May help with

• Astringent - vasoconstrictor
• Hemorrhoids
• varicose veins
• diarrhea

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Witchhazel

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

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plant name

Witch Hazel , Witch Hazel

International Latin denomination

Hamamelis virginiana L.

botanical family

Hamamelidaceae

Description and habitat

• Spontaneous in the eastern part of the American continent (from Quebec to Virginia)
• Shrub about 7 m high, with flexuous branches reminiscent of the hazel tree
• The flowers bloom in the fall, after the leaves have fallen
• Very elegant winter flowering, on the still bare branches

History and tradition

• Used in Native American medicine
• Native Americans used the flexible branches of the shrub to make bows
• Witch hazel was used in beard lotions in Quebec, due to its hemostatic, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties [3].
• In English, witch hazel is called digitalis of the veins or hazel of the witches .

Parts used

• dried leaf

Dosage forms available

• Hamamelis virginiana leaf and bark tincture
• Fluid extract
• Dry extract

Usual dosages

Composition

Main components of the plant

• Tannins (+ 10%, at least 3% for the European Pharmacopoeia expressed in pyrogallol ):
  • Ellagitanins ( gallic acid , pentagalloylglucose , hamamelitanin )
  • Catechic tannins ( catechin , gallocatechin , epicatechin , epigallocatechin ), proanthocyanidols , procyanidols , procyanidol - prodelphinidol copolymers
• Flavonoids : flavonol  glycosides ( astragaloside , myricitroside , isoquercitroside ), kaempferol and quercetol glycosides
• 0.01 to 0.5% essential oil  : aliphatic alcohols, esters , carbonyl compounds
• Organic acids  : caffeic acid , quinic acid , gallic acid , fatty acids
  • It is a hydroalcoholic extraction at 30° of ethanol which produces the maximum amount of ethyl gallate from gallic acid .

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

Properties

Plant properties

• Vasoconstricteur
• Antiphlogistic and anti-inflammatory [1] , [2]
• Bacteriostatic and molluscicidal, certain hamamelitanin derivatives potentiate vancomycin in the treatment of infections resistant to Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by action on the biofilm [3] , [4] , inhibition of Quorum Sensing (molecular signals regulating the density of a bacterial population) by hamamelitanin [5]
• Protector of vascular endothelium, hamamelitanin inhibits TNF-mediated endothelial cell death without modifying endothelial adhesiveness, anti-hemorrhagic activity, protective agent against UV radiation [6] [7]
• Tonic
• Astringent (property of tightening the tissues)
• Action on varicosities (alterations of the fine and superficial vascular wall, at the interface between the arterial and venous network, often red or bluish)
• Reduces UVB-induced erythema [8]
• Antimutagenic [9]
• Anti-radical and antioxidant [10] , [11]

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

Indications

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

• Venous insufficiency
• Lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, capillaries
• Hemorrhoids, varicose veins
• Menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, hematuria
• Dysentery, diarrhoea, colitis
• Local route: eye irritation or discomfort, oral hygiene
• Positive clinical study in atypical neurodermatitis: leaf extract in cream form

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

Known or suspected mode of action

• Property to tighten the tissues ( tannins )
• Gallic acid produces ethyl gallate with astringent and antibacterial properties

Usual formulations

Regulations

• French Pharmacopoeia list A (stem bark, leaf)
• Activity recognized by the German Commission E

Possible side effects and precautions for use

• Rare cases of hepatotoxicity by tannins

Bibliographic references

1. Go↑ Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Gray AI. Anti-inflammatory activity of Polygonum bistorta, Guaiacum officinale and Hamamelis virginiana in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994 Apr;46(4):286-90. PMID 8051612
2. Go↑ H. C. Korting, M. Schäfer-Korting, H. Hart, P. Laux, M. Schmid. Anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate applied topically to the skin. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Volume 44, Number 4, 315-318 [1]
3. Go↑ Vermote A, Brackman G, Risseeuw MDP, Coenye T, Van Calenbergh S. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel hamamelitannin analyste logues as potentiators for vancomycin in the treatment of biofilm related Staphylococcus aureus infections. Bioorg Med Chem. 2016 Oct 1;24(19):4563-4575. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.07.058. PMID 27507109
4. Go↑ Vermote A, Brackman G, Risseeuw MDP, Coenye T, Van Calenbergh S. Novel hamamelitannin analogues for the treatment of biofilm related MRSA infections-A scaffold hopping approach. Eur J Med Chem. 2017 Feb 15;127:757-770. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.10.056. PMID 27823882
5. Go↑ Brackman G, Breyne K, De Rycke R, Vermote A, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Meyer E, Van Calenbergh S, Coenye T. The Quorum Sensing Inhibitor Hamamelitannin Increases Antibiotic Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms by Affecting Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis and eDNA Release. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 1;6:20321. doi: 10.1038/srep20321. PMID 26828772
6. Go↑ Habtemariam S. Hamamelitannin from Hamamelis virginiana inhibits the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced endothelial cell death in vitro. Toxicon. 2002 Jan;40(1):83-8. PMID 11602283
7. Go↑ Solomon Habtemariam. Hamamelitannin from Hamamelis virginiana inhibits the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced endothelial cell death in vitro. Toxicon, Volume 40, Issue 1, January 2002, Pages 83-88
8. Go↑ B.J. Hughes-Formella, K. Bohnsack, F. Rippke, G. Benner, M. Rudolph, I. Tausch, J. Gassmueller. Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Hamamelis Lotion in a UVB Erythema Test. Dermatology 1998;196:316-322
9. Go↑ Andreas Dauer, Petra Metzner, Oskar Schimmer. Proanthocyanidins from the Bark of Hamamelis virginiana Exhibit Antimutagenic Properties against Nitroaromatic Compounds. Planta Med 1998; 64(4): 324-327
10. Go↑ Masaki H, Sakaki S, Atsumi T, Sakurai H. Active-oxygen scavenging activity of plant extracts. Biol Pharm Bull. 1995 Jan;18(1):162-6. PMID 7735233
11. Go↑ Alda Pereira da Silva, Rui Rocha, Cristina M. L. Silva, Lurdes Mira, M. Filomena Duarte, M. Helena Florêncio. Antioxidants in medicinal plant extracts. A research study of the antioxidant capacity of Crataegus, Hamamelis and Hydrastis. Phytotherapy Research, Volume 14, Issue 8, pages 612–616, December 2000 [2]

• Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Ed. Tec and Doc. 1997.
• A. Dauer, H. Rimpler, A. Hensel. Polymeric Proanthocyanidins from the Bark of Hamamelis virginiana. Planta Med 2003; 69(1): 89-91

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.

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