A long with paracetamol, disinfectant and sticky plasters, witch hazel is a medicine-cabinet staple. A liquid extract made from an American plant (Hamamelis viginiana), it is used extremely to calm itching, take the sting out of haemorrhoids and freshen the skin, it has nothing to do with witches, although forked hazel branches were used by ‘witches’ to find underground water and are still valued by dowsers today. The herb’s name comes from the Middle English word wych, which means pliable. The wood is so springy that Native Americans once used it to make bows.
What’s it good for?
- body odour
- bruises
- haemorrhoids
- hives
- itching
- oily skin
- shaving rash
The active ingredient in traditional witch hazel is tannin, a chemical compound with astringent properties: it tightens skin pores much as skin toners do. Tannin also shrinks blood vessels and can reduce bleeding from shaving nicks and other minor wounds. Because of its tannins, witch hazel was once taken internally to combat diarrhoea. But the distilled preparation sold as witch hazel or hamamelis water in pharmacies today is a different remedy altogether.
In the late 1800’s manufacturers abandoned the traditional steeping method and switched to a steam distillation process. The new technique was more efficient, but the high heat involved in the steaming process means that modern witch hazel is virtually devoid of tannins. Its mildly astringent action comes from its alcohol content. However, you can still buy proper herbal witch hazel preparations including liquid extract, dried leaf (which can be used to make an infusion) or tincture. It is also an active ingredient in many skin care preparations.
A cooling astringent
Even though the witch hazel sold in pharmacies today has little in common with the traditional remedy, the alcohol content (about the same as table wine) makes it a safe and effective astringent useful for:
- Shaving cuts Dab in a little witch hazel to disinfect the cut and possibly slow down bleeding. (But don’t use witch hazel on serious cuts: the alcohol may increase skin damage.) Even if you haven’t cut yourself, witch hazel leaves your skin feeling softer and soothed when used as an aftershave.
- Fresher skin Soak a gauze pad or cotton wool ball in witch hazel and dab it onto your face to remove surface oils, tighten pores and tone the skin. Witch hazel is an ingredient in a number of skin-care products.
- Take the sting out of stings As a mild astringent, witch hazel is useful for sunburn, skin inflammation and insect bites. In the summer, keep witch hazel in the fridge so that it’s cold – and all the more soothing – when you apply it to sunburn skin.
