Witch hazel: medicinal herb or witch's broom

Witch hazel: medicinal herb or witch's broom

According to American folklore, the "witch" in witch hazel referred to early American colonists who used the shrub to make brooms on which they flew around, and while this may seem macabre or romantic, there is of course no evidence that this ever happened. The use of the forked branches as a fortune teller (douser) to find water may also have had an influence on the naming of this medicinal herb. However, the herbal name has nothing to do with witchcraft. The word “witch” was originally spelled wiche in Middle English (the English language from about 1150 to about 1500) and meant pliable, which is a characteristic of witch hazel branches. Oh, so many ones and wanks and witches to keep track of!

Now let’s move on to the “hazel” in witch hazel. This is the easy part as the herb is similar to hazelnut. This is most likely where the second half of, oh I don't want to say it again, WITCH Hazel was named.

Now to the facts. The genus and species for this herb is hamamelis verginiana. It is a flowering foliage plant or shrub also known as vine, hazel and witch hazel. The alias “snatch hazelnut” comes from the popping sounds made when the seeds are ejected as they ripen.

The parts used for medicinal remedies are the leaves and bark, which contain astringents, substances that can dry, tighten and harden tissues. When applied to specific external areas of the body, the astringents can temporarily tighten and relieve painful varicose veins or reduce inflammation in phlebitis (phlebitis). Witch hazel contains procyanadins, resin, and flavonoids, all of which contribute to its calming, anti-inflammatory properties.

Lotions made from witch hazel are useful for soothing rough, swollen hands of gardeners or carpenters.

To relieve a sore throat, a gargle with witch hazel, myrrh, and cloves can be effective, although it's best to use a tea or tincture, not the drugstore witch hazel, which contains isopropyl alcohol. The same mouthwash can also be used on swollen and infected gums.

Other widely known uses include:

• Behandlung zur Verringerung von Juckreiz und Schwellungen durch Gifteiche und Giftefeu.
• Heilmittel zur Heilung und Linderung des Windelausschlags des Babys.
• Hilfreich bei der Heilung kleinerer Schnitte
• Kann auf blaue Flecken angewendet werden
• Behandlung für andere kleinere Hauterkrankungen
• Wirksam zur Behandlung von Akne

Perhaps the most universal use of witch hazel, however, is as a hemorrhoid remedy, where the astringents come into play and help shrink and contract the blood vessels back to their normal size.

Native Americans used the herb as a rub (decoction) to treat cuts, bruises, insect bites, joint pain, and sore muscles. They also made a tea from the herb to stop internal bleeding, prevent miscarriages, and treat colds, fevers, sore throats, and menstrual cramps. Bows were made from the flexible branches. Native Americans introduced this herb to European colonists, who adopted the herb for its many uses.

Currently, more than 1 million gallons of witch hazel are sold in the United States each year, making it one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in the country.

In modern times, witch hazel is used in aftershave lotions and lotions to treat bruises, insect bites, and of course hemorrhoids.