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Witch Hazel - Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name of Witch Hazel: Hamamelis virginiana - from the name Hippocrates gave to medlars. The common name is from the Anglo-Saxon word for flexible, wytch, because of the Native Americans’ use of witch hazel for making bows.
Other Common Names: Hazel nut, snapping hazel, tobacco wood, hamamelis water, spotted alder, and winterbloom.
Habitat: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) prefers northern-facing slopes, riverbanks, along fences, and other places with shade and well-drained soil. This plant ranges all over the lower 48 states of the US and up into Nova Scotia and Ontario. Other species include vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), which is found in the Ozarks and only blooms in winter, as well as Hamamelis japonica and Hamamelis molis, which are grown all over the US but originated in Japan and China. Today, witch hazel can also be found throughout much of southern and central Europe.
Plant Description: Witch hazel is a deciduous shrub that boasts compact clumps of yellow or orange-red flowers with long, thin petals and hard black seed pods. The plant reaches about 15 feet in height and flowers in the fall or winter. Some varieties, such as Hamamelis virginiana, have green, broad-leafed foliage. The seed pods do not drop, but explode when ripe to scatter seeds. Aside from medicinal uses, the attractive witch hazel is used as a decorative shrub and the seed pods (hazel nuts) are a popular food item.
Plant Parts Used: Bark, leaves, twigs, seed pods.
 Witch Hazel Leaves (Click on image to enlarge)
| Witch Hazel Powder and Extract
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Therapeutic Uses, Claims and Benefits of Witch Hazel
- Witch hazel is used to stop bleeding, and is believed to be effective on both internal and external injuries. This has been used to stop the bleeding on cuts, reduce bruising directly after an injury, and as part of the treatment for stomach ulcers. It is believed that the tannins present in witch hazel (especially the bark), along with various oils, help speed coagulation.
 The Herb Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana) - Because of its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, witch hazel is approved by the FDA as an ingredient in over-the-counter medications to treat hemorrhoids and varicose veins. What causes anti-inflammatory reactions is still under investigation, though several possible causes have been found. These include pronounced activity against superoxide, a property which may be valuable in fighting wrinkles and aging. Additionally, the resin, flavonoids, and procyanadins in witch hazel are known to soothe hemorrhoids.
- Both extracts and poultices of witch hazel have shown to be effective in soothing the pain and itching of insect bites and stings.
- Various Native American tribes have used witch hazel to reduce swelling, soothe sore muscles, treat scrapes and sores, and ease back pain. They also believed that it was effective in treating tumors.
- Marketed as an extract since the mid-1800’s, witch hazel (combined with a small amount of alcohol) is widely used to treat boils, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), burns, and cuts. Additionally, the extract is a choice ingredient for personal care products including soaps, skin creams, deodorants, and much more.
- Cold sores may be especially susceptible to witch hazel. Evidence supports the belief that specific extracts of witch hazel are effective against the Herpes simplex 1 virus. A recent study has supported the theory, as well as showing positive results against other viruses.
- Recent studies using witch hazel to treat eczema have returned positive results. It is believed that the tannins and volatile oils in witch hazel help strengthen veins and reduce inflammation in treating eczema and related skin conditions.
- Witch hazel has also been used to treat the effects of a prolapsed uterus, sore throat, swimmer’s ear, swollen or infected gums, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and to ease teething pain for babies.
Dosage and Administration
If witch hazel products are purchased ready-made, follow the directions of the manufacturer. For topical application directly on the skin in liquid or poultice form, apply as needed to inflamed, irritated, or painful areas. Some skin conditions require the application of cream containing witch hazel 3-4 times per day. Steam containing witch hazel can be used in an enclosed area to ease muscle pain. Suppositories may contain up to one gram of witch hazel.
Witch hazel tea consists of about three grams of whole leaves boiled in water for about 15 minutes. Drink the tea two or three times a day. The tea can be used as a gargle for sore throat or oral inflammation. Tinctures should be administered in 2-4mL doses three times a day. Ointments can be made by adding one part witch hazel extract to twenty parts ointment base.
Side Effects and Possible Interactions of Witch Hazel
Though side effects are generally mild, they can include nausea, vomiting, stomachache, and constipation may occur. Very rarely people experience dark urine, yellowed skin and eyes, and severe stomach pain; these symptoms should be reported to a physician immediately as they could indicate a serious condition such as liver damage.
In very large doses, an ingredient in witch hazel caused cancer in lab animals, though it is widely believed that witch hazel does not contain enough to be harmful. Because these are often not closely monitored by the FDA, it is always a good idea to seek out trusted sources for products to reduce the risk of harmful impurities.
As with any non-prescription remedy, a doctor should always be consulted before using witch hazel for any treatment. Additionally, pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid using witch hazel until they have consulted a doctor. Though no interactions or contraindications have been cited, a qualified physician should be consulted if any other medications are being used, especially blood thinners.
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"It's time to let science and medicine, not politics and rhetoric, lead us to good, sound policy."
Eliot Spitzer
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