Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is one medicinal herb that can still be found in drugstores today. It’s also the predominant understory shrub in many of the mountainous areas in our region. The inner bark is a topical astringent used in both acute and chronic skin conditions, from bruises to hemorrhoids to poison ivy and bug bites. Witch hazel blooms in the fall, a rarity among our regional forest dwellers.