Witch Hazel and photos from the farm

When I was strolling around the farm the other day, I noticed that my witch hazel shrubs were blooming.  This is always great news because it means that spring is soon to arrive.  I'm happy to share these photos with you and also a bit of interesting information about amazing witch hazel.

Witch hazel is a small tree or shrub, native to Atlantic North America. It produces tight clusters of fragrant, spidery, usually yellow flowers during the winter months. Its name has nothing to do with witches, but rather comes from the old English word, w-y-c-h, meaning flexible. Native Americans used the pliable branches to make bows for hunting. When Colonists began to settle, those same forked branches became favorite witching sticks of dowsers, who used them to search for hidden water.

 

But soon the Colonists learned that the plant had other useful qualities, as the Native Americans had long known. Witch hazel is a very versatile remedy that reduces swelling and inflammation, most likely due to the tannins and flavonoids it contains. The leaves, twigs, and bark were made into poultices to treat all sorts of skin ailments and muscular pains. The leaves were also brewed as tea, which was then sipped to relieve many internal disorders. Eventually, witch hazel manufacturing plants were established, producing bottled witch hazel extract, which is still widely used today. It can be found in deodorants, soaps, ointments, lotions, and cloth wipes. It’s an old-fashioned remedy, but when applied to the skin, bottled witch hazel is still soothing, cleansing, and refreshing. Why don’t you try some today?

 

 

Comments

[Franco Forleo]

Dear Martha,
Greetings from Johannesburg, South Africa, where your programs are broadcast daily on the DSTV Home Channel… even though we are way behind and are still watching your Halloween episodes, I will not miss a show. It is an inspiration in all aspects, from cooking to attracting wild birds to my garden. I do believe we all stagnate and need motivation to make our lives more interesting, for this I thank you.
Best wishes,
Franco Forleo.

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thank you for another very fascinating blog. I have heard of witch hazel before and vaguely remember seeing a bottle of it in my grandmother's bathroom many years ago. I had no idea what it was and never asked. Your information about the uses of witch hazel makes me want to go out and buy some and see if it will help relieve the pain in my right hand that is probably due to arthritis. Your photos are beautiful. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Patia]

What an interesting post, thanks. The photographs are lovely, too. I've used witch hazel for years and never knew what the plant looked like.

I've also wondered how witch hazel got its name. I have, however, read that the terms "witch" and "wicca" come from a root word meaning "to bend," so they might be related after all.

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the beautiful photos of your blooming witch hazel shrubs and the interesting and useful information.
Kathy

[Marge]

Used witch hazel as a hand cream
mixture when I was young. Excellent..tried to move a witch hazel/ tree/shrub never had good
luck. Will try this year.

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIOP]

Hi Martha,
Interesting article, I've even noticed alot of trees her in my area of Brooklyn NY with swelling
leaf buds. Feels like spring has arrived temp. suppose to maybe reach 60 today!
Pauline Muccciaccio

[Margie]

I have always been intrigued with witch hazel. I still would enjoy having a bush or two; the early blooming really is fascinating as we have trouble not loosing our lilac blooms to late freezes.
I will testify to the greatness of the extract. It works so simply without great costs.

[Ann M]

Martha,

which varieties of Hamamelis are you growing?

it's nice to keep up with you through your blog - so glad to see Jodi doing well. please give her my regards, and give PawPaw a pat for me.

Ann

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Thanks for another wonderful blog. I have used witch hazel since I was a child. My grandmother used it to clean wounds and as a rub for her arthritis and for our tired muscles after working in the garden or painting her big front porch.
Linda Gail

[Sues]

Yay for spring :)

Thanks for the beautiful photos and great info!

Sues

[Trish]

Of course you have witch hazel shrubs! Gosh Martha, what don't you have? I wouldn't mind having a shrub myself; I would definitely use the leaves to make poultices for my back after pulling weeds. Thanks for the suggestion; I'll buy a bottle and give it a try. Trish

[Kim Wylie]

I haven't thought of witch hazel in soooo long! My mother used to have toner made of the stuff, and I always used to put it on my face, too. It had such a lovely smell and the cool feel of the toner during hot summer months was always a treat. Thanks for refreshing my memory! I wonder if I can find the stuff anymore...

[Joanne Kreutzer]

Hi Martha,
I too have a witch hazel shrub. The poor thing has been transplanted 3 times now because I refused to leave it behind when I moved. Mine is also blooming here in South Jersey. I have it planted right at my front door on the east side of the house, and it is doing well. I've recently taken pictures of it and plan to start a picture journal of my garden as things begin to bloom. Looking forward to more of your photos.

[Andrew Ritchie]

I LOVE the red! What a hopeful burst of colour amid the snow.

Longing for spring,
-Andrew

[Kelly]

Martha,
Wow, thanks for the post on witch hazel. My family has been using witch hazel forever but I had no idea where it came from! I never would have guessed a plant! I use it after getting my eyebrows waxed to avoid those pesky bumps that can occur. Thanks Martha!
Kelly

[Carolyn]

My Grandmother introduced me to Witch Hazel as an antiseptic. Thanks for the additional information. I love your teaching/primer posts and articles.

Carolyn

[Jon]

Martha, once again you have taught me something I did not know. I thoroughly enjoy these very informative posts. You are my favorite teacher. No one does it better!
Take care, and stay warm.

[Heather]

Since spring is so near, my boyfriend and I are going to plant a garden for the first time this year. As you prepare your garden, will you post tips for beginning gardeners on your blog? I would like to know where you get your seeds, how do you start your plants, when I should plant each vegetable or fruit, what kinds of fertilizer should I look for? This would be most helpful.

I also saw on your show the other day someone asked about seed savers. I would like to get ahold of one of those catalogs also, can you direct me to one?

[Kelly]

Martha and Laura,

The design inspiration I slurp up from your blog is endless...thank you so much! I love the behind-the-scenes-in-the-offices photos; it's great to know from whence good things come.

[kathy]

Hi Martha,

I would not be without a bottle, my Grandmother always had a bottle. I remember her putting some on tissues when she would rest her eyes. She was also the one that told me to save my $$ when I bought Tucks...sure enough when I read the packet it was 98% witch hazel. I miss her so much !!
I did not know about the plant. I want one, I wonder if my local nursery would carry them.

Thanks for this memory and a great post...
Kathy

[natasha]

it is very impressive to manage to make winter look welcoming to me, but you did it! wow. lovely.

[Gwendolyn Smith]

Dearest Martha,
I am a fan of yours from way back. What I wouldn't give to visit your Maine home with my mom and nine year old daughter. Your pictures spokes to me. I'm from Tennessee and we used to get snow like that when I was a child, I'm 51 now. May God continue to bless you in all that you do.
Sincerely,
gwen Smith

[Helga]

Dear Martha
I love your shows and all your Crafts and Helpful Information that you offer. Now the Witch Hazel looks almost like the Forsythia that grows out here in the Northwest Seattle Area.
I love when it comes out in the spring I always make a flower arrangement. Thank you for the great show you always have
Helga J

[Pam Bauer]

"Martha Stewart Plant Encyclopedia" I was on your site looking for your wonderful Plant Encyclopedia that I had used many years before. It was absolutely wonderful, but I can't locate it. In addition, there is no "search" location to look up specific plants. Am I looking incorrectly?
Thanks

[Wade K]

Hi Martha,

I remember you saying on one of your shows that you start planting your sweetpeas sometime in march. When is that? I have been gearing up for the spring and summer planting season here in Salt Lake City. Come out and give me some pointers.

Wade