Chestnut Herbal School

Witch Hazel’s Medicinal Uses

Written by Juliet Blankespoor with Meghan Gemma
Photographed by Juliet Blankespoor

Witch Hazel Medicinal Uses


When witch hazel flowers in late fall, its leaves are either golden with the season’s splendor or have already fallen to join the rich tapestry of the eastern deciduous forest floor. Its yellow petals resemble crimped streamers, lending a wild look to the close aggregation of flowers (one might liken them to a late-night party of fringe-element spiders). Some callous individuals lacking floral social skills have been known to describe the blooms as scraggly.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelidaceae) is a woodland shrub that grows from Florida to Nova Scotia and west to Minnesota and Texas. It prefers to grow near streams, rivers, and wet bottomlands in partial shade to full sun, but it can be easily cultivated in regular garden soil. There are only four species in the genus Hamamelis, two being native to eastern North America and two native to eastern Asia. Hamamelis virginiana is the only species in the genus that flowers in the fall; the other species flower in winter or very early spring.

If you live in the east, late fall is a perfect time to observe these flowers. Flower lovers, get out your hand lens and get to bloomoogling! You may have to peek closely, but you should see the pistil (female part of the flower, which will develop into a woody capsule) in the center with its two recurved stigma tips surrounded by four squat stamens (pollen-bearing male structures). Gently pry open the flower to observe four tiny spatula-like structures nestled in front of the petals—these are nectar-producing staminodes.

For more about the folklore and cultivation of witch hazel, along with some recipes, visit our Witch Hazel Hub.

F-


Staminodes are infertile stamens, which do not produce pollen, but serve to augment pollination through a variety of means. Some staminodes are showy and attract pollinators, much like petals; others have specialized hairs, which help trap and distribute pollen. In the case of witch hazel, the function of the staminodes is to attract pollinators by producing nectar. Small flies and bees pollinate witch hazel; only one percent of the flowers ever mature into fruit. Last year’s capsules can be seen side by side with the flowers. The capsules are explosive, ejecting their two shiny black seeds up to 30 feet.

Witch hazel explosive seed capsules


One year I collected some of the closed capsules, yet untriggered, placed them in my seasonal treasures basket and promptly forgot about them. A couple of months later I repeatedly heard random sounds coming from the back of the house; every time I went to investigate, I couldn’t find anything amiss. For a while I thought we had a fresh crop of uppity mice, boldly running around in plain daylight. Sweeping up the ejected seeds one day, I finally put it all together—the late afternoon sun coming through the window had warmed the capsules enough to stimulate their rapid-fire opening.


Witch hazel’s name originates from its use as a divining rod; the forked twigs bend slightly when dowsing for water. The Middle English word wiche means pliant or bendable. Dowsing was, and continues to be, a very important ancient craft in determining the best location to dig a well. The hazel in its name originates from the leaves’ close resemblance to the unrelated hazelnut (Corylus spp., Betulaceae).

The leaves of witch hazel often bear galls in the shape of a cone, caused by the aptly named witch hazel cone gall aphid (Hormaphis hamamelidis). I think the galls resemble a stereotypical witch’s hat (see the image below). Galls are formed from plant tissue in response to chemicals produced by insects that mimic various plant growth hormones. Inside the gall, insects happily munch on the plant tissue, while remaining protected from predators. The galls are formed from various plant tissues depending on the host and the insect involved.

Witch hazel cone gall


The witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) contains some notable ornamentals, often planted for their winter or early spring blooms. Pictured below is the flower of witch alder (Fothergilla sp.), a small shrub native to the southeastern United States.

Fothergilla sp. – witch alder

Harvesting Witch Hazel

The twigs and leaves of witch hazel can be gathered throughout the growing season, but are most potent in the springtime when the sap is running and the leaf growth is fresh.

Both can be gathered by cutting small, leaf-bearing branches from mature trees. Strip the leaves and trim the twigs into smallish sections of about 1 inch (2.5 cm). For thicker twigs or branches, you can strip the outer bark using a small knife. All parts can be used fresh or dried in baskets or on screens for later use.

The young leaves of witch hazel twigs

Medicinal Benefits of Witch Hazel

Parts Used: Bark, twigs, and leaves

Medicinal Preparations: Tincture, infusion (leaves), decoction (bark and twigs), liniment, compress, poultice, wash, distillate*

Tincture ratios and dosage: Fresh bark and twigs 1:2 80%; dry bark and twigs 1:5 40%.

Infusion ratios and dosage: 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) of the dried leaves per 1 cup (240 ml) of water three times a day.

Decoction ratios and dosage: 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) of the dried bark or twigs per 1 cup (240 ml) of water three times a day.

*Note: Witch hazel preparations sold in drugstores are made from a steam distillation of the twigs, preserved with alcohol. They are much weaker than a standard tincture or tea.

Herbal Actions:

  • Astringent
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Mild antibacterial

Witch hazel is one of our most classic astringent and anti-inflammatory herbs. It has a special affinity for toning and strengthening the blood vessels, veins, mucous membranes, and skin.

Native Americans have long used the twigs and bark of witch hazel as a medicinal herb, both internally and topically, for a wide variety of ailments.1 The tea is taken to remedy sore throats, diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, colds, coughs, bruising, and to prevent postpartum hemorrhaging. The tannins in witch hazel help lessen the inflammation of mucous membranes in sinus congestion from allergies, sinus infections, and head colds.

