Witch Hazel: Not only for witches « Health Now, Wealth Forever

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By Felicia, on November 9th, 2012

In my previous post, Start A Natural First-Aid Kit, I touched on witch hazel as a natural disinfectant and anti itch remedy.  But after putting witch hazel on an unsightly growth on my back and watching that growth disappear after a few applications; I decided to devote a whole post to this wonder plant.

“Witch hazel, also known as winterbloom or spotted alder, is actually a flowering shrub common in North America. The leaves, bark, and twigs of witch hazel are high in tannins.” (1)  Tannins are a natural astringent found in many organic forms and produce a tightening and puckering of skin and taste buds. (2)  Witch Hazel is can be used internally as well as externally, by brewing the leaves into a tea; they have been known to help a sore throat, irritable bowel syndrome and diaherra(3).  Externally, witch hazel can just about do it all from help chicken pox stop itching to healing a sunburn to clearing up acne and hemorrhoids.

Witch hazel is very affordable and can be found in any drugstore or health food store.  As for my unsightly growth,  I am very happy it is gone and I didn’t have to go to the doctor to have it removed.  That alone proves that researching and looking to nature first can not only save you money but can be crucial to your health as well.

Sources and resources:

(1)http://www.moneycrashers.com/what-is-witch-hazel-uses-benefits/

(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin

(3)http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/witch-hazel-herbal-remedies.htm

http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel