Native to Missouri and Arkansas, this is the most shrub-like species. Its yellow or red flowers are small, but profuse and appear between January and April. Witch hazel is a good source of flavonoid compounds. Flavonoids are antioxidants that can have a positive effect on all layers of the skin. The witch hazel is an unusual deciduous shrub or small tree. Although not closely related to the true hazels, there are some superficial similarities, including the leaf shape. It earns a place in the garden because of its winter interest. The clusters of flowers appear on the bare, characteristically zigzagging, grey branches from January to March, with the exception of Hamamelis virginiana, which flowers from September to November.

Remember, just because witch hazel is a “natural” ingredient, this doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone. Plus, some OTC formulas can contain added ingredients that may irritate your skin, such as alcohol. Hamamelis mollis ‘Goldcrest’ – this Chinese Witch hazel has large, sweetly scented, golden yellow flowers, tinged with maroonThe latter is especially significant, as it is one of the few American medicinal plants approved for use in non-prescription drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bought or stored seed has a deep dormancy and it will need to be cold and warm stratified before it will germinate. To hasten this, put the seeds in moistened sand in a plastic bag and put this first into a warm place at 20ºC for April and May, making sure the sand does not dry out. Then move the bag to the fridge for a further four months, keeping it moist, and then sow the seed in late summer. Occasionally, a few of the seeds may actually germinate in the sand in the course of this process, so the bag should be inspected frequently and any germinating seed removed to be potted. Witch hazel is high in tannins , a polyphenol that may reduce inflammation in the skin and works to combat free radicals with its antioxidant properties. This chemical compound has also been shown to have antibacterial properties which may be helpful for people trying to support the treatment of acne.

As witch hazel is an astringent ingredient it may help to minimize the production of the skin’s natural oils. When applied to the skin, witch hazel-based toners have the potential to ease irritation, injury, and inflammation. Some of the most common uses include acne, inflammatory conditions, and sunburn. Acne Reuter J, Wölfle U, Korting HC, Schempp C. Which plant for which skin disease? Part 2: Dermatophytes, chronic venous insufficiency, photoprotection, actinic keratoses, vitiligo, hair loss, cosmetic indications. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2010;8(11):866-73. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2010.07472.x. Hamamelis x intermedia – a cross between Chinese witch hazel ( Hamamelis mollis) and Japanese witch hazel ( Hamamelis japonica), Hamamelis ‘Savill Starlight’ has yellow flowers in late winter, and good autumn leaf colour The idea behind witch hazel for acne treatment is that it can act as an astringent by drying out your acne blemishes, much like other OTC treatments.

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Native Americans also utilized Hamamelis to treat skin irritation, inflammation, eye and liver conditions, fevers, and burns. It was applied to the skin as an astringent or a poultice, and even consumed in liquid form as a tea. Chamomile: Chamomile is a herb that has calming, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. You can brew chamomile tea and use it as a rinse or a spray for your cat’s skin. Chamomile can help treat your cat’s itching, inflammation, and anxiety. To make this a neat Y-shape, neatly position two canes either side behind the branches to form the two arms of the Y. Now tie in a branch to each cane. Cut out the other stems, including the central stem, to make theY-shape. Spring layering can also be used produce young plants, but again the success rate may be low, so a number of attempts may be necessary. To layer, bend a healthy, growing stem down to the soil or to the surface of a compost-filled container, having first made a short incision on the underside of the stem where it will touch the soil. Bury it slightly in a trench, anchor the stem using wire loops and then refill with soil to cover it. Once roots have developed, sever the new plant from the parent with a sharp, sterilised knife and treat like an establishing cutting. That, and cultivating your plants properly, since a healthy specimen is more robust when faced with infection. Phyllosticta Leaf Blotch

Chularojanamontri, L., Tuchinda, P., Kulthanan, K., & Pongparit, K. (2014, May). Moisturizers for acne: What are their constituents? The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 7(5), 36–44 While fully hardy once established, with an ability to flower on through ice and frost, young witch hazel shrubs can be damaged by hard frosts when first planted out, and they will benefit from protection with a few layers of fleece in the first couple of winters if hard winter or spring frosts are anticipated. Since the fungus overwinters on leaf detritus as well as infected foliage, any fallen leaves should be immediately raked up and disposed of. Trüeb RM. North American Virginian Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Based Scalp Care and Protection for Sensitive Scalp, Red Scalp, and Scalp Burn-Out. Int J Trichology. 2014;6(3):100-103. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.139079 Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Westerstede’ – the flowers are yellow and slightly scented and the oval green leaves fade to yellow in autumn Specimen shrubs can sometimes be improved by the removal of congested, crossing or weak shoots, but this risks detracting from its characteristic winter architectural profile of zigzag stems. If only a few leaves are infected, you can remove them. For more severe cases, you should remove infected stems in their entirety and any fallen leaves. Since these testimonies are circumstantial, it’s difficult to know which types of witch hazel were used, and how long these side effects lasted.