These same astringent tannins are also helpful for conditions related to the mouth: bleeding gums, gingivitis, and other infections. Herbalist Robin Rose Bennett recommends placing a few drops of the tincture on your toothbrush and brushing gently along the gumline.2

Topically, witch hazel is applied as a compress to heal varicose veins, hemorrhoids, bruises, and sunburns. The strong tea, applied as a wash, is a folk remedy for poison ivy.

Because witch hazel is an astringent and is mildly antibacterial, it is often used as a toning remedy for the face. Acne and eczema can both be addressed using a compress of the distillate (available commercially), a tea, or a facial steam in combination with herbs like calendula (Calendula officinalis), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and sage (Salvia officinalis).3

Safety and Contraindications: No known side effects.

References

  1. Moerman, D. E. Native American Ethnobotany (Timber Press, 1998).
  2. Bennett, R. R. This Gift of Healing Herbs: Plant Medicines and Home Remedies for a Vibrantly Healthy Life (North Atlantic Books, 2014).
  3. Gladstar, R. Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family (Storey Publishing, 2008).

Meet Our Contributors:

Juliet Blankespoor

JULIET BLANKESPOOR is the founder, primary instructor, and Creative Director of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, an online school serving thousands of students from around the globe. She's a professional plant-human matchmaker and bonafide plant geek, with a degree in botany and over 30 years of experience teaching and writing about herbalism, medicine making, and organic herb cultivation. Juliet’s lifelong captivation with medicinal weeds and herb gardening has birthed many botanical enterprises over the decades, including an herbal nursery and a farm-to-apothecary herbal products business. 

These days, she channels her botanical obsession through her writing and photography in her online programs, on her personal blog Castanea, and in her new book, The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Juliet and her family reside in a home overrun with houseplants and books in Asheville, North Carolina.

Meghan Gemma of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine.

MEGHAN GEMMA is one of  Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine's primary instructors through her written lessons, sharing herbal and wild foods wisdom from the flowery heart of the school to an ever-wider field of herbalists, gardeners, healers, and plant lovers.

She began her journey with the Chestnut School in 2010—as an intern and manager at the Chestnut Herb Nursery and then as a plant-smitten student “back in the day” when the school’s programs were taught in the field, and later she became part of the school’s writing team. Meghan lives in the Ivy Creek watershed, just north of Asheville, North Carolina.

Interested in becoming a contributor?

 

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21 thoughts on “Witch Hazel’s Medicinal Uses

  1. Gina Perfetto says:

    Can I TINCTURE the LEAVES of witch hazel?? AND, Can I make witch hazel liquid from the leaves?? I did trimming today and my branches were rather meager. I’d like to use the leaves if I could…
    I cant find the information anywhere…thank you for advice on the use of the leaves. Gina

    • Christine Borosh says:

      The bark, twigs, and leaves of witch hazel can all be used medicinally. The bark and twigs are most commonly used, but you can work the leaves as well for a tincture or infusion.

    • Sara Kinney says:

      I’m not familiar with this species, but the “x” in Hamemelis x intermedia means that it’s a cultivar. Cultivars have been bred from the straight species to accentuate a certain trait. Usually these traits are aesthetic, such as having pretty fall foliage. In general, I tend to steer away from using cultivars for medicine, simply because the medicinal constituents may have been diminished as a result.

  2. Can you please let me know how hamamelis Vir.Q is to be used for varicose veins, whether orally or through application on the affected parts? Also please let me know how effective in the case of varicose veins.
    Regards

    • A compress is an easy and safe topical preparation that you could try for varicose veins. You can make a strong decoction of Witch Hazel twigs, then soak a towel in the tea and apply topically to the affected areas. Some people find this to be effective when used regularly over time. I wish you the best on your healing journey!

      • Thank you very much. I am already using compression stockings. I have hamamalis vir in the liquid form. I hope it will help. Thanks once again.
        B.R. Sahni

        • Just be sure you’re using the right form of witch hazel. The witch hazel preparations sold in the drugstore are made from a steam distillation of the twigs, preserved with alcohol. It is much weaker than a standard tincture or tea.

          • Thanks for your comments and the consideration shown. My son is settled in California. I have written to him to let me know whether witch hazel twigs are available there and whether he can send them to me. Hope luck favours me.
            Regards,

  3. Audrey Gilbert says:

    Thank you for these beautiful photos and the in depth look at one of my favorite trees. Can you tell me what is the other species besides H. virginiana that is native to N. America and flowers in winter? I grew up in NW CT, where I have heard a lot of witch hazel solution is produced, and I remember these trees blooming in Jan near my parents house. It was always a special thing to see!

  4. Julie Anne Wilkinson says:

    Thanks for the lovely pictures and explanations. From South Africa I think I have only seen one Witch Hazel 2 streets from where we live. Now I can look more carefully and know what I am looking for.

  5. David Lanclos says:

    Good evening. I am asking if anyone would please send me some witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) seeds so I can plant?
    thanks and God Bless
    just email me please

  6. You really have the best flower photos Juliet! I have one of these in my yard but i really miss the ones in the Ozarks that bloomed orange in Jan/Feb for miles along the forestry stream banks. I would gather the leaves/twigs in Oct to distill & return in late winter to gather flowers to distill into hydrosols. I’m bookmarking this page!
    Many thanks for your thoroughness .. ( :

    • Dabney,
      Thank you for your appreciation! I have two of the Ozark witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis, planted here in wnc and they are thriving! I haven’t seen them in the wild, only in my yard. I imagine the hydrosol from the flowers is absolutely devine – do you use it topically?

      • Yes i did, when i had it (i’m back in NC) but i mostly did it because it smelled so much nicer than the leaf/twig hydrosol; what i distilled was almost always for skin care.

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