Magickal uses include chastity and protection.
Carry to ease grief over a lost love.
Use in a sachet to reduce passions.
Use in love spells and spells to ward off evil.
Also Called: Winter Bloom, Striped Alder, Spotted Alder, Hazelnut, Snapping Hazel and Tobacco Wood
. A very astringent herb, it is commonly used in the West and is widely available from both herbalists and chemists.
It is an important ingredient of proprietary eye drops, skin creams, ointments and skin tonics.
It is widely used as an external application to bruises, sore muscles, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, sore nipples, inflammations etc.
The bark is astringent, haemostatic, sedative and tonic.
Tannins in the bark are believed to be responsible for its astringent and haemostatic properties.
Bottled witch hazel water is a steam distillate that does not contain the tannins from the shrub, this is less effective in its action than a tincture.
The bark is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, colitis, dysentery, haemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, excessive menstruation, internal bleeding and prolapsed organs.
An infusion of the leaves is used to reduce inflammations, treat piles, internal haemorrhages and eye inflammations.
A homeopathic remedy is made from fresh bark. It is used in the treatment of nosebleeds, piles and varicose veins.
