What is Hamamelis?

Very well known in the world of cosmetology because of its antiseptic action, the Hamamelis is a medicinal plant of the family Hamamelidaceae that has leaves without smell, but that carry a bitter taste, mainly because of tannins, which give this bitterness to protect the plant from insects. These tannins that carry several specialties of the plant mentioned.

Its scientific name is Hamamelis Virginiana and has several ways to be used, as well as carries several health benefits. Still, this plant is a relevant source of phenolic compounds, which does very well for the body. With that, this article will address all the important notions about this therapeutic plant. So, continue reading and learn more!

More about Hamamelis

The Hamamelis is also known as the winter-flower and is competent in healing wounds through its anti-inflammatory effects, besides being a great remedy for dermatological problems. Moreover, even in deodorants it is used as a base.

Also, this medicinal shrub is the basis of plant material for many varied pharmaceutical productions, thus, valued in many places because of its healing capabilities. Were you curious and want to know more about this plant? Stay reading and check below information necessary for the unraveling of the subject covered!

Properties of Hamamelis

The Hamamelis is rich in properties. With that, the leaves and barks of this plant have a considerable number of tannins, which have great healing, astringent, antiradical and venotropic actions. With these properties, injuries can be treated, various inflammations can be resolved and a great dermatological action can be exercised. It also has propertiesantibacterial.

Origin of Hamamelis

Understanding the original process is necessary to understand the development of the species and the substances it carries. For this reason, this plant that can reach up to five meters in height, the Hamamelis, comes from the northern hemisphere of the planet.

For millennia, the indigenous people of North America have used and known the properties that this plant carries. Therefore, it is easily found and grows in the United States, Canada and also in the countries of the northern Asian continent.

Side effects

Some chemical reactions generated by the use of medicinal plants bring some discomforts for many factors. Therefore, the use of Hamamelis can bring side effects, but linked to the result of excessive consumption than the normal ingestion of the plant itself. Therefore, symptoms such as nausea, stomach irritation, sedation, nausea, skin allergies and others, may eventually arise.

Contraindications

The contraindications are focused in relation to the consumption of this medicinal plant, but there are cases that the external use should also be rooted. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid the use of this plant species, children under 12 years old should not ingest or use this product externally.

Also, women who are breastfeeding, immunosuppressed and elderly should seek a clinical analysis before using the product, however, as a rule, are prevented from using. Also, allergic people should avoid any kind of contact with Hamamelis.

Benefits of Hamamelis

What you look for in the substances present in each plant are the benefits. Therefore, the benefits of Hamamelis are numerous, mainly helping in the treatment of some diseases, improving aesthetics, helps in the health and preservation of the skin, among other potent actions.

In this way, analyzing the positive points of this plant is necessary to know how to correctly introduce its use in your life, as well as where and for what it will be most effective. For this reason, if you want to know more, check the following text and get all your doubts about the subject worked!

Anti-inflammatory

The human body is fragile and can become inflamed for various reasons. For your protection, the use of Hamamelis can be a successful way, because it has an anti-inflammatory power, especially in relation to inflammation caused in the skin. Therefore, if you are with any inflammatory problem, turn to this medicinal plant, because the results are guaranteed.

Reduces skin irritations

The result of the presence of bacteria, viruses or fungi can cause uncomfortable changes on the skin surface. However, Hamamelis can be used to reduce these skin irritations because it has antibacterial and healing action, for example, which will help in the process of recovery and reduction.

Therefore, there is a joint action of all the properties of this plant that restore and heal damaged skin.

In such cases, it is recommended to pass Hamamelis on the skin irritations, and it can be through compresses soaked with the concentrated tea or through drops of the essential oil of this plant. Still, the ingestion cannot be discarded, as it helps in obtaining results as well.

