According to American folklore, the "witch" in witch hazel referred to early American colonists who used the shrub to make brooms which they used to fly around on and as macabre or romantic this may seem, there is of course no proof of this ever happening.
The use of the forked branches as divining (dousers) to find water may have also had an influence in naming the this medicinal herb.
The herbs name, however, has nothing to do with witchcraft.
The word "Witch" was originally spelled wiche in Middle English, (the English language from about 1150 to about 1500) and meant bendable, which is a characteristic of witch hazel branches.
Oh, so many which and wiche and witches to keep track of! Now let's proceed onward to the "Hazel" in witch hazel.
This is the easy part since the herb resembles the hazelnut, this is most likely where the second half of, oh I don't want to say it again, WITCH hazel came to be named.
Now for the facts.
The Genus and species for this herb is hamamelis verginiana.
It is a flowering, deciduous plant or shrub also known as winerbloom, snapping hazelnut and hamamelis.
The alias, snapping hazelnut comes from the popping sounds made when the seeds are ejected at maturity.
The parts used for medicinal remedies are the leaves and bark, which contain astringents, substances that can dry, tighten, and harden tissues.
When applied to certain external areas of the body, the astringents can temporarily tighten and soothe aching varicose veins or reduce inflammation in cases of phlebitis (an inflammation of a vein).
Witch hazel contains procyanadins, resin, and flavonoids, all of which add to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Lotions made from witch hazel are useful for soothing rough, swollen, gardener's or carpenter's hands.
To reduce pain from sore throat, a gargle rinse made with witch hazel, myrrh, and cloves can be effective, although it is best to use a tea or tincture, not the drugstore witch hazel, which contains isopropyl alcohol.
The same mouth rinse can also be used for swollen and infected gums.
Other widely known uses include:
Native Americans used the herb as a rub (decoction) to treat cuts, bruises, insect bites, aching joints, and sore muscles.
They also made a tea from the herb to stop internal bleeding, prevent miscarriage, and treat colds, fevers, sore throats, and menstrual pain.
The bendable branches were used to make bows.
The American Indians introduced this herb to European colonists who embraced the herb for its' many uses.
Presently, more than 1 million gallons of witch hazel is sold each year in the United States, making it one of the nation's most widely used medicinal herbs.
In current times, witch hazel is used in aftershave lotions and lotions for treating bruises, insect bites, and of course, hemorrhoids.
The use of the forked branches as divining (dousers) to find water may have also had an influence in naming the this medicinal herb.
The herbs name, however, has nothing to do with witchcraft.
The word "Witch" was originally spelled wiche in Middle English, (the English language from about 1150 to about 1500) and meant bendable, which is a characteristic of witch hazel branches.
Oh, so many which and wiche and witches to keep track of! Now let's proceed onward to the "Hazel" in witch hazel.
This is the easy part since the herb resembles the hazelnut, this is most likely where the second half of, oh I don't want to say it again, WITCH hazel came to be named.
Now for the facts.
The Genus and species for this herb is hamamelis verginiana.
It is a flowering, deciduous plant or shrub also known as winerbloom, snapping hazelnut and hamamelis.
The alias, snapping hazelnut comes from the popping sounds made when the seeds are ejected at maturity.
The parts used for medicinal remedies are the leaves and bark, which contain astringents, substances that can dry, tighten, and harden tissues.
When applied to certain external areas of the body, the astringents can temporarily tighten and soothe aching varicose veins or reduce inflammation in cases of phlebitis (an inflammation of a vein).
Witch hazel contains procyanadins, resin, and flavonoids, all of which add to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Lotions made from witch hazel are useful for soothing rough, swollen, gardener's or carpenter's hands.
To reduce pain from sore throat, a gargle rinse made with witch hazel, myrrh, and cloves can be effective, although it is best to use a tea or tincture, not the drugstore witch hazel, which contains isopropyl alcohol.
The same mouth rinse can also be used for swollen and infected gums.
Other widely known uses include:
- Treatment to reduce itching and swelling cause by poison oak and poison ivy.
- Remedy to help heal and offer relief from for baby's diaper rash.
- Helpful for in healing minor cuts
- Can be applied to bruises
- Treatment for other minor skin conditions
- Effective for treatment for acne
Native Americans used the herb as a rub (decoction) to treat cuts, bruises, insect bites, aching joints, and sore muscles.
They also made a tea from the herb to stop internal bleeding, prevent miscarriage, and treat colds, fevers, sore throats, and menstrual pain.
The bendable branches were used to make bows.
The American Indians introduced this herb to European colonists who embraced the herb for its' many uses.
Presently, more than 1 million gallons of witch hazel is sold each year in the United States, making it one of the nation's most widely used medicinal herbs.
In current times, witch hazel is used in aftershave lotions and lotions for treating bruises, insect bites, and of course, hemorrhoids.
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