HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (Witch Hazel)
Witch Hazel, (Hamamelis virginiana) is a shrub, about six to eight 
meters tall and original from North America. The Witch Hazel family is composed of more than 20 genera and about 100 species around the world [1]. The flowers are bright yellow and the fruits encapsulated. This shrub blooms in fall and winter.
It seems that the name of Witch hazel derives from the similitude of witch hazel leaves with those of the hazel nut [2] in combination with the strange blooming time, near Halloween [3]. Many people ask themselves what is Witch hazel and what is Witch hazel used for, if you´re one of them have a look below and discover Witch hazel properties and health benefits and the related scientific evidence on which those have been founded.
WITCH HAZEL ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
Tannins, bitters, gallic acid, catechins, gallotannins, hamamelitannins, flavonoids (quercentin, kaempferol), phenolic acids, saponins, safrole.
The gallotannins are mainly concentrated in Witch hazel leaves. The Hamamelis virginiana leaves extracts showed a high concentration of not only gallotannins, but also procyanidins and catechins, these last two active constituents in a less considerable proportion.
Octagalloyl hexose represents the major tannin constituent found in Hamamelis virginiana.
WITCH HAZEL PROPERTIES
Some of the properties and characteristics that make Witch Hazel a 
very interesting herb for us are, for example its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant properties, these last ones due to the high amount of tannins that this herb has. Health Benefits.
ANTI-CARCINOGENIC PROPERTIES OF WITCH HAZEL
Safrole is a known carcinogen but Witch Hazel doesn´t contain quantities enough of safrole to suppose a health hazard [4][10]. Scientific research however shows links between safrole and hepatic adenomas in rats [11]. Other essential oils have also been subject of study in order to determine the link between them and certain types of cancer. Due to its sweet and spicy flavor safrole was used till 1958 as a flavoring agent but then forbidden by the FDA and many other countries due to the liver damage and tumours that it could cause its administration [12][13].
WITCH HAZEL FOR HEMORRHOIDS
Witch Hazel has been known since many years to be an effective herbal remedy against diarrhoea, hemorrhoids and also very good for the treatment of skin disorders, this mainly due to its astringent properties, yes, Witch Hazel is an astringent herb and as such is good because it helps to tone the skin and close its pores, helping you have a fresh look.
WITCH HAZEL ASTRINGENT PROPERTIES
Astringent herbs as Witch hazel can reduce the body fluid discharge by constricting the skin and its pores, reducing that way the level of dehydration suffered by the body, for example during diarrhea processes. These astringent properties of Witch hazel are exerted by the tannins found in this herb.
The astringent properties from Witch Hazel come from one of its biomolecules, the tannins, which you may have heard to some wine experts while talking about the taste and properties of wine. Well, tannins are biomolecules as we said, which main characteristic are its astringent property and its particular taste. These astringent properties of tannins contained in Witch hazel bark and leaves were already used by American Indians many years ago to prepare teas against fever and coughs [9].
Tannins give this bitter and characteristic taste to the wine, and are responsible for the precipitation of those particles we find in old wines when we finish to drink them or at the bottom of the bottle. The older the wine is the most tannins you’ll find on them and the more probabilities those ones are precipitate as rests. Now that we know what the tannins are we can tell you why Witch Hazel has such an astringent power, Witch Hazel leave extracts are very rich in tannins.
WITCH HAZEL COSMETIC PROPERTIES
There are many cosmetic herbal remedies that make use of astringent herbs as witch hazel to achieve very good aesthetic results.
Extracts from Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), as well as green tea (Camellia sinensis), the fern Polypodium leucotomos and others contain antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that may protect the skin from sunburn and photo-aging when administered topically or systemically[6].
WITCH HAZEL ANTI-BACTERIAL PROPERTIES
Witch hazel tannins are very useful to protect skin against bacterial attacks, this is one of the reasons Witch Hazel is believed to be an effective anti-bacterial agent. This is probably the effect of tannins that closing skin pores prevent bacterial infections and help our skin to be better protected against those external agents.
WITCH HAZEL FOR WOUNDS AND BRUISES
The astringent effect of tannins also help to stop bleeding minor wounds and bruises, however this will only help in minor injuries. Because the high amount of tannins this herb contains, it´s only recommended using it externally.
WITCH HAZEL COSMETIC PROPERTIES
There is evidence of use of Witch hazel in the cosmetic industry. Many well-known commercial after-shaves and facial care products make use of the astringent properties of Witch hazel and benefit from it. It seems that laboratories opted to make use of the natural properties of Witch hazel instead of investing on the discovery of new molecules for which they may have never obtained such a good result.
WITCH HAZEL ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES
Many cosmetic and anti-aging herbal remedies make also use of Witch hazel astringent properties, including in their masks formulas a couple of tea spoons of Witch hazel as key ingredient [7].
WITCH HAZEL FOR VARICOSE VEINS
Another document use of Witch hazel refers to its power to treat varicose veins, mainly due again to the astringent power of tannins contained in Witch hazel, able to constrict blood vessels and minimize the effect of varicose veins.
