Witch hazel is a type of shrub native to North America that is widely grown for ornamental purposes. However, witch hazel also has great medicinal value. An astringent can be made from the leaves and the bark of the witch hazel shrub, and this astringent can be used for a multitude of purposes. The best part is that witch hazel astringent can be found in most drugstores or online.
So, what exactly can witch hazel be used for?
- Use witch hazel to get clearer skin. Witch hazel can be used to reduce the inflammation of a pimple. Many people swear that every day use helps with acne. You can just saturate a cotton ball with the witch hazel, and rub it all over your face or just on your problem areas.
- Use witch hazel to treat sunburn. Applying witch hazel to a sunburn can not only soothe it, but also prevent peeling and flaking. You would apply it just as you would for acne-put some on a cotton ball and rub it all over the burn.
- Use witch hazel to soothe bug bites. Witch hazel has anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, which make it great for soothing irritating bug bites. Just use a cotton ball to apply a little bit to the bite.
- Use witch hazel to heal a bruise. Got a nasty shiner you need to get rid of? Just soak a cloth in witch hazel and apply it to the bruise several times a day until the bruise is gone. The healing process will go a lot quicker if you use witch hazel to treat the wound.
- Use witch hazel to reduce eye-puffiness. Witch hazel is known for shrinking blood vessels, which will get rid of puffy eyes. Just soak two cotton squares in it and lay one on each eye. Leave them on for 10 minutes and the puffiness should go away. Make sure to rinse your eyes afterwards.
- Use witch hazel to soothe razor burn. Use a little witch hazel as an aftershave to soothe razor burn. The anti-inflammatory properties will help keep your skin smooth and razor burn-free.
- Use witch hazel to refine and shrink pores. Using witch hazel twice a day after washing your face will shrink your pores.
- Use witch hazel to cure a sore throat. The anti-inflammatory properties in witch hazel make it an excellent way to soothe a sore throat. You can gargle some witch hazel to reduce inflammation and soreness. DO NOT SWALLOW ANY WITCH HAZEL!!! Be sure to thoroughly rinse your mouth and brush your teeth afterwards.
- Use witch hazel to soothe poison ivy or poison oak. Just like with a bug bite, witch hazel can soothe itchiness and reduce inflammation. Just apply some to the affected area with a cotton ball or you can soak a cloth in it and leave it on the area for a little while a few times a day.
- Use witch hazel to fade stretch marks. It takes a few months to start seeing results, but witch hazel can fade stretch marks. Just apply it to the marks to fade them.
Witch hazel has excellent medicinal values. People just don’t know much about it, so they reach for alternatives that are full of chemicals and other things that can cause more harm than help. Remember to always be careful when using witch hazel. Never ingest the witch hazel astringent and be careful not to use too much. As long as you follow these basic rules, you can safely use witch hazel for any of the problems above.