Ease a Tight Chest: The Hawthorn Berry Tea Recipe

That tight, heavy feeling in the chest that sometimes comes with elevated blood pressure is exactly what hawthorn berry tea has traditionally been used for — a remedy with centuries of use in heart-health folk medicine.

What you'll need

• 1 tablespoon dried hawthorn berries
• 1 cup water
• Honey to taste, optional

How to make it

1. Add the dried hawthorn berries to the water in a small pot.
2. Bring to a gentle simmer and let cook for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Strain into a mug, add honey if you'd like.
4. Drink once daily, in the evening when the tightness tends to show up most.

Why people say it works

Hawthorn has been used in European and Chinese herbal traditions for heart and circulatory support for centuries. Modern research on hawthorn extract has focused mostly on heart function, with some studies also noting a mild effect on blood pressure, though the evidence here is less robust than for hibiscus or beet juice.

This is a traditional home remedy, not a medical treatment. Hawthorn can interact with heart medications, so check with your doctor before drinking it regularly if you take any heart or blood pressure prescriptions.