Researchers suggest that patients with chronic heart disease may benefit from taking hawthorn extract.
People with heart disease tend to be unable to walk long distances as they suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue.
However, a review of ten studies involving 855 patients found that hawthorn extract tends to increase exercise tolerance, reduce the amount of oxygen consumed by the heart, and improve shortness of breath and fatigue.
The extract is made from the dried leaves, flowers and fruits of the hawthorn bush and is commonly used throughout Europe and the US.
Lead researcher Dr Ruoling Guo, an expert in complementary medicine at the UK's Peninsula Medical School, said: "There is good evidence that, when used alongside conventional therapy, hawthorn extract can bring additional benefits."
Co-author Dr Max Pittler, deputy director of complementary medicine at Peninsula, added: "If I had chronic heart failure, I certainly would consider (using) it."
The findings are published in the latest issue of the Cochrane Library.
Researchers suggest that patients with chronic heart disease may benefit from taking hawthorn extract.
