The North American species are occasionally called winterbloom. Studies have shown that witch hazel possesses certain anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. In the book The New Age Herbalist, by Richard Mabey, witch hazel has five different entries. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a shrub that’s indigenous to the United States. Another witch hazel use: banishing pesky redness. 8 Household Uses for Witch Hazel In your medicine cabinet, next to the hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, you may have a bottle of witch hazel. The astringent properties of witch hazel also help tighten and “cool” skin ().To use witch hazel for bug bites, apply a few drops to a cotton ball and dab directly on the affected area. Long used in traditional medicine, witch hazel is usually applied topically in order to treat certain skin conditions. The herb is also commonly referred to as Hamamelis Virginiana. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, witch hazel helps in constricting blood vessels that reduce the appearance of bruises. Dab witch hazel onto a cotton round and cleanse skin once or twice daily. Use witch hazel as a toner: After cleansing with a gentle face wash, pat your skin dry and gently apply witch hazel using a cotton swab. Witch Hazel – Uses And Warnings Witch hazel is a topical astringent from the bark and leaves of Hamamelis virginiana, North American witch-hazel bush. 1. Witch Hazel Oil Uses. The main constituents of the extract include tannin, gallic acid, catechins, … Research studies on Witch Hazel and its effectiveness on Eczema showed that Witch hazel has antioxidant polyphenols. Its organic compounds help in tightening the skin, which accelerates the healing process. Witch hazel has been traditionally known for its use for eczema treatments. Sold in drugstores, witch hazel astringent is derived from the bark and leaves of the witch hazel plant, also known as winterbloom, snapping hazel and spotted alder. Witch Hazel bark and twigs can be used to for protection from negative energies. The application of witch hazel topically reduces inflammation and soothes sensitive skin. Native Americans have been using witch hazel water as a medical astringent for centuries. Witch hazel has been used for thousands of years when it comes to treating abrasions, bruises, cuts, and other wounds. While the plant itself is used in folk medicine, it’s tree and bark are also used in many ointments and teas. Witch hazel … Witch hazel is a flowering plant (Hamamelis spp.) Many of the most popular uses for witch hazel are cosmetic. Its light gray bark and rounded green leaves blend in well with its surroundings. Remove your makeup with it. Commercially available witch-hazel uses a steam distillation process to extract the astringent liquid, but you can easily create witch hazel extract by brewing a decoction at home using bark and leaves. Using a cotton pad, I wipe it over my face and neck to remove dirt, excess makeup, and oils, and to shrink … Add witch hazel to your arsenal of natural cleaning products to help avoid cleaners with hazardous ingredients. Witch hazel has long been used as a powerful, natural astringent and face toner. It has a rich history of medicinal use dating back to the native Indians of old. What is Witch hazel? Witch hazel is a plant native to the United States and Canada and can be used in a variety of ways. The homegrown benefits of witch hazel are easy to overlook as an herbalist, as witch hazel is not traditionally something you think of planting in the garden or making medicine with for your apothecary—drugstore brands are what most people associate with witch hazel. Pour boiling water over the bark or leaves. Witch hazel is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae. 1  Witch hazel contains tannins, a type of natural compound with astringent effects. Some herbal/ diet supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. This shrub can get up to 20 feet tall and produced lovely flowers that are yellow to red in color. Thanks to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, it has a number of holistic health and beauty uses—everything from soothing itchy mosquito bites to cleaning minor cuts and scrapes. In manufacturing, witch hazel leaf extract, bark extract, and witch hazel water are used as astringents to tighten the skin. They are also included in some medications to give those products the ability to slow down or stop bleeding. Witch hazel’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help treat bug bites by reducing irritation, itching, and redness. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a shrub that is native to North America, but it is now grown in Europe and Asia as well. While many of the herbs, spices, and other natural remedies I cover seem to all come from exotic lands, the witch hazel tree is native to North America. There are many uses for witch hazel — it’s not just for use on the scalp. Which means it’s a powerhouse natural herb and an important product if … Witch-hazel extract. The skin-tightening and deep cleansing powers of witch hazel give it a wide variety of uses in your morning and evening routine. Here are some smart ways to use it: 1. Witch hazel is a plant native to North America. Witch hazel extract is a a natural astringent or hydrosol made from the bark of the witch hazel shrub or tree. The first successful mass-produced American skincare product, debuted in 1846, was “Golden Treasure,” later renamed Pond’s Cold Cream. 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