The Wonders of Witch Hazel – A Must Have for Your First Aid Preparations

WItch Hazel Is Such a Wonderful Addition to Your Medicine Cabinet. It Is Beneficial for All Skin Types and Can Be Used to Make an Herbal Infusion

Witch Hazel has been used medicinally by the American Indians and is found in many commercial health products. The leaves and bark are used to produce a strong anti-oxidant and astringent that can be used on sores, bruises, and swelling.

Why do I recommend it for your first aid cabinet?

It has astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties, making it a helpful ingredient for many different medicinal preparations. It easily takes on the properties of any herbs that you may want to infuse it with. 

CAUTION: Witch Hazel is only safe when taken externally.

Beneficial for All Skin Types

•  as an aftershave
•  to cleanse oils from the skin
•  to remove makeup
•  to decrease bags under eyes and skin puffiness
•  reduce pore size – it works great on blemishes
•  to minimize varicose veins

Medicinally, Witch Hazel extract is often applied as a compress to assist with minor injuries and bruises.

Homemade Witch Hazel Wipes

• Mix 1/4 a cup of home or commercially prepared witch hazel
• Add 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil
• Place it in a jar with a tight lid
• Add cotton swabs or pads to the jar and liquid mixture, until they are just moistened.
• Go for a wet but not dripping consistency

Use your wipes on, skin irritations, insect bites, hemorrhoids, rashes from poison ivy or oak, localized inflammations, and other conditions. Add witch hazel (infused or not) to your bath water after a workout to help relieve muscle soreness.

Herb Infused Witch Hazel

You can make an herbal infused witch hazel blend as a facial toner. Be creative and choose one of these herbs to infuse, or create a blend; all these herbs will benefit your skin:

• Basil,
• Calendula,
• Chamomile,
• Elderflowers,
• Lavender Flowers,
• Lemon Balm,
• Lemon Peel,
• Lemon Verbena,
• Orange Peel,
• Peppermint,
• Rose petals,
• Rosemary, or
• Sage

How to Infuse It:

1. Place a cup of dried herbs in a glass jar that has a tight lid, and cover the herbs completely with the home or commercially prepared Witch Hazel. Make sure that the liquid covers the herbs by at least an inch to account for swelling of the dried herbs. As the dried herbs expand you may need to add more Witch Hazel until they are fully covered.
2. Cap tightly and place in a cool, dark place. I have an “herbs brewing” area in my pantry.
3. Allow this to infuse for at least 2 weeks, shaking the jar daily or as often as you remember. The Witch Hazel will quickly take on the scent and color of the herbs you’ve chosen.
4. Once finished, strain the herbs out using cheesecloth or a fine cloth. Compost the herbs.
5. Pour the liquid into a clean bottle, label, and enjoy!

If you are lucky enough to find a plant growing in your yard, follow these directions from Kendra at New Life on a Homestead to make your own topical liquid.

Witch Hazel is such a wonderful and necessary addition to your medicine cabinet. It is easy to find at any grocery store or pharmacy and is beneficial for all skin types. Use it to make an herbally infused skin toner. How do you use witch hazel?

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