A Heart Tonic

We are heading into Spring – I guess technically we have been in Spring since March 21 – and it is often associated with Spring Fever, heartaches, stress, or an abundance of love.  A mix bag of emotions can occur which in turn can wreak havoc on the heart. 

A healthy heart is a happy heart

I recently read an outstanding book called The Story Collector.  The author is from Ireland (and you all know my love of Ireland). It incorporates Irish folklores of Fairies and their infamous Hawthorn Tree.  There seems to be a lot of history wrapped around fairies and Hawthorne trees and if you meet any true Irishman (or woman), I believe they would agree (at least from reading up on this folklore) – that these folklores and tales indeed have some truth.  

What is so endearing about the Hawthorne Tree?

• In Ireland, they are considered sacred and are believed to be inhabited by fairies or other mystical beings 
• They are treated with respect and it is considered bad luck to cut them down or cause them harm
• They symbolize love and protection and brides often wear hawthorn blossoms in their hair or in their bouquets
• If you tie a ribbon around a hawthorn tree – it is asking for prayers to be granted
• If cut, it may cause death or illness.  In the book I read, a highway was actually reconstructed to be formed around a Hawthorne tree instead of removing the tree and having the road continue straight.  It was said that it would cause misfortune to anyone using the road.  

I find it so fascinating how the Irish find this tree so sacred.  They will protect this tree on all costs.  When I think about that thought, how often do we protect something we love at all costs?  With spring encompassing a mix bag of emotions and qualities for some – it seems that some people allow their hearts to just toss aside feelings or attachments that they no longer care to cherish.  They don’t protect or take care of their heart as well as the hearts of their once loved ones.  

Maybe they need a heart tonic.

Linking the Hawthorne tree again – its berries actually have medicinal qualities for the heart.  The berries can help lower cholesterol and manage blood pressure.  As told in The Storyteller, not only are the berries beneficial for heart health, they are also beneficial on an emotional level – like a DYI heart repair kit.  A more resilent heart helps us bounce back from heartache and venture forward on a new path without fear and heartsickness.  In other words, hawthorne berries can help heal a broken heart. 

Isn’t that thought wonderful?

Isn’t that possibility (of the berries being a heart tonic) endearing?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could indeed heal a broken heart?

I am going to choose to believe YES!  That a broken heart can be healed.  That the Hawthorne berries have all those above mentioned qualities and if ingested, your heart will not only be healthier, but also happier. 

Maybe we all should drink some Hawthorne Berry tea each spring and in doing so, there probably would be less ‘spring fever’ of breakups and more ‘spring fever’ of makeups.  I would like to believe that there is something of truth in these old Irish folklores because there is a lot of wisdom in these stories.  Wisdom that we could ALL learn from.  

So, if you are in need of some heart health – pick up some hawthorn berries (it’s a great tea). Not only will you be doing your heart a favour in keeping it physically healthy with this great heart tonic, you will be also keeping it emotionally healthy by protecting it from heartache.  

Sidenote:  A note of caution. According to medical news today, the Hawthorn Berry seeds have cyanide and are not to be ingested.  Which is actually quite interesting.  These berries have so much benefit to them, but their seeds can be quite harmful.  Quite symbolic to how some people are.  We all have sweetness inside, but sometimes, we have harmful seeds in us that can truly hurt someone.