Witch hazel was on clearance at the local drugstore last week, so I decided to stock up. You know me, can’t resist a bargain! When I got home with my stash, my husband looked at me like I had lost my mind. “How many uses for witch hazel can there possibly be?” he wanted to know. Well, let me tell you….
Did you know that witch hazel draws skin tissue together, and constricts the blood vessels? It has been used by Native Americans for years as a folk remedy. They use leaves and bark of the witch hazel plant for many things. Witch hazel contains tannins, which are known to fight bacteria.
You can apply witch hazel directly to the skin for:
· Relief from itching from bug bites
· Inflammation
· Makeup remover – witch hazel makes a wonderful astringent!
· Hemorrhoid relief
· To slow bleeding in minor cuts and scrapes
· Sunburn relief…It also protects from getting sunburn
· An anti-aging remedy
· To help bruises fade and healer faster
I had no idea that witch hazel is also relatively safe and often used orally. You can eat the dried leaves In 2 gram amounts or steep it as a tea. It can cause stomach upset, but some people believe that when taken by mouth, witch hazel can help in the treatment of such maladies as:
· Cancer and other tumors
· Diarrhea
· Colds and Fevers
· Vomiting or coughing up blood
I’m not sure I’m ready to make a tea from witch hazel leaves anytime soon, but isn’t it wonderful to know there are so many uses for this inexpensive, everyday product?
Leave a Reply