For years, Indian tribes used Witch Hazel as a medicine. It is allowed by the Federal Drug Administration as a topical treatment. There are numerous other herbal remedies allowed as dietary supplements, but witch hazel is one of the few that are allowed in topical treatments. It has been used for things like hemorrhoids, insect bites and stings, skin ulcers, tumors, boils, rashes and even things like chiggers or poison ivy.
Witch Hazel is a native shrub found in America and Europe. Witch Hazel has many medicinal qualities that have seen it highly valued over the years and used in many different ways. In early days, it’s branches and flowers were steamed and the broth mixed with alcohol then used for astringents or topical medication. Nowadays, it is an ingredient in many different things ranging from mouthwashes to anti aging creams and also anti wrinkle creams. It is an ingredient in many different hemorrhoid treatments today. It’s a popular home remedy and skin care experimentalists claim that medicines made up of Witch Hazel work in anti aging of skin.
Witch Hazel is useful in anti-aging treatments, because it has been found to have capillary constricting properties that reduce inflammation, as well as topical antioxidant properties. It is a safe, and inexpensive home remedy on average witch hazel oil can be found on sale for under a couple dollars in the pharmacy area of most stores. It’s use as an ingredient in many anti-aging creams and anti-wrinkle creams. It is usually in a more concentrated form and, because of this, promotes cell turnover as well as new cell moisturizing because the oil concentrate keep skin cells plump and hydrated.
In the 1840′s, Theron Pond from Utica, NY, learned from the Oneida Indians, the medicinal properties of the witch hazel shrub. The shrubs are native in the New York and Connecticut area, and still supply much of the witch hazel today. After several years of studying with the Oneida Indian medicine men, Theron Pond was amazed at the healing powers and in conjunction with the Indians, decided to market the extract commercially under the name of Golden Treasure. After several moves by the company, company sales, and the death of Theron Pond, a manufacturing plant was established in Connecticut and the name was changed to “Pond’s extract”.
Witch Hazel production is still common around Connecticut where it is one of the leading manufacturing areas dealing in Witch Hazel extract today. The harvesting still goes on in Northwestern Connecticut, land owners cut the Witch Hazel every few years, so that they can re-branch and sell to the many distributors, who then distill the product for pharmaceutical uses.
Witch Hazel has been confirmed as an antioxidant, radiation protective and anti-inflammatory. It is an approved astringent and external analgesic, and has internal medicinal uses as well. It is only natural that it is an ingredient in anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams, as a proven treatment.
