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.

Benefits of Witch Hazel

• Anti-inflammatory: Due to its tannins and gallic acid content, witch hazel has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Astringent and antiseptic properties: Useful for cleaning and helping with minor cuts and abrasions.
• Skin health: toning

Common Ways to Use Witch Hazel

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.

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

🌿Try making herbal extractions like this DIY detox foot soak! ← 🟩 DIYs, recipes, and more!

Growing and Foraging Information about Witch Hazel

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.

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.

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.