Witch Hazel Wonders: Cultivation and Herbal Uses Written by Mary Plantwalker Photographed by Juliet Blankespoor – The homegrown benefits of witch hazel are easy to overlook as an herbalist, as witch hazel is not traditionally something you think of planting in the garden or making medicine with for your apothecary—drugstore brands are what most people associate with witch hazel. But…
…for the name witch that I have come across over the years is that the witch hazel plant flowers near Samhain (Halloween), evidently from a witch’s spell. Well, which witch do you believe? The hazel part of witch hazel’s name is derived from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the hazelnut (Corylus americana) tree, both being broadly oval…
…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…
…tend to be inherently rich in medicine—from groundcover plants and understory herbs to overstory canopy trees. Ginseng (Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis) are just a few of the herbs that can be cultivated within the forest and on…
…and essential oils. Topical use: A strong infusion of the flowers is made into a sitz bath to heal tears in the perineum from childbirth; combine with calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis), chickweed (Stellaria media), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Lavender infusion is sometimes used as a douche for vaginal yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Sage leaf (Salvia officinalis) and calendula…
…flashcards, and you’ll be well on your way to training as an herbalist. 15. Dive Deep into Materia Medica! Explore my articles on the Chestnut School’s Blog Castanea: Calendula Dandelion Goldenrod Hibiscus Lavender Passionflower Pine Violet Witch Hazel And more! Search the blog while you’re there! Volunteering at herbal conferences is a great way to learn about herbalism without spending…
…spp.) Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) and (Z. clava-herculis) Redroot, or New Jersey tea (Ceanothus spp.) Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) Spruce (Picea spp.) Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) Willow (Salix spp.) Wild cherry (Prunus serotina) Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima) *Can be invasive, so research its ability to spread in your region before…
…comfrey (Symphytum officinale) infused in a base of vinegar or witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) extract. Lemon balm lends its topical medicinal uses as an antioxidant and antimicrobial to this formula. The fragrant elixir is an antioxidant and astringent toner—it is said to have kept the queen looking so sprightly that she attracted the attention of a suitor nearly 50 years…
…monographs on our blog, including calendula, passionflower, pine, witch hazel, violet, goldenrod, and more. Ashwagandha’s papery husks peeled back to reveal its fruit. How to Identify Ashwagandha Scientific Name: Withania somnifera Botanical Family Name: Solanaceae, nightshade family Other Common Names: Indian ginseng, winter cherry, asgandh (Hindi) Range: Native to the drier regions of India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and…
…bayberry (Myrica cerifera) Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Some plants introduced into North America from Eurasia that have found a home in African American healing include mullein/mullet (Verbascum thapsus), peach (Prunus persica), and pomegranate (Punica granatum). The book Resources of the Southern Fields and Forest by Francis Porcher gives a large survey of useful plant knowledge from the South during the…