WITCH HAZEL FOR ACNE
The use of Witch hazel for the treatment of acne in young patients became very popular in recent years. Once again, Witch hazel can help skin pores to close and prevent dirt and bacteria from infecting skin.
WITCH HAZEL FOR HEMORRHOIDS
Another blood vessel constriction disorder, hemorrhoids[9], has been treated since long time ago using the properties and benefits of Witch hazel. It seems that it´s topical application near the area affected can relieve pain and lower dilation of blood vessels. This is probably because tannins in Witch hazel can draw out inflammatory proteins causing the hemorrhoids, helping this way to reduce swelling and inflammation on the affected area.
WITCH HAZEL FOR PETS
Even some herbal remedies refer to Witch hazel properties for the treatment of animal itchiness and hot spots on pets [5]. The preparation seems to be very effective when Witch hazel is combined with Aloe vera.
THE EFFECTS OF HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITH HAZEL) IN SKIN DISORDERS AND SKIN INJURIES
The use of astringents as Witch hazel ointment for the treatment of skin disorders and skin injuries in children aged 27 days to 11 years was also documented in another clinical trial performed by the University Hospital of Luebeck. In this clinical trial Witch hazel ointment efficacy was compared and matched with that of dexpanthenol ointment. The results were similar in both cases but we have to highlight that the tolerability of hamamelis virginiana was considered as excellent [14].
WITCH HAZEL FOR COLON CANCER
In a recent study on Witch hazel Hamamelitannin properties against Colon cancer cells, it was discovered that Hamamelitannins from With Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) naturally occurring on the bark of this herb, exerted important anti-cancer properties, being able to induce necrosis and apoptosis, as well as S-phase arrest in the HT29 colon cancer cells. Pentagalloylglucose and proanthocyanidins found in the bark of Witch hazel were also analyzed on the same study but less efficiently than the Hamamelitannins [15,16]. In the same study hamamelitannin had no harmful effects on NCM460 normal colonocyte.
In another study it was discovered that hamamelitannins were on a higher concentration in Witch hazel bark, having that extract up to 31 times more hamamelitannin than the leaf extract and 87 times more than the stem extract [17]
SIDE EFFECTS AND PRECAUTIONS
Due to the high content of tannins in Witch hazel only external topical use is recommended. *Have a look at our disclaimer below.
REFERENCES:
[1] The shrubs and woody vines of Florida: a reference and field guide by Gil Nelson
[2] Complete trees, shrubs & hedges by Jacqueline Hériteau.
[3] Mountain nature: a seasonal natural history of the Southern Appalachians by Jennifer Frick-Ruppert.
[4] Herbs demystified: a scientist explains how the most common herbal remedies by Holly Phaneuf.
[5] Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals by Lew Olson
[6] Which plant for which skin diseases Part 2: Dermatophytes, chronic venous insufficiency, photoprotection, actinic keratoses, vitiligo, hair loss, cosmetic indications.
Reuter J, Wölfle U, Korting HC, Schempp C.
Competence Center skintegral®, Department of Dermatology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
[7] The Green Pharmacy Anti-Aging Prescriptions: Herbs, Foods, and Natural Natural Formulas to keep you young By James A. Duke, Michael Castleman.
[8] Forget the Facelift: Turn Back the Clock with a Revolutionary Program for Ageless Skin By Doris J. Day, Sondra Forsyth
[9] Secrets of Native American herbal remedies: a comprehensive guide to the Native American Tradition of Using Herbs By Anthony J. Cichoke.
[10] Herbal Medicine Past and Present: A reference guide to medicinal plants By J. K. Crellin, Jane Philpott, A. L. Tommie Bas.
[11] The Carcinogeiiicity of Essential Oils, Flavors, and Spices: A Review F. Homburger and Eliahu Boger Bio-Research Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
[12] Introduction to Food Toxicology By Takayuki Shibamoto, Leonard F. Bjeldanes
[13] Medical toxicology of natural substances: foods, fungi, medicinal herbs, plants and venomous animals By Donald G. Barceloux.
[14] Hamamelis in children with skin disorders and skin injuries: results of an observational study.
Wolff HH, Kieser M.
Dermatology Department, University Hospital Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Luebeck, Germany.
[15] Hamamelitannin from Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Displays Specific Cytotoxic Activity against Colon Cancer Cells.
Sánchez-Tena S, Fernández-Cachón ML, Carreras A, Mateos-Martín ML, Costoya N, Moyer MP, Nuñez MJ, Torres JL, Cascante M.
Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona , IBUB, Unit Associated with CSIC, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
[16] Hamamelitannin from Hamamelis virginiana inhibits the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced endothelial cell death in vitro.
Habtemariam S.
School of Chemical and Life Sciences, The University of Greenwich, Wellington Street, London, UK.
[17] Tannins from Hamamelis virginiana: identification of proanthocyanidins and hamamelitannin quantification in leaf, bark, and stem extracts.
Vennat B, Pourrat H, Pouget MP, Gross D, Pourrat A.
Laboratoire de Pharmacie Galénique et de Pharmacotechnie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France.
