Top 10 Tips for Treating with Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel is yet another natural remedy for a whole host of everyday conditions as you can see below. Keep a bottle handy in your medicine cupboard and you will find ten ways or more to keep on using it.
You might think that this plant's name - witch hazel - has sinister implications but, with its healing properties, nothing could be further from the truth.
Witch hazel's branches were once used as dowsing rods, that is to locate water or to “witch” a well. The bark, leaves and twigs of witch hazel are all high in tannins, giving this plant its astringent properties to dry, tighten and harden tissues.
1. Anal fissures and hemorrhoids
When you suffer from either fissures or hemorrhoids, you will find that cotton wool pads treated with witch hazel are soothing and comforting to the affected anal area.
2. Acne treatment
The tannin content in witch hazel has strong astringent as well as antioxidant properties, helping to tone and cleanse the skin while minimizing the size of skin pores. Simple witch hazel can be applied straight to the area of skin affected by acne using fresh cotton wool balls twice a day, going to work with its gentle and non-drying action.
3. Scars & stretch marks
Witch hazel is popular to use in pregnancy as a preventative for stretch marks while helping that loose skin found around stretch marks to tighten up. In the same way, it can be useful for scar tissue.
4. Varicose veins
These are another side effect of pregnancy. If you are affected, soak wash cloths in witch hazel and apply to the affected areas of your legs while putting your feet up. You will find this action will reduce the pain and swelling from varicose veins. Carry out regularly to continue the relief.
5. Soothe diaper rash
Once your newborn has safely arrived, apply witch hazel on a cotton ball to the affected area of the baby's bottom and it will quickly soothe and heal any rash.
6. Bags under the eyes
For a cosmetic application, use a little witch hazel under the eyes to tighten up the skin and reduce the bagginess.
7. Soothe tired, puffy eyes
Another cosmetic tip if your eyes are puffy from crying or lack of sleep. Soak two small cotton pads with witch hazel and put them over your eyes. After 10 minutes, your eyes should be refreshed, and any redness should have disappeared.
8. Soothe chicken pox blisters
Parents in the know are avoiding chicken pox vaccines and letting their children catch this fairly mild childhood illness. Their grandparents benefit at the same time because they build up antibodies against developing shingles. You can help your children with any itching from chicken pox by generously applying a mixture with 1 cup witch hazel and 1 cup water as often as needed, and leaving to dry.
9. Heal bruises faster
Adults and children alike will benefit from applying witch hazel three times every day to any bruises.
10. Heal cuts and scrapes
Witch hazel is a natural way to clean out a cut or scrape. Pour a generous amount of witch hazel over the wound and allow it to dry, before adding a band aid or bandage.
You can easily find witch hazel at your local health store, pharmacy or order your supply online. Dickinson's Witch Hazel for example is a 100% natural formula.
Sources
Acne. (2017).familydoctor.org/condition/acne/?adfree=true. (Accessed, 5 October 2021).
Acne. (n.d.).
aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/acne. (Accessed, 5 October 2021).
Bergfeld WF, et al. (2017). Safe assessment of Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)-derived ingredients as used in cosmetics.
cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/Witch%20Hazel.pdf. (Accessed, 5 October 2021).
Nasri H, et al. (2015). Medicinal plants for the treatment of acne vulgaris: A review of recent evidences. DOI:
10.5812/jjm.25580
Trüeb RM. (2014). North American Virginian witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Based scalp care and protection for sensitive scalp, red scalp, and scalp burn-out. DOI:
10.4103/0974-7753.139079
- Witch hazel: Which claims are true? (2016).
berkeleywellness.com/self-care/home-remedies/article/witch-hazel-which-claims-are-true
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.