Witch Hazel Medicine: Past & Present

Witch Hazel (Hammamelis virginiana) is a gorgeous, native, midstory tree that lights up the fall forest with its bright yellow, spindly flowers which often persist on the trees well after the leaves have fallen. These unique flowers emit the faintest lemony-citrus scent and if you catch their bloom just right, their smell permeates the fall forest with their bright perfume.

Witch Hazel is officially listed in the US Pharmacopeia- the compendium of medicines considered "official" by the FDA- and is widely available at drug stores everywhere.  It’s classified as an astringent and approved for "relief of minor skin irritations due to: insect bites, minor cuts, minor scrapes.” This is of course a vestige of a time when plants dominated the Pharmacopeia and I love that this plant is still so present in modern day healthcare. We can make our own folk preparation by using diluted tinctures, decoctions and double extracts.

Read on to learn more about this wonderful medicinal!