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witchhazel

Scientific Name: Hamamelis

Family: Hamamelidaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Witch Hazel: A Natural Remedy and Winter Bloom

Witch hazel, known for its medicinal properties and unique winter blooms, is a plant with a rich history and diverse applications. It's commonly used in skincare and appreciated for its fragrant flowers.

Considerations for Pets

  • Witch hazel bark and leaves are used to derive a topical astringent.

Considerations for Children

  • Witch hazel bark and leaves are used to derive a topical astringent.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Hamamelis (genus) and specifically Hamamelis virginiana (North American Witch-hazel)
  • Common Name: Witch Hazel

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Hamamelidaceae

Distribution and Habitat

  • Witch hazels are found in North America (three species), Japan (H. japonica), and China.
  • Hamamelis virginiana is the common or North American witch-hazel shrub.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Hamamelis is a winter-flowering shrub.
  • It has a spicy fragrance and spidery flowers in yellow, orange, and red.
  • One award-winning variety exhibits tiered branches that contrast well with the vertical stems of dogwood.

Traditional and Current Uses

  • The bark, leaves, and twigs have long been used medicinally.
  • Native Americans, such as the Osage and Potawatomi, used witch hazel for various medicinal purposes, including treating skin ulcers and in sweat lodges.
  • Today, it's a popular herbal remedy recognized as a natural cleanser and toner, and is often marketed for skin conditions like eczema.
  • It is used to relieve itching, reduce acne, and relieve varicose veins.
  • The bark is used for bruises, wounds, sprains, swellings, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids.

Quirky Facts

  • Witch hazel is a rare plant that blooms in midwinter.

Further Information

  • WebMD provides patient medical information, including uses, effectiveness, side effects, and safety details.
  • Boots offers detailed product information and reviews for their Witch Hazel products.
  • Alan Titchmarsh shares gardening tips for growing witch hazel.