Witch Hazel Extract by Herb Pharm - 1oz.
- Price: 11.99
Herb Pharm Witch Hazel Extract. Herb Pharm's prepare their Witch Hazel Extract frm the leaf & young twigs of Hamamelis virginiana shrubs which are Custom Wildcrafted in their wild Appalachian Mountain habitat. To assure optimal extraction of Witch Hazel's bioactive compounds, the leaves and young twigs are hand-harvested during the summer, are carefully shade-dried to maintain their full color & aroma, and are then thoroughly extracted. Herb Pharm's Witch Hazel is never fumigated or irradiated. Botanical Name of Witch Hazel: Hamamelis virginiana - from the name Hippocrates gave to medlars. The common name is from the Anglo-Saxon word for flexible, wytch, because of the Native Americans' use of witch hazel for making bows. Plant Description: Witch hazel is a deciduous shrub that boasts compact clumps of yellow or orange-red flowers with long, thin petals and hard black seed pods. The plant reaches about 15 feet in height and flowers in the fall or winter. Some varieties, such as Hamamelis virginiana, have green, broad-leafed foliage. The seed pods do not drop, but explode when ripe to scatter seeds. Aside from medicinal uses, the attractive witch hazel is used as a decorative shrub and the seed pods (hazel nuts) are a popular food item. Therapeutic Uses and Benefits of Witch Hazel Witch hazel is used to stop bleeding, and is believed to be effective on both internal and external injuries. This has been used to stop the bleeding on cuts, reduce bruising directly after an injury, and as part of the treatment for stomach ulcers. It is believed that the tannins present in witch hazel (especially the bark), along with various oils, help speed coagulation. Because of its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, witch hazel is approved by the FDA as an ingredient in over-the-counter medications to treat hemorrhoids and varicose veins. What causes anti-inflammatory reactions is still under investigation, though several possible causes have been found. These include pronounced activity against superoxide, a property which may be valuable in fighting wrinkles and aging. Additionally, the resin, flavonoids, and procyanadins in witch hazel are known to soothe hemorrhoids. Both extracts and poultices of witch hazel have shown to be effective in soothing the pain and itching of insect bites and stings. Various Native American tribes have used witch hazel to reduce swelling, soothe sore muscles, treat scrapes and sores, and ease back pain. They also believed that it was effective in treating tumors. Marketed as an extract since the mid-1800's, witch hazel (combined with a small amount of alcohol) is widely used to treat boils, burns, and cuts. Additionally, the extract is a choice ingredient for personal care products including soaps, skin creams, deodorants, and much more. Cold sores may be especially susceptible to witch hazel. Evidence supports the belief that specific extracts of witch hazel are effective against the Herpes simplex 1 virus. A recent study