A myth of witchcraft held that a forked branch of Witch-hazel could be used to locate underground water. – from Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana L.)
Plant appearance: small tree or tall shrub, often multi-trunked, 10-15 ft. tall but can reach 35 ft. in height. It has fragrant, yellow flowers with lettuce-green, deciduous leaves
Part used: leaves, twigs, and bark
Therapeutic Uses: The aromatic extract of leaves, twigs, and bark is used in mildly astringent lotions and floral water (extract mixed with water – no plant bits in it.) Witch-hazel is not an essential oil, but an extract. I included it because it is such a therapeutic substance.
You can buy witch-hazel in two ways. What is usually found in chain drug stores is a mixture of the floral water and alcohol. This is desirable in some situations as it kills germs as well as soothes (even if it burns a little at first.) In other situations, especially around the eyes, there is a non-alcohol form of it. You may have to order the non-alcohol form online, as I’ve never seen it locally.
RECIPES
I found a very educational video that will highlight the many uses of witch-hazel.
Tao Talk 
It’s good for acne and brown spots on skin.
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I haven’t tried it on spots, but now I will!
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I did, but became lazy and didn’t follow through.
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I need it bad for the backs of my hands.
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Try it. I got it from Walgreens. Not expensive either.
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I have heard good things about witch hazel but never actually used it.
Happy Monday!
My W is about Swiss Watches:
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-z-2020-switzerland-watches.html
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This is one I use for skin abrasion that works great. I’d like to try it for some of the other things she talks about in the video.
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And such a pretty plant too!
The Multicolored Diary
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I think it grows wild in MI so I should try and get a plant or two for the yard 🙂
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Thank you Jade. That is yet another addition to my list.
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You are welcome!
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Now, this I’m familiar with as I have used cleansing milk containing witch hazel about a decade or so ago. But didn’t know what it looks like.
Thank you for sharing the video–very informative plus there were a few beautiful pics of this ‘firework look alike’ herb.
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Glad you enjoyed the pictures and I think it grows wild here in Michigan.
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I have heard a lot of Witch hazel but I haven’t used it.
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I can attest to its beneficial aspects for skin irritation. If you get the kind with alcohol it stings a little at first but it kills germs and the witch hazel part soothes the skin.
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Interesting video.
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Thanks, Jim. It’s a wonderful substance!
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The salve definitely helps my leg veins. (K)
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I didn’t realize you could get it in a salve until doing the post on it. Also didn’t realize you could get it alcohol-free.
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p.s. good to know it helps with the veins
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When I was growing up a friend’s mother used witch hazel to put on our insect bites to stop the itching. I don’t remember how well it worked, but I had never heard of it, and was fascinated! I don’t think my own mother ever did buy any.
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I learned about it when I was in the hospital or I would never have known it existed.
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A beautiful shrub when in flower, and very useful too!.
W is for …
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Never knew of witch hazel before. Thanks for this informative post.
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You are welcome, Pradeep.
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Fabulous flowers that certainly do resemble fireworks don’t they? Very informative video – thanks for sharing.
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Yes they do! They have the shape of bee balm but a very different type of coloring.
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Here in I Illinois you can buy witch hazel liquid incredibly cheap – maybe $2 for a bottle that lasts me years. I use it to fight occasional acne. The funny thing is that those in the medical profession say you can’t use it on skin because it dries it out. Doesn’t do that for me, BUT I would not use it in the eye area. It also works to take the burn out of small scratches. My partner is a carpenter and I use it when he scrapes himself. It doesn’t burn at all.
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Yes, witch hazel is low cost and a bottle lasts a long time. I don’t see it overdrying the skin at all, more tightens it up. I think whether it stings or not depends on if you have the kind with alcohol in it or not.
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Love these yellow hairy flowers! Beautiful plant.
W is for Women
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YAY!
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Someone told me to mix it with water and keep it in a spray bottle beside the bed for hot flashes, but it didn’t really help much….for me, at least. Probably work a lot better on those liver spots on skin….
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Without alcohol it probably wouldn’t; with alcohol it might, but with alcohol you couldn’t spray it on your face.
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Hmm………………!
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Witch hazel is a shrub or even a small tree, and it blooms incredibly early, sometimes even late February in the US northeast, which makes it absolutely magical! I love the smell of the drugstore stuff, too.
Black and White (Words and Pictures)
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Good info to know, Anne. You know the color of the blossom does kind of remind me of forsythia, which blooms really early too. I wonder if they are in the same family….
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I never heard of this herb. Such fascinating name, though. And a beautiful plant.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Living the Twenties
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I think the “witch” is the way a word for flexible is pronounced, for the flexibility of the branches they use to hunt for water with.
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I will have to try this for the back of my hands! Thanks for the info!
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Pretty plant 🙂
An A-Z of Faerie: Witches
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🙂
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