Health Benefits of Witch Hazel

By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International

I discovered witch hazel because my grandma was a big fan of it. As a kid, I played outside in the sun and would often get sunburned on my shoulders or arms. I always remember grandma saying “Put some witch hazel on it” and I always laughed it off, thinking it was just one of grandma’s old wives tales. It wasn’t something I commonly used or ever heard of, and I never really knew what the benefits of it were until I started researching. Here’s what I found.

What is witch hazel?

It grows naturally as a North American Witch Hazel shrub and the extract comes from steaming the twigs of the shrub. The plant can be found in parts of Canada and the United States and was first used for medicinal purposes by the Native Americans.

What are some good uses for witch hazel?

* Taken as a tea, it can help slow internal bleeding.
* It can help with your baby’s diaper rash with just a dab on a cotton ball.
* By soaking a washcloth in witch hazel then applying them to your legs, you will reduce pain and swelling that are often caused by varicose veins.
* Got a nasty bruise? Rub some witch hazel on it and it will speed up the healing time.
* Grandma’s remedy was right! Witch hazel has long been known to soothe and treat sunburns. It acts as a salve and helps prevent peeling.
* If you are someone with notoriously dry skin, using witch hazel after showering each day can help liven up your skin and add moisture to it.
* It has also been known to help relieve hemorrhoid pain, itchiness, and discomfort.
* Got a bug bite? Cleansing them with a bit of witch hazel can help alleviate itching, swelling, and general irritation.
* Many ladies shave their legs every day, which can sometimes lead to annoying razor burn. Simply apply to your legs before shaving as well as immediately after, and can reduce the appearance of those red bumps.
* If you apply witch hazel to a cotton ball and place them on the bags underneath your eyes, it can help reduce bagginess and swelling.

With all of these wonderful benefits however, we also must mention some of the side effects that may occur if you use witch hazel often. Make sure to immediately contact your doctor if you experience any of the following serious side effects.

* Stomach pain
* Yellowing eyes or skin
* Dark urine
* Light colored bowel movements
* Severe fatigue
* Nausea and loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Trouble urinating

So I learned something new – it wasn’t an old wives tale after all. Witch hazel has so many medicinal uses. Now it is time to go put them to use!

References

1. Witch Hazel: Unnerving Name, Fantastic Health Benefits to You ... and an Interesting
BackgroundWitch Hazel: Unnerving Name, Fantastic Health Benefits to You ... and an
Interesting Background. Six Wise. Accessed on the web September 21, 2009.
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/05/17/witch-hazel-unnerving-name-fantastic-health-
benefits-to-you--and-an-interesting-background.htm

2. Witch hazel uses and benefits. HealthCareTips.org. Accessed on the Web September 21, 2009.
http://www.health-care-tips.org/herbal-medicines/witch-hazel.htm

3. 15 Wonderful Uses for Witch Hazel. Wise Bread. Accessed on the Web September 21, 2009.
http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel