Witch Hazel Leaf Profile

Also known as

Hamamelis virginiana. Hamamelis, Winterbloom, and American Witch Hazel.

Introduction

Witch hazel is a leather-leafed deciduous shrub native to eastern United States. The bottoms of its leaves are dull gray, but the upward facing surfaces of the leaves are shiny green. Witch hazel is easy to recognize in the woods in autumn because as other trees are losing their leaves, witch hazel is covered with threadlike, golden-yellow flowers. Both the bark and the leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Constituents

Ascorbic acid, acetaldehyde, astragalin, beta-ionone, choline, gallic acid, hamamelidin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol, myricetin, phenol, quercitin, quercitrin, safrole, spiraeoside.

Parts Used

Leaf

Typical Preparations

Teas, tinctures, creams. Witch hazel bark water is made with alcohol, but witch hazel leaf water can be made without alcohol.

Summary

Precautions

Use only until symptoms subside. Do not give witch hazel teas by mouth to children for more than 3 days at a time.