Witch hazel is used to alleviate summer itch due to poison ivy, inscect bites and sunburn. Years ago it was a folk remedy used to treat numerous wounds and disorders, including tumors. Some day it may again be used to treat cancer.
What is Witch Hazel?
Witch hazel, or Hamamelis virginiana, is a shrub that contains a substance called hamamelis in its bark. For hundreds of years it has been used as an herbal remedy by Native Americans and in the last few centuries by Americans as a remedy for wounds and disease. The product called witch hazel that we see in the drug store is usually placed next to rubbing alcohol.
Witch hazel is a clear liquid, usually 86% hamamelis (extracted and distilled) mixed with 14% rubbing alcohol. It has a very distinct but not unpleasant scent. The astringent action of hammamelis reduces swelling, itching and inflammation without the drying effect of 100% rubbing alcohol.
Witch Hazel in the Past
According to an article in a 1935 edition of the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, witch hazel was discovered in the 1840s by Theron T. Pond, who learned of it from the Oneida tribe of Native Americans in New York State. Used by the tribe for burns, boils and wounds, it was distilled into a tea from the bark and leaves of the plant.
Traditionally, Americans used witch hazel not only for skin irritation, but also for colds, fever, headache, tumors, tuberculosis and heavy menstrual bleeding. It was also used to soothe eye irritation or inflammation and to treat stomach ulcers.
Witch Hazel in the Present
Athough witch hazel is less well known today, it is still a popular product for relief of itching. It is less expensive than cortisone products, such as hydroxycortisone creams and pramoxine, the active incredient in Caladryl®.
Cortisone can be absorbed into the body, and should not be applied over large areas for an extended time. Cortisone can actually harm immunity when applied to wounds.
Used topically, witch hazel has no reported side effects, and can be used frequently over a large area. At $1.13 for a 16 oz. bottle, it is less expensive than a 6 oz. bottle of Caladryl® for $4.97 or a 1 oz. tube of hydroxycortisone for $4.48 (priced at Walmart on 7/10/11).
Witch hazel is extremely effective in treating external hemorrhoids, because it soothes itching, reduces swelling and stops bleeding. It is the primary ingredient in numerous products that relieve hemmorhoids, such as Tucks®.
The Mayo Clinic recommends cold witch hazel pads to sooth the soreness of the wound caused by episiotomy after childbirth.
A study of plant benefits for skin disease identified witch hazel as beneficial to skin (Reuter, J. 2010). Reuter demonstrated that the plant compounds in witch hazel protect the skin from aging due to sun exposure.
Witch Hazel in the Future: Treatment of Cancer and Other Diseases
Witch hazel is abundant in tannin, an astringent. Tannins are a type of polyphenols or plant compounds. It has been found that polyphenols also have antioxidant properties, or the ability to bind with abnormal cells and neutralize them, providing potential benefits in the treatment of disease.
Study of Tannins: A study of the effects of tannins extracted from witch hazel (Touriño, 2008) demonstrated the following:
- Witch hazel is highly potent in destroying free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms, ions or molecules that destroy tissue by harming cells.
- The plant compounds in witch hazel protect against the destruction of red blood cells by free radicals.
- Witch hazel polyphenols reduce the spread of melanoma (highly malignant skin cancer) cells.
Witch Hazel and Colon Cancer: A study of the action of witch hazel polyphenols on colon cancer (Lizárraga, D. 2008) concluded that witch hazel was effective in retarding colon cancer in three ways:
- Witch hazel was able to stop the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells.
- Witch hazel was very effective in restoring the process of apoptosis, which promotes healthy cell regeneration.
- Witch hazel prevented cellular DNA from damage by hydroxyl radicals, which are described by the authors of the study as “super” radicals, that are so deadly they kill both healthy cells and other free radicals.
Role of Witch Hazel in Diabetes, Cancer and Disease Prevention: A study (Zhang, 2009) of PGG (penta-galloyl-glucose), a plant compound highly enriched in witch hazel, showed that PGG acts against disease in multiple ways:
- PGG increased glucose uptake, showing promise for the treatment of diabetes.
- PGG demonstrated the ability to initate apoptosis, or natural regeneration of cells in situations where necrosis (death of tissue) was present.
- PGG showed anti-infammatory and antioxidant action.
- PGG is active in angiogenesis. Angiogensis is the process of wound healing in which lack of oxygen triggers the creation of new blood vessels at the site of an injury.
The study concluded that PGG was a promising candidate for the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and other diseases.
The Future for Witch Hazel
Witch hazel continues to be used to relieve summer itch, sunburn and hemorrhoids with fewer side effects than cortisone products. However, for the most part, its traditional uses have been forgotton or put aside.
Studies now confirm the effectiveness of witch hazel in retarding the growth of cancer cells and aiding in regeneration of healthy new tissue. New cures appear on the horizon, especially for treatment of diabetes and various types of cancer.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader witch hazelo is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice
References:
Lizárraga. D et al., Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) fractions and the importance of gallate moieties--electron transfer capacities in their antitumoral properties,” J Agric Food Chem, December 2008.
Lloyd, JU & Lloyd, JT, “History of Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) Extract and Distillate,” [Reprinted from the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Vol. XXIV, No. 3. March 1935.]
Reuter J et al., “Which plant for which skin disease? Part 2: Dermatophytes, chronic venous insufficiency, photoprotection, actinic keratoses, vitiligo, hair loss, cosmetic indications.” J Dtsch Deermatol Ges, November 2010.
Touriño, S et al., “Highly galloylated tannin fractions from witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) bark: electron transfer capacity, in vitro antioxidant activity, and effects on skin-related cells.” J Chem Res Toxicol,Marchg 2008.
Zhang J et al., “Anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and other pharmacologic and biological activities of penta-galloyl-glucose,” Pharm Res, September 2009.
