What is witch hazel?

Native to North America, witch hazel is a deciduous plant. The leaves, twigs, flowers and bark of the bush have been used for centuries. It is commonly used for its medicinal and skincare properties.

How is witch hazel extract made?

Witch hazel is most commonly used as an extract. The leaves, twigs, flowers, and bark are used to make the extract. Commercial witch hazel extraction is commonly distilled by steam and preserved with alcohol. Several other extraction methods include soaking the material in aloe, glycerin, or boiling the material.

Benefits of Witch Hazel

Anti-inflammatory: Due to its tannins and gallic acid content, witch hazel has anti-inflammatory properties.

Support Healing: Its astringent and antiseptic properties make it useful for cleaning and helping with minor cuts and abrasions. The astringent properties can also aid in the speed of healing.

Common Ways to Use Witch Hazel

Topical: Witch Hazel is most well-known for its topical applications including:

• Skin Care
• Ingredient in acne treatments
• Ingredient in hemorrhoid support
• Ingredient in toner
• Ingredient in facial cleansers
• Hair Care
• Help with dandruff and scalp irritation
• Wound Care
• Helps support healing of bruises, minor cuts, and abrasions
• Soothes irritated skin

Growing and Foraging Information about Witch Hazel

Growing

You should plant in earlier summer or late fall in a sunny location for the best results. The location should be well drained, as witch hazel doesn’t like soggy soil.

Foraging

Witch hazel is easiest to identify in the fall when in bloom. The flowers are bright yellow with narrow, crinkled petals, and the leaves are broad and oval with wavy edges. The leaves also turn yellow in the fall. Older bark is scaly, and younger bark is smoother.

Harvesting:

When harvesting witch hazel, you should be sure to have clean shears. The best time to harvest is in the fall when the flowers are also in bloom. Select clean, not damaged flowers, leaves, and branches when harvesting. Whether you are foraging or harvesting from your own plant, you should be sure to only take what you need to allow the plant to continue to grow healthily.

Safety Concerns

Generally safe for most skin types. If you have sensitive skin, you can perform a patch first. It is best to avoid ingestion unless working closely with an herbalist or naturopath, especially when pregnant or nursing.

Drug Interaction: If you are using a topical prescription medication and also want to use witch hazel, please consult your medical professional.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There is not a lot of information indicating that witch hazel should or should not be used topically during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have concerns about using it topically or otherwise, please consult a medical professional.

Other Concerns: Some companies add alcohol to their witch hazel, which can be drying to the skin. There are alcohol-free versions available.

Select Studies about Witch Hazel:

Antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and formulations of white tea, rose, and witch hazel on primary human dermal fibroblast cells - PMC (nih.gov)

This study demonstrates that the tannins from witch hazel have a protective (antioxidant) quality regarding hydrogen peroxide damage to fibroblast cells.

How Earthley uses Witch Hazel

Anti-Itch Soap

Anti-Itch Soap is the soap you need for minor rashes and to relieve itchy skin. It’s perfect if you frequently go hiking or on nature walks because it can help relieve itch related to poison ivy, sumac, and oak! We use nourishing oils to soothe the skin naturally and promote radiant skin!

This bar is a powerhouse bar. It combines nourishing oils infused with herbs and essential oils to bring you a powerful, yet gentle, itch relieving soap!

Check out these reviews:

“Please never stop making this product!!! I have sensitive, itchy skin that breaks out into an itchy rash with hormone changes. This soap helps me so much! I stopped using it for a while because I ran out…I was ordering it again SO FAST! An amazing product that works and also smells amazing! Thank you for creating this amazing product.”

“My skin is crazy sensitive, and my hands break out in eczema whenever we travel. A few months ago, I forgot to refill the soap I keep in my purse for public bathrooms. After traveling all day and lots of rest stops, by the time we got to the hotel, my skin was angry. I used Earthley Anti-Itch Soap while at the hotel, and my skin cleared up and felt great the rest of the trip! I was so thankful! I am definitely keeping this on hand for the summer. We have a lot of poison ivy in our area.”