents22

Pharmacological actions43

Indicated uses67

Safety notes22

Cited sources2115

Indicated uses

Only Hawthorn

Cancer (anticancer research)Cardiovascular / heart healthInsomnia / sleeplessness

Shared (3)

Arthritis / joint painInflammation (general)Skin irritation

Only Tormentil

DiarrhoeaInflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Sore throatWounds

Pharmacological actions

Only Hawthorn

Anticancer (preclinical)AntioxidantSedative / sleep support

Shared (1)

Anti-inflammatory

Only Tormentil

AntidiarrhoealAstringent

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Hawthorn	Tormentil	Verdict
Arthritis / joint pain	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Inflammation (general)	1/10	3/10	Stronger for Tormentil
Skin irritation	1/10	6/10	Stronger for Tormentil

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

Flavonoids (catechins, quercetin, vitexin) and anthocyanins^{[1, 4]}

Principal cardioprotective and antioxidant polyphenols characterised by chemical profiling of leaf, flower and fruit.

FlavonoidsCatechinsQuercetinAnthocyanins

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins^[4]

Contribute to the vasoactive and antioxidant effects, the basis for extract standardisation.

Proanthocyanidins

Tannins (ellagitannins such as agrimoniin, and catechin-type tannins)^{[14, 15]}

The main astringent active constituents.

TanninsCatechins

Flavonoids and phenolic acids^[15]

Antioxidant supporting constituents.

Phenolic acidsFlavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[4, 13, 14, 15]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^[1]

Antioxidant^{[4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]}

Sedative / sleep support^{[13, 14, 15]}

Anti-inflammatory^{[1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 14, 15]}

Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and inflammation of the mouth and throat

Antidiarrhoeal^{[1, 4, 8, 14, 15]}

Astringent for mild diarrhoea (ellagitannins tighten the gut lining) - in a paediatric RCT, tormentil root extract shortened rotavirus diarrhoea (3 vs 5 days) and reduced rehydration needs

Astringent^{[2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15]}

Astringent for mild diarrhoea (ellagitannins tighten the gut lining) - in a paediatric RCT, tormentil root extract shortened rotavirus diarrhoea (3 vs 5 days) and reduced rehydration needs

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cancer (anticancer research)^[1]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Inflammation (general)^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

Skin irritation^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Arthritis / joint pain^{[14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Diarrhoea^{[1, 4, 8, 14, 15]}Moderate · 5/10

Astringent for mild diarrhoea (ellagitannins tighten the gut lining) - in a paediatric RCT, tormentil root extract shortened rotavirus diarrhoea (3 vs 5 days) and reduced rehydration needs

Evidence: 5

Label: Diarrhoea

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)^{[9, 11, 15]}Limited · 3/10

Supportive in inflammatory bowel disease / ulcerative colitis (limited trial evidence)

Evidence: 3

Label: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Inflammation (general)^{[4, 10, 14, 15]}Limited · 3/10

Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and inflammation of the mouth and throat

Evidence: 3

Label: Inflammation (general)

Skin irritation^{[6, 8, 10, 14, 15]}Moderate · 6/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 6

Label: Skin irritation

Sore throat^{[7, 13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 2/10

Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and inflammation of the mouth and throat

Evidence: 2

Label: Sore throat

Wounds^{[8, 14, 15]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 5

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[13, 14, 15]}Caution

Generally well tolerated. Hawthorn should not replace prescribed cardiac medications without medical supervision. May potentiate the effects of cardiac glycosides (digoxin), antihypertensive drugs, and coronary dilators. Not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Mild side effects (nausea, dizziness, GI upset) occasionally reported.

Safety note^{[13, 14, 15, 16]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates hawthorn as +++ — one of the most clinically supported cardiovascular herbs. Clinical evidence (score 2) supports its use for decreasing cardiac output (NYHA functional Stage II heart failure), as recognized by Commission E. Key activities include vasodilation, positive inotropic effects, and antioxidant protection of vascular tissue. Dose: 160–900 mg standardized leaf/flower extract (containing 18.75% oligomeric proanthocyanidins) daily. Duke emphasizes that hawthorn should not replace conventional heart failure therapy, and therapeutic effects may take 4–8 weeks to emerge. Mild interactions with cardiac glycosides (digitalis) are possible (Duke, 2002).

Safety note^[14]Info

Tannin-rich: high or prolonged intake may cause stomach upset or constipation and can reduce the absorption of iron and some medicines taken at the same time.

Safety note^[14]Caution

Diarrhoea persisting more than 3-4 days, or with fever or blood in the stool, needs medical care. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended in the absence of data.

External Ids

Gbif: 9220780

Wikidata: Q161511

Gbif: 5365576

Wikidata: Q160098

Botanical Description

Small deciduous tree or large shrub, densely thorny, with deeply lobed, glossy leaves (more deeply cut than midland hawthorn). Clusters of small, five-petalled white flowers with a strong, musky scent appear in spring ('May blossom'), followed by small red berries (haws), each containing a single seed (nutlet) - the origin of the species name monogyna.^[4]

Height: 5-10 m

Habit: Small deciduous, densely thorny tree or large shrub

Leaves: Deeply lobed, glossy (more deeply cut than C. laevigata)

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

Stem: Densely thorny branches; grey, fissured bark on older wood

Root: Deep, spreading root system

Fruit: Small red berry (haw), containing a single seed

Flowering Period: May

Low, sprawling to semi-erect perennial herb (Rosaceae) with wiry stems. Leaves are palmate, typically with 4-5 leaflets and large leaf-like stipules that give the impression of more leaflets. Flowers are small, yellow and four-petalled - unusual among Potentilla species, most of which have five petals. The thick, woody rhizome is reddish inside when cut, the origin of the old name 'bloodroot' for this European species.^[14]

Height: Low, sprawling to semi-erect, stems to about 30-45 cm

Habit: Low, sprawling to semi-erect perennial herb

Leaves: Palmate, typically 4-5 leaflets, with large leaf-like stipules

Flowers: Small, yellow, four-petalled (unusual among Potentilla species)

Stem: Wiry, sprawling to semi-erect

Root: Thick, woody rhizome, reddish inside when cut

Fruit: Small dry achenes (typical Rosaceae)

Flowering Period: May-September

Habitat

One of the commonest hedgerow and scrub trees of Europe, growing in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrub and pasture on a wide range of soils; native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.^[4]

Native to Europe and western Asia, common in acidic grassland, heath, moorland, open woodland and pastures on poor, well-drained soils.^[14]

Harvesting

Flowers are picked as they open in May, leaves are picked with the young flowering shoots, and the ripe red berries (haws) are gathered in autumn after the first frosts soften them slightly; all three parts are traditionally combined.^[4]

Parts: Flower, Fruit, Leaf

Season: Flower and leaf in May; fruit in autumn

The rhizome is dug in autumn or early spring, when tannin content is highest, then cleaned and dried.^[14]

Parts: Rhizome

Season: Autumn or early spring

Traditional Uses

Common hawthorn shares the same long cardiovascular and calming tradition as midland hawthorn, used across European herbal medicine as a heart tonic for mild circulatory complaints, palpitations and nervous tension, and remains one of the most clinically studied cardiovascular botanicals.^[4]

Tormentil rhizome has an official European herbal-monograph tradition for mild diarrhoea and inflammation of the mouth and throat, reflecting its long folk use as a powerful astringent for gut and mucous-membrane complaints. Modern trials confirm its ellagitannin-rich rhizome shortens the duration of infectious (rotavirus) diarrhoea.^{[8, 14, 15]}

Preparations

Standardised extract^[4]

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

Decoction^[14]

Dried rhizome simmered in water, the standard astringent preparation for diarrhoea.

Tincture^[15]

Alcoholic extract, taken diluted or used as a gargle/mouthwash.

Gargle/mouthwash^[15]

Diluted decoction or tincture used for sore throat and mouth inflammation.

Dosage

Standardised extract^[13]

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^[13]

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.

Decoction/tincture^{[14, 15]}

EMA/ESCOP guidance suggests around 4-6 g dried rhizome (or an equivalent decoction), divided into 2-3 doses daily, for diarrhoea, or a diluted tincture used as a gargle several times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-0785, REF-0786, REF-0787, REF-1709, REF-1710, REF-1711, REF-1712, REF-1713, REF-1714, REF-1715, REF-1716, REF-1717

REF-0970, REF-0971, REF-0972, REF-0973, REF-0974, REF-0975, REF-0976, REF-0602, REF-0977, REF-0978, REF-2592, REF-2593, REF-2594

Drug Class Interactions

Safety note^{[17, 18, 19]}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.