Healing and Magical Properties of the Hawthorn Tree

Physical Characteristics

The flowering hawthorn tree can grow over 40 feet high. It's often cut to bush size though. It's known in folklore to have been used for protective magic as well as for spells of harm. The appearance of the knotty, gnarled branches may have added to this use.

One of hawthorn's common names is the May tree because of the delicate white blossoms that burst forth in May in cooler climates. The flowers then give way to red berries which are used in magic and natural medicine.

Hawthorn is known to aid in digestion. The berries have been used for heart disease as early as the first century. Early American doctors used them for the respiratory and circulatory problems.

Many parts of the tree are edible including the berries, leaves, flowers and seeds. The leaves are used like greens for salads and the berries are commonly made into jellies and jams.

Hawthorn is used in Chinese medicine for digestive problems which fall under the umbrella term of food stagnation. This healing system classifies digestive ailments under the middle burner area of the body which includes the spleen, liver and stomach. It's also used for amenorrhea (absent menstruation) and postpartum pain.

Legend tells it that hawthorn is tree of fairies as it has grown on known sidhe (aka faery or fairy) mounds and other sacred sites. Bad luck is said to befall one who cuts down a hawthorn tree and even to those who brought hawthorn into the house.

Hawthorn's is a symbol of the May Queen in nature religions, Wicca and goddess-centered spirituality. May is the time the Goddess is most fertile and hawthorn is considered to be highly energetic. But as I mentioned, it has a darker side.

In her book Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom, Erynn Rowan Laurie states that one of the main uses of hawthorn in magic was for cursing. Her book is about the Irish writing system ogam. Hawthorn is associated with the letter h-Uath. Her keywords for this letter are terror and despair. Since it was a thorny tree, it could be used to cut. Metaphorically, it represents also the use of words to cut someone down.

But as is often the case with magical herbs, those things that harm can also be used as a protective shield. Parts of the tree can be used in talismans and worn on the body for protection. Hawthorn wands can bring focus in protective circles and spells.

It's wise to be careful with hawthorn magic. Make sure you have a specific purpose in mind before attempting to use it for protection. You don't want this thorny shrub to proverbially bite you in the rear.

Sources consulted:

• Blamires, Steve. Celtic Tree Mysteries. Llewellyn Worldwide. 1997.
• Hawthorn. University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011.
• Hawthorne Tree. GardenGuides.com, 2010.
• L'Orange, L.Ac., Darlena. Herbal Healing Secrets of the Orient. Prentice Hall. 1998.

Disclaimer: I'm not an herbalist. Please use caution with any herbal remedy especially if you are on other medication. The advice presented in this article is for informational purposes only and I claim no responsibility as to your use of herbal remedies.