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.
The real witch hazel
Benefit from witch hazel’s healing tannins by brewing your own infusion or using liquid extract from a health-food shop:
- Make a skin spray Mix it with rosewater and geranium as a soothing spray or lotion for skin conditions.
- Bruise balm Apply tincture to bruise and sprains.
- Haemorrhoid relief Pour some strong witch hazel infusion or liquid extract onto a cotton wool ball and apply it to the tender area. The tannin shrinks blood vessels and the liquid provides a soothing, cooling sensation as it evaporates. Witch hazel is an ingredient in Preparation H and several other over-the-counter haemorrhoid treatments.
- Soothe itchy rashes Keep a mixture of witch hazel and camomile infusions in the fridge to spray on itchy rashes, eczema, dermatitis, chickenpox or measles.
- Freshen Breath Use a week infusion as a mouthwash. Witch hazel extracts have been shown to inhibit oral bacteria and may be useful for treating periodontal disease. Swish It round and spit it out – don’t swallow.
- Soothe raw rashes The herb’s anti-inflammatory, hydrating and antibacterial effects make it useful for treating intertrigo (an inflammatory condition that can occur in damp skin folds) and some forms of dermatitis. Apply the infusion to the affected area using a fine mist plant sprayer or on a soft cloth or cotton wool pad.
- An after-sun balm Its anti-inflammatory properties make witch hazel a good after-sun soother. Because one of its constituents, hamamelitannin, is thought to protect against UV irradiation, witch hazel is used as an ingredient in some after-sun lotions.