Grandma Knows a Witch Hazel
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| Hamamelis virginiana From the Joseph A. Witt Winter Garden in Seattle, WA Photo By: S. Rose |
Witch Hazel
Botanical Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Part of Plant used: Leaves and roots
I remember the first time I heard about Witch Hazel. I was
12 and picking at tiny red dots that were beginning to appear on my face. My
grandmother, who was visiting for the summer, noted my discouragement with the
beginning stages of puberty and suggested I try healing my face instead of
picking it apart. She gave me a bottle of Witch Hazel and cotton balls and
watched as I gently dabbed each dot hoping to remove the cotton ball to reveal
beautiful, untainted skin. I bet you know how that ended- my skin was
definitely not spot-less underneath, and while the Witch Hazel didn’t cure my
hormone driven pimples at the time, I found I liked the addition to my skincare routine for how it made my skin feel afterwards, and kept it around.
Now, further removed from my youth, but not completely out
of the pimple safe zone I find it useful for treating these minor skin
irritations and tightening pores. I also like to find a cup of peppermint and
witch hazel tea at the end of a big, holiday meal, or a roller mix of Tea Tree
Oil and Witch Hazel in my camping first aid kit. Grandma left that summer, took
her card games, her knitting needles, and all of her crazy cat sweaters home,
but she left the Witch Hazel, and for that I am ever grateful.
Grandma knew Witch Hazel was the answer, but I wonder if she
ever knew why.
So, Why Witch Hazel?
Topical
I believe the most notable quality of witch hazel are its
astringent properties due to Tannins found in the herbal extract. When applied
topically witch hazel has the ability to draw out oil and tighten pores,
pulling skin back together. This helps further keep dirt and bacteria from
building up in pores, and keep infections and other irritants from getting into
cuts and wounds and causing further damage. This works great with oily-prone
skin and acne.
*Something to note is whether or not the extract is Alcohol
Free. When using to treat skin irritations such as acne an alcohol free extract
won’t cause the skin to dry out. Alcohol pulls out all oils from the skin and
our skin needs some oil to stay firm and healthy. If using an alcohol based
version remember to apply moisturizer to replenish your skin after use. When
using to treat things like cuts and bug bites an alcohol based solution could
be beneficial and help kill off unwanted bacteria more effectively. Good for
first aid kits and quick fixes to small abrasions.
Witch Hazel Extract is a great base for mixing Essential
Oils. You will want the alcohol-based WH as the essential oils need the alcohol
to bind to, or if you choose to use the alcohol free Witch Hazel you will need to add some type of carrier oil to the mix. You can find WH with a 14% < dilution at your local grocery
store, or on Amazon.
Some great options for blends with Witch Hazel include:
Some great options for blends with Witch Hazel include:
Tea Tree Essential Oil- For use as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
Frankincense Essential Oil- For dry, irritated skin, or mature skin
Lavender Essential Oil- To cleanse, calm, and tone irritated skin
Directions:
Combine ½ Tbs Witch Hazel for its astringent properties with
½ Tbs Coconut Emulsifier (or any of these other Carrier Oils) for the moisturizing
properties. Add 6-10 drops EO of your choice (6-8 for strong scents like
Eucalyptus, Sandalwood and 8-10 for the floral scents). I throw this mixture
together in a roller and apply to “hot spots,” throw in my camping/travel bag,
and keep around by the mirror in case I get the urge to pick instead of heal.
Ingesting
This is something my Grandma never mentioned, but since becoming
fascinated with this herb I have learned about the many benefits that can come
from ingesting its powerful properties.
If you know what a bottle from the store smells like you
say, “I’m supposed to drink this” incredulously, to my reply, where I hand you a
jar of the dry herbs, and you uncap it only to reveal a very non-hostile, earthy
scent. Once dried and ground the bark and leaves of this herb can be brewed
into tea. The tea form can help treat things like IBS and soothe the
gestational tract (great when mixed with a mint!) It can ease headaches and
soothe respiratory issues like sore throat and inflammation. A gargle can be made heal to sores in the mouth.
For a good digestive aide combine 1 tsp Witch Hazel and 1 tsp Peppermint (Chamomile works great too). Steep in hot water.
To order any of these Bulk Herbs from our store you will need to call (208)-232-5250 to order 24 hours in advance of in-store pick-ups and ship date.
Gargle: Swish a small amount of Witch Hazel Extract in your mouth. Be careful not to swallow any as this solution can cause stomach irritation.
If the thought of drinking it as a tea or using it as a
gargle doesn’t sound appealing our Lab has created a capsule form of this
extract. Our Witch Hazel Extract Capsule is designed to provide all the
internal benefits of this herb in a simple, manageable form. Easy to ingest,
easy to remember. It can be taken daily to promote a well-balanced, inside out,
healthy system, or taken as a natural remedy to aide in digestion.
If you want to find out if taking/using a Witch Hazel
supplement is beneficial to you give our clinical team a call, or talk to your
Health Care Professional about the benefits.
*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Written By:
Savannah Rose
Photographer/Graphic Designer
Time Laboratories
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