witch-hazel
Hamamelis virginiana · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (360 studies) · ★★★★★
Witch-hazel, scientifically known as Hamamelis virginiana, is a versatile North American shrub renowned for its potent medicinal properties. Primarily utilized in topical formulations, its astringent bark and distilled hydrosols effectively soothe inflammation, reduce swelling, and treat skin irritations, making it a cornerstone in natural dermatological care and herbalism.
- Family
- Hamamelidaceae
- Native range
- Northern America
- Parts used
- Leaf
- Common names
- American Witch-Hazel · Northern Witch-Hazel · 11 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Trilopus Virginiana
Names
Common Names
- American witch-hazel
- northern witch-hazel
- witch-hazel
- American Witchhzel
- Common Witchhzel
- Snapping Hazelnut
- Spotted Alder
- Striped Alder
- Water-Witch
- Winterbloom
- Common Witchhazel
- common witch-hazel
- southern witch-hazel
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Avellano de bruja
- Hamamelis macrophylla
- Avellano de bruja
German:
- Virginische Zaubernuss
- Herbstblühende Zaubernuss
- Zauberhasel
- Virginische Zaubernuss
French:
- Hamamélis de Virginie
- café du diable
- hamamélis de Virginie
- hamamélis de la Virginie
- hamémelis
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Hamamelis virginianaSynonyms
- Trilopus virginiana
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Hamamelis virginiana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Saxifragales. Ultimately, it is a member of the Hamamelidaceae family within the genus Hamamelis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Saxifragales | WCVP |
| Family | Hamamelidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hamamelis | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is native to specific regions across North America. In Eastern Canada, its range extends through the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is also widely distributed across the territories of Ontario and Québec. Moving south into the North-Central U.S.A., the species can be found in Illinois. These locations define the primary geographical footprint of Hamamelis virginiana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Nova Scotia | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Minnesota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Wisconsin | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as witch hazel, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, most notably the leaf and the Hamamelis virginia na bark. While the leaves are often studied for their astringent qualities, the bark is frequently harvested to extract tannins and other bioactive compounds used in topical treatments. Together, these plant parts contribute to the species' traditional reputation for soothing skin irritations and reducing inflammation.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Frontiers in microbiology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hamamelis virginiana has 41 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Gallic acid, Hamamelitannin, Proanthocyanidins, kaempferol.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Tannins | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hamamelitannin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Proanthocyanidins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethanol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALPHA-IONONE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Tannins
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Planta medica
Gallic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
- Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS
Hamamelitannin
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS
Proanthocyanidins
- Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
kaempferol
- Dr. Duke
- Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
quercetin
- Dr. Duke
- Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethanol
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3-Hydroxybenzoic acid
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
ALPHA-IONONE
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Hamamelis virginiana has 281 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiviral, Astringent, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Addictive | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hamamelis virginiana has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Erythema, Inflammation, adjuvant arthritis, analgesic, bacteria.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Erythema | European journal of clinical pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Inflammation | European journal of clinical pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| adjuvant arthritis | The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | Communications biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacteria | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bleeding | Cureus (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Communications biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | Cureus (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| viruses | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| extracts | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |