# Witch Hazel **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821 "2000-12-30T20:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Mr.Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blonde)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/1 "2000-12-30T20:00:15Z")
Does anyone know what this stuff is and what it’s used for? I see it near the rubbing alcohol in the pharmacy. I looked at the ingredients label, and it said: Ingredients: Witch Hazel. (d’uh) ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/2 "2000-12-30T20:18:53Z")
It’s aftershavey , and I think it stops bleeding from minor nicks and cuts. jb ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/3 "2000-12-30T20:40:21Z")
Yeah, it’s a botanical. This link describes its botanical origins: [http://www.bartleby.com/65/wi/witchhaz.html](http://www.bartleby.com/65/wi/witchhaz.html) This one is a commercial site highlighting its many uses: [http://www.vermontwitchhazel.com/about.htm](http://www.vermontwitchhazel.com/about.htm) It apparently feels good, doesn’t harm. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/4 "2000-12-31T02:46:10Z")
It’s also a wonderful astringent. Cleans your face right up. ---
**Author:** ![beakerxf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@beakerxf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beakerxf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/5 "2000-12-31T04:24:06Z")
It’s great for hemorroids…or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/6 "2000-12-31T04:28:53Z")
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) , leaves & bark, are traditionally used as an astringent, most often for skin conditions and hemorrhoids. It’s one of the more longstanding botanicals that’s remained on the shelves for decades, the most prominent brand being Dickinson’s . Witch Hazel with isopropyl (yer good ol’ rubbing) alcohol if IRC. For more info, check out[here](http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/withaz27.html). At any rate, it’s a right fine plant that flowers in the fall, and is always swell to come upon during a walk…pretty little yellow flowers when everyhing else has crapped out, and real fine to find if you know what to do with it over those long-sitting winters. ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/7 "2001-06-08T00:07:34Z")
It also is wonderful for the little water blisters and the itching that results from sunburn. Unfortunately I can vouch for it’s effectiveness. [sub]scratch, scratch, scratch[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/8 "2001-06-08T00:11:47Z")
[sub]geez. I am sorry to have resurrected this thread. It’s all Max’s fault. I swear.[/sub] :slinks off: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/9 "2001-06-08T02:26:34Z")
I’ve never heard it used as an after-shave, but it doesn’t surprise me. I use it as an astringent, and to sooth bug bites and sunburn. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/10 "2001-06-08T10:59:26Z")
It’s also good for cleaning gooky ear wax out of your dog’s ears. As long as it’s just gooky ear wax, and not an infection. A good Witch Hazel flush after your dog goes swimming also helps keep them from getting ear infections. (Doggy Swimmer’s Ear) Works for people, too. If your child bumps their head, and there’s really nothing else wrong, a Witch Hazel compress is helpful. It smells like medicine, so they think “it must do something.” (And make 'em sit on the couch 'till the smell goes away. They won’t be bumping their head again anytime soon, cause that’s a smell that lingers.) Witch Hazel 1,001 uses. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/11 "2001-06-08T13:22:15Z")
Does anyone know why it’s CALLED “Witch Hazel?” When I was little, I always pictured one of Samantha’s more glamorous relatives. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/12 "2001-06-08T14:32:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Does anyone know why it’s CALLED “Witch Hazel?” \*\* In this sense, witch or wych refers to a tree with supple branches. It is related to the word “weak”, but not to the word “witch” meaning enchantress. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/13 "2001-06-08T19:10:52Z")
WH does not work as an effective astringent or cleanser, for me anyway. I tried it once (because SeaBreeze® is so damned expensive) but it failed to remove the day’s grime from my rosy cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![lucie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed8c4c/32.png) [@lucie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucie)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/14 "2001-06-08T22:26:57Z")
It’s not a cleanser - more of a pore-toner. Use it after you’ve washed for best results. ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-hazel/47821/15 "2001-06-09T03:28:57Z")
LUCIE----Thanks for the info. I’m gonna try that. However; to be used before or after the cold water rinse? Use on a towel dried face or “damp”? Air dry or towel dry after using? THX dlm