American Witch Hazel(Hamamelis virginiana)
Other Names:
Winterbloom
Range:
Family:
Hamamelidaceae – Witch Hazel family
Growth Type:
A perennial semi erect deciduous tree or shrub. It grows below the canopy of other larger trees. It therefore tends to have branches arrayed in an umbrella-like shape to gather as much sunlight as possible. The tree typically has dense clusters of stems emanating from its base. The bark is light brown, smooth, scaly; the inner bark is reddish purple.
Height:
Maximum height after 20 years is 15' - 20', but it is typically much shorter.
Leaves:
The asymmetrical leaves are oval, 1.5–6.5 in long and 1–5 in wide, oblique at the base, acute or rounded at the apex, with a wavy-toothed or shallowly lobed margin, and a short, stout petiole .25 - .5 in long; the midrib is more or less hairy, stout, with six to seven pairs of primary veins. The young leaves open involute, covered with stellate rusty down; when full grown, they are dark green above, and paler beneath. In fall, they turn yellow with rusty spots. The leaf stipules are lanceolate, acute; they fall soon after the leaf expands.
Stem/Trunk:
Multiple branched stems.
Root:
Woody branched taproot
Flower Season:
Mid through late Autumn
Flower Appearance:
The flowers are pale to bright yellow grow in clusters. They have four ribbon-shaped petals .3 - .75 in long and four short stamens. The flower calyx is deeply four-parted, very downy, orange brown within, imbricate in bud, persistent, cohering with the base of the ovary. Two or three bractlets appear at base.
Seed/Fruit:
The fruit is a hard woody capsule .3 - .5 in long.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A
Habitat:
Dark rich forests
Parts Used:
Leaves and twigs
Culinary Uses:
None Known
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Medicinal Uses:Witch Hazel is astringent and anti-inflammatory in nature. Decoctions of the leaves and twigs have been used by Native Americans to treat swelling, inflammation, and tumors. Tinctured Witch Hazel is an effective treatment for hemorrhoids, and varicose veins. It is also said to have a calming sedative effect, and the ability to stop bleeding, and to raise blood pressure by constricting blood vessels. I have made highly effective acne treating ointments from Witch Hazel.
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
Text
Possible Side Effects:
None Known
Possible Interactions:
None Known
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-Inflammatory,
Astringent,
Haemostatic,
Sedative,
Styptic,
Vasoconstrictor
Herbal Preparations For Witch Hazel
Standard Infusion
Part Used: Twigs and Leaves
Plant State: Fresh or Dried
Place 2 ounces of the fresh chopped plant material into a quart mason jar, and fill the jar with almost boiling water. Cover the jar, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. I recommended that you make your infusions at night, then you can enjoy them the next day. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: Apply topically to treat acne, and other skin eruptions or irritations. Can also be placed in a sitz bath to soothe inflamed hemorrhoids.
Infused Oil
Part Used: Twigs and Leaves
Plant State: Fresh or dried
Natural Solar infusion method:
In a quart mason jar, thoroughly mix 2 ounces of fresh chopped herb or root (or 1 ounce of dried) and 6 ounces by weight of the oil of your choice. Cover the jar and place in a sunny spot for a month or so. Strain your oil, return to the cleaned jar and store in the refrigerator until needed.
Crock Pot Method: (My favorite)
Place 2 ounces of fresh, or 1 ounce of dried, plant material and 6 ounces by weight of grape seed oil into a crock pot. Mix thoroughly, set the dial to its lowest setting, and allow to heat uncovered for 12 hours. After this time has elapsed, place the cover on the crock pot and turn the switch to off. Allow the pot to sit covered until the following morning. Then turn the crock pot once again to its lowest setting, remove the cover, and allow to heat uncovered for an additional 12 hours. Once this time has elapsed, allow the oil to cool enough that you can touch it without burning yourself, and then strain the plant material out. Now place the strained infused oil into a pint-sized mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed. (When straining my infused oils, I place a coffee filter into a fine metal sieve, and set the sieve over a glass bowl. I then pour the mixture into the strainer, and let it sit until all the oil has drained. Once it appears that it has completely drained, you will notice that there is much less than the 6 ounces of oil you started with. I usually take a large wooded spoon, or something else heavy, and pack the mixture into the strainer. I am always surprised how much oil is still released from the plant material. You can expect to yield just over 5 ounces by weight of your infused oil)
Dosage: You can apply infused oil topically as needed. You can also follow the directions below to turn your infused oil into an ointment or salve.
Ointment or Salve
Infused oils are turned into ointments and salves. I have found ointment to be the best consistency when it is mixed 5 parts by weight infused oil to 1 part by weight of bee’s wax. Place 5 oz by weight of plant infused oil into a sauce pan over low heat. Now add 1 oz by weight of bee’s wax. While stirring, heat the oil just until the bee’s wax completely melts. Remove from heat, and pour into individual small ointment jars, or a small mason jar. Leave the jar uncovered until the ointment cools and solidifies. Now cover the container, and place into the refrigerator.
Dosage: Apply liberally as needed
Tincture
Part Used: Twigs and Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Alcohol Percentage: 50%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Fill the jar to the neck with chopped fresh twigs and leaves, then pour in 750 ml of 100 proof vodka, or 500 ml of 150 proof Everclear and 250 ml of water. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage:1/2 to 1 tsp of tincture as needed.
Tincture can also be diluted in water for topical use.
