Herb Alley Witch Hazel

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HERB ALLEY

Witch Hazel Bark
(Hamamelis virginiana)

COMMON NAMES: Hazel nut, pistachio, snapping hazel, spotted alder, striped alder, tobacco wood, winterbloom.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Bark, leaves.
DESCRIPTION: Witch hazel is a deciduous shrub or small tree which grows in damp woods from Nova Scotia to Georgia and Nebraska; it is also cultivated elsewhere for its autumn-blooming flowers. Growing to a height of up to 15 feet, the stems and branches are covered with scaly gray to brown bark. The alternate, elliptic to obovate leaves are coarsely bark toothed and often are finely hairy on the veins underneath. The yellow flowers have 4 strap-shaped petals and grow in nodding, auxillary clusters, blooming in autumn when the leaves are falling. The fruit is a woody capsule which ejects two shining black seeds when they ripen during the summer or autumn following the flowers.
PROPERTIES AND USES: Astringent, hemostatic, sedative, tonic. Witch hazel leaves and barl have served mostly to make astringent preperations, which have been taken internally for diarrhea and used externally as a rinse or gargle for mouth and throat irritations and as a vaginal douche for vaginitis. For skin irritations, bruises, insect bites and stings, minor burns, and poison ivy, an ointment made from the fluid extract or a poultice can be applied. A poultice made from the inner bark is said to be effective for hemorrhoids and for eye inflammation. The inner bark also has sedative and hemostatic properties.
This is an old-fashioned remedy. It is unsurpassed for stopping excessive menstruation, hemorrhages from the lungs, stomach, uterus, bowels, etc. Very useful in diarrhea, taken internally and as an enema. In nosebleed, snuff the tea up the nose. For piles, inject a teaspoon several times a day and after each stool. Excellent local application in gonorrhea. Will restore perfect circulation. As a poultice or wash is excellent for painful tumors, all external inflammation, piles, bed sores, and sore and inflamed eyes. Excellent gargle in throat troubles. In piles and dysentery, or diarrhea, give enemas. In gonorrhea, leucorrhea, and whites, give as a douche. Internally, steep a heaping teaspoonful in a cup of boiling water thirty minutes. Take one or more cupfuls during the day as needed, a large mouthful at a time. Children less according to age.
Witch hazel is used as a mouthwash for bleeding gums and after tooth extraction. Use the tea or extract as gargle for sore throat. Use packs on eyes for bruised or inflammed eyes.
PREPERATION AND DOSAGE:
Decoction: Boil 1 tsp bark or leaves in 1 cup water. Take 1 cup a day, a mouthful at a time.
Tincture: A dose is from 5 to 20 drops.
Ointment: Mix one part fluid wxtract with nine parts lard.

The Herb Book by John Lust
Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss.
Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal.