Growing up, Nana told me to put witch hazel on everything from bug bites and cuts to pimples. I just thought it was just some all natural isopropyl alcohol with a weird smell. Little did I know, she was on to something? Witch hazel is Mother Nature’s beauty secret. If you want to remember the wonders witch hazel has to offer just think MS. AAA
Moisturizer
Sun Damage
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Astringent
Even more wonderful, witch hazel is all natural and approved by the FDA. As far as beauty elixirs, it is inexpensive about $5 for a 16 ounce bottle.
Witch hazel is a low growing shrub with autumn colored leaves. Long ago, so the story goes, witches used the branches of this shrub as dowsing rods to find water or ‘witch wells.’ Now it is used to clean and hydrate skin.
The leaves and the underside of the bark contain phytochemicals like tannic acid and gallic acid. Phytochemicals are compounds found in plants that help protect them against external injury and disease. They are natural healers and natural emollients … after all plants cannot grow without water and nutrients.
gallic acid
tannic acid
Since witch hazel is a larger molecule than isopropyl alcohol it does not evaporate as quickly and cause dryness. So you can get the same great astringent and antimicrobial qualities of alcohol without causing dryness.
I have used witch hazel for years to treat occasional skin break outs. Acne occurs when glands produce an excess amount of an oily substance called sebum. Acne is also caused by bacteria. The tannins in witch hazel give it an astringent quality that helps it remove any excess sebum while its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling associate with acne.
Some other helpful uses of witch hazel include treating swollen gums and swimmers ear.
Swollen Gum Remedy
Place a dropper full of witch hazel and a dropper full of myrrh in ¼ cup water. Use this mixture as a mouth rinse.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear occurs when moisture accumulates in the outer ear canal. That moisture can lead to an infection. Dab a cotton swab in witch hazel, golden seal and calendula tea. Apply to the outer ear. Witch hazel will dry out any pussy secretions. Goldenseal and calendula will fight the infection.
