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Witch hazel is a plant. The leaf, bark, and twigs are used to make medicine. You may see a product called witch hazel water (Hamamelis water, distilled witch hazel extract). This is a liquid that is distilled from dried leaves, bark, and partially dormant twigs of witch hazel.
Where does witch hazel naturally grow?
Witch hazel is a large shrub or a small multi-stemmed tree that is native to North America, China and Japan. There are four species in North America. The most commonly used variety is Hamamelis virginiana. Outside of North America, there is one species native to China and another species native to Japan.
Which plant does witch hazel come from?
witch hazel, (genus Hamamelis), any of five species of the genus Hamamelis (family Hamamelidaceae), all of which are shrubs and small trees that are native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.
Why do they call it witch hazel?
Why Is it Called Witch Hazel? The plant’s name does not refer to witchcraft, but comes from the Middle English word wych or wyche, meaning pliant or flexible, which is a reference to the plant’s very flexible branches. The “hazel” in the name comes from the plant’s similarity to the common hazelnut.
Is witch hazel all natural?
Remember, just because witch hazel is a “natural” ingredient, this doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone. Plus, some OTC formulas can contain added ingredients that may irritate your skin, such as alcohol.
What’s the difference between hazelnut and witch hazel?
Witch hazel is not to be confused with the wild hazelnuts also native to our forests – beaked hazelnut and American hazelnut. The hazelnuts are actually in the birch family – Betulaceae – while witch hazel is in a different family called Hamamelidaceae.
Can I grow witch hazel?
Witch hazels perform best in full sun (or filtered shade in hotter regions), where the flowers glow like fiery embers in the backlight of the low winter sun. A more heat tolerant variety, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’, can be grown in Zones 5-9.
What exactly is witch hazel?
Witch hazel is a plant. The leaf, bark, and twigs are used to make medicine. You may see a product called witch hazel water (Hamamelis water, distilled witch hazel extract). This is a liquid that is distilled from dried leaves, bark, and partially dormant twigs of witch hazel.
Who created witch hazel?
Medicinal Uses Though Hamamelis virginiana had been known botanically for nearly two centuries, it was not until Thomas Dickinson built a witch hazel distillery in 1866 that the tree became commonly known for its medicinal value.
Does witch hazel remove dark spots?
Witch hazel, when used regularly can diminish dark spots and blemishes, thereby improving and correcting skin tone. You can add a few drops of witch hazel to your cleanser and use the mixture to wash your face. It will also prevent excess oil production and keep acne at bay.
What are the benefits of using witch hazel on your face?
Witch hazel contains several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including gallic acid and tannins. When applied topically to the skin, witch hazel can reduce redness, soothe the skin, and treat sunburns. Witch hazel soothes irritation and itchiness.
Does witch hazel have side effects?
Possible Side Effects Studies show that allergic reactions to witch hazel are rare. 1 Healthcare providers consider witch hazel safe when applied to the skin, but not when swallowed. Ingesting witch hazel can cause problems like nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.
Is witch hazel same as alcohol?
A common misconception is also that the witch hazel plant naturally contains alcohol, and that’s simply not the case. Its astringent properties come from tannins.
Is it okay to put witch hazel on your vag?
Witch Hazel: Dr. Jamil Abdur-Rahman, a board-certified OB-GYN, explains that witch hazel is an astringent, which means it dries, shrinks, and tightens tissue by pulling water out of it. Additionally, witch hazel is acidic — and so are healthy vaginas.
What’s the difference in witch hazel and alcohol?
The presence of this natural alcohol is one reason Witch Hazel is a more gentle astringent than rubbing alcohol. Witch Hazel typically contains only 13-14% alcohol, which means it won’t get the job done for this task! However, there are plenty of other ways to use Witch Hazel!.
Is witch hazel a true hazel?
A witch-hazel (Hamamelis) is not a true hazel, Corylus, though the foliage and fruit do resemble true hazels. The two genera are not related and belong to different families (Hamamelidaceae vs. Betulaceae).
Is witch hazel made from hazelnuts?
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a large native shrub which in fact has nothing to do with hazelnut shrubs (Corylus species in the birch family) nor, as far as we know, witches. Although witch hazel blooms when temperatures are often quite cool, there are still enough insects around to pollinate it.
Are the nuts of witch hazel edible?
The two are not related although witch hazel seeds/nuts are also edible. The plant goes by several other names including spotted alder, striped alder, tobacco-wood, winter-bloom, snapping-hazel, and, of course, Southern witch-hazel.
Does witch hazel like wet soil?
WitchhazelHamamelis virginiana A great tree to plant as an understory or for a shrub border in large areas. Prefers moist soils, but is tolerant of a variety of conditions.
Do bees like witch hazel?
Witch hazel also produces sticky pollen and nectar with a sucrose ratio typical of bee or fly-pollinated flowers.
What type of soil does witch hazel like?
Although witch hazels will tolerate partial shade, they become straggly in very shady sites. Witch hazels need free-draining soil that doesn’t dry out in summer (water if needed). A light soil with plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, dug in is best.
