| Witch-hazel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hamamelis virginiana | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Hamamelidoideae |
| Tribe: | Hamamelideae A.DC. |
| Genus: | Hamamelis Gronov. exL. |
| Type species | |
| Hamamelis virginiana L. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Witch-hazels orwitch hazels (Hamamelis) are agenus offlowering plants in the familyHamamelidaceae, with three species in North America (H. ovalis,[2]H. virginiana, andH. vernalis), and one each in Japan (H. japonica) and China (H. mollis). The North American species are occasionally calledwinterbloom.[3][4]
The witch-hazels aredeciduousshrubs or (rarely) small trees growing to 3 to 7.5 m tall, even more rarely to 12 m tall. Theleaves are alternately arranged, oval, 5 to 15 cm long, and 2.5 to 10 cm wide, with a smooth or wavy margin. The genus name,Hamamelis, means "together with fruit", referring to the simultaneous occurrence of flowers with the maturing fruit from the previous year.[5]H. virginiana blooms in September–November while the other species bloom from January–March. Each flower has four slender strap-shaped petals 1 to 2 cm long, pale to dark yellow, orange, or red. The fruit is a two-partcapsule 1 cm long, containing a single 0.6 cm glossy black seed in each of the two parts; the capsulesplits explosively at maturity in the autumn about eight months after flowering, ejecting the seeds with sufficient force to fly for distances of up to 12 feet (3.7 m), thus another alternative name "snapping hazel".[6]
The namewitch in witch-hazel has its origins inMiddle Englishwiche, from theOld Englishwice, meaning "pliant" or "bendable", and is not related to the wordwitch meaning a practitioner of magic.[7]Jacob George Strutt's 1822 book,Sylva Britannica attests that "Wych Hazel" was used in England as a synonym for wych elm, the entirely unrelatedUlmus glabra;[8] The use of the twigs asdivining rods, just ashazel twigs were used in England, may also have,[9] by folk etymology, influenced the "witch" part of the name.[4]
Five species are recognized:[1]
Hamamelis mexicana is sometimes considered a species,[10] though as of 2020[update]Kew'sPlants of the World Online considers it a variety ofH. virginiana.[1]
ThePersian ironwood, a closely related tree formerly treated asHamamelis persica, is now given a genus of its own, asParrotia persica, as it differs in the flowers having justsepals and nopetals. Other closely allied genera areParrotiopsis,Fothergilla, andSycopsis (see underHamamelidaceae). Witch-hazels are not closely related to the trueCorylushazels, though they have a few superficially similar characteristics which may cause one to believe that they are - their leaves are a similar shape, and turn a similar shade of yellow in autumn.[11]
They are popularornamental plants, grown for their clusters of rich yellow to orange-red flowers, which begin to expand in the autumn as or slightly before the leaves fall and continue throughout the winter.
Hamamelis virginiana was introduced into English gardens byPeter Collinson, who maintained correspondence with plant hunters in the American colonies. It is rarely seen in the nursery trade except for woodland/wildlife restoration projects and native plant enthusiasts. Much more common isH. mollis, which has bright yellow flowers that bloom in late winter instead of the yellow blossoms ofH. virginiana which tend to be lost among the plant's fall foliage. The plant-hunterCharles Maries collected forVeitch Nurseries in the Chinese district ofJiujiang in 1879. It languished in nursery rows for years until it was noticed, propagated, and put on the market in 1902.[12]
Numerouscultivars have been selected for use as garden shrubs, many of them derived from thehybridH. × intermedia Rehder (H. japonica ×H. mollis). Jelena and Robert de Belder ofArboretum Kalmthout, selecting for red cultivars, found three: the first, with bronze flowers, was named 'Jelena'; the next, with red flowers, was named 'Diane' (the name of their daughter); the last, with deep red flowers, was called 'Livia' (the name of their granddaughter).[13]
The mainphytochemicals in witch-hazel leaves arepolyphenols, including 3–10%tannins,flavonoids, and up to 0.5%essential oil, while the bark has a higher tannin content.[14][15] Hamamelis water, also calledwhite hazel orwitch hazel water prepared from asteam-distillation process using leaves, bark or twigs, is a clear, colorless liquid containing 13–15%ethanol having theodor of the essential oil, but with no tannins present.[14][15] Essential oil components, such ascarvacrol andeugenol, may be present.[16]
As an ingredient and topical agent, witch-hazel water is regulated in the United States as anover-the-counter drug for external use only to soothe minor skin irritations.[17] Hamamelis (witch-hazel) water is diluted using water in a 1:3 preparation, and is not intended for oral use which may cause nausea, vomiting, or constipation.[15]
Witch-hazel may be sold as a semisolidointment, cream, gel, orsalve fortopical use,[15][18] and due to itsastringent andantiseptic properties, has long been used to treat various skin conditions likeacne.[19][20] The ointment may ease discomfort frompost-partum vaginal soreness andhemorrhoids.[15][21] It is commonly used to treatdiaper rash in infants, and may reduce symptoms ofinflammation from minor skin injuries.[15] A 2012 review (updated in October 2020) found little evidence of effectiveness from local cooling treatments (including witch-hazel pads) applied to theperineum following childbirth to relieve pain.[22]
The leaves and bark of the North American witch-hazel,Hamamelis virginiana, are used infolk medicine,herbalism, andskincaredecoctions by Native Americans.[14][15][4] Extracts of witch-hazel have been claimed to be effective forpsoriasis andeczema, to preventdehydration of skin, and for insect bites,poison ivy,[23] and razor burn.[24][25][26] There is limitedclinical evidence to support witch-hazel as an effective treatment for any of these conditions.[15] Prepared by distillation, the essential oil of witch-hazel has such a small proportion of tannins or other polyphenols that it is unlikely to have any therapeutic effect, and may causecontact dermatitis when used topically.[14][15] It might be useful in treating hemorrhoids and relieving some of its symptoms, although more research is needed.[27]
In 2017, one manufacturer of skin care products containing witch-hazel was warned by theFood and Drug Administration for making unsubstantiatedhealth claims and for not providing evidence the products were safe.[28]
In a 2002 human study, researchers found that lotion with 10 percent witch hazel decreased reddening due to a sunburn. A 1998 study determined similar results in people with sunburns.[29]
EarlyPuritan settlers inNew England learned about witch-hazel from the Native peoples, but its use did not become widely established in the United States until the 19th century.[23]
A missionary, Dr. Charles Hawes, adopted the process ofsteam distillation of witch-hazel twigs, creating a "Hawes Extract" product sold inEssex, Connecticut, in 1846, by Alvan Whittemore, a druggist and chemist.[30] Thomas Newton Dickinson Sr. is credited with starting the commercial production of witch-hazel extract in 1866, and eventually establishing nine production sites in easternConnecticut during the 20th century.[23] Following his death, his two sons, Thomas N. Dickinson Jr., ofMystic, Connecticut, and Everett E. Dickinson of Essex, each inherited parts of the family business and continued the manufacture of witch-hazel extract, operating competing "Dickinson's" businesses that their descendants continued until 1997, when the manufacturing operations from both companies were consolidated at the American Distilling plant inEast Hampton, CT.[23]
In 1846,Theron T. Pond marketed a similar product, Golden Treasure, extracted from witch hazel bark. After Pond died in 1852, it was marketed as Pond's Extract, the first product of thePond's firm, today a maker of a range oftoiletries sold worldwide.
witch hazel has long been used for skin trouble such as acne as an astringent and antiseptic