Helps in the treatment of hemorrhoids

When they are inflamed and swollen, hemorrhoids become a headache for those who go through this situation. Thus, Hamamelis helps in the treatment of hemorrhoids, because its anti-inflammatory action penetrates the veins of the anus or rectum that are inflamed and causing the discomfort.

This treatment is ancient, as the North American indigenous people, through traditional medicine, already used the properties of this plant to treat hemorrhoidal disease. Therefore, if you are experiencing this disease, consider using this therapeutic plant before seeking other means, as this herb is effective in the treatment and brings the other benefits together.

For this treatment, you can use the medicinal shrub both internally and externally. Therefore, you heal yourself by ingestion or direct application to the inflamed part.

Helps treat acne

Acne is a terror for most people, so skin care is always sought after and necessary. In this way, the Witch Hazel helps treat acne, because it has a great antiseptic function, ie, can prevent microorganisms from proliferating on your skin, creating inflammation, such as acne, or any negative impact to the skin.

Also, this plant will act on the skin in a healing way and will rebuild the tissues that are affected by acne or other possible cause of injury. Therefore, if you want to regenerate your skin with a natural therapeutic and medicinal substance, use this plant, because it will treat your skin, especially the facial skin.

Its action is so powerful in fighting acne that it is widely used as an ingredient in the manufacture of cosmetics, especially as a base for facial tonics. Thus, you can use it indirectly, through industrialized products for skin, or wash your face with cold tea from the plant.

Helps the sensitivity of the scalp

With the sensitive scalp, it is something that hinders any activity that the individual will do and can be caused by various factors. For this, the Hamamelis helps the sensitivity of the leather, just apply it before washing the hair and, if you want a joint action, there are shampoos made based on this plant precisely because of its powerful effects.

Helps in the treatment of sunburn

The Hamamelis has great action when it helps in the treatment of sunburn, mainly by the use of products that it is structure. This solution is found in this plant because it houses the tannins that, in turn, have healing properties, which makes the application of this plant its application in cases of sunburn is effective.

This action has been used for millennia, as traditional medicine has used the infusion of this plant to put on burns in general. For this, just pass the Hamamelis in burns and let it act for a few hours, but should be a use of at least three days of the plant.

Help with insect bites

Insects can generate pain and a lot of discomfort when they leave their sting or bite the human being. But, there is a solution to the swelling and pain that these bites can cause with the implementation of the use of witch hazel. It helps with insect bites, because its astringent effect also acts in this situation together with its anti-inflammatory action.

If the act has occurred, pour some Hamamelis on some cotton or cloth and wipe the affected spot.

Helps in the treatment of varicose veins and poor circulation

The Hamamelis helps in the treatment of varicose veins and poor circulation, because the tannins present in the composition carry venotropic actions, that is, they stimulate a chemical reaction in the body that strengthens the veins and facilitates venous circulation. Thus, you will be protected, free from pain and can make use if you have diseases such as venous thrombosis.

For this case, it is great that a massage is done with this medicinal plant, mainly by using it in the form of essential oil. But, ingestion also helps a lot in this activity.

Improves immunity

You can explore Hamamelis to improve your immunity, because this plant carries anti-inflammatory action, which makes the body protected against possible diseases and inflammation, especially by the action of flavonoids. These, in turn, increase the amount of antioxidant in the body, which makes you have less free radicals, therefore, less chronic diseases.

Thus, the best way to consume the plant to improve immunity is by infusing this potent plant.

Ways to use witch hazel

In the kingdom plantae, practically, you can use everything that makes up a plant, from leaves, stem, trunk, everything has its substances and ways to be used. So it would not be different with the Hamamelis, because this plant has several ways to be handled to better use its components according to the will of the person.

Therefore, check out below in detail how you can use this medicinal plant correctly and the specifics that each one has. Read and understand carefully!

Teas

The most common use of plants with medicinal power is through the teas. Therefore, the tea of Hamamelis is a great way to take advantage of the benefits of this plant in a simple and fast way. If you want to make the mixture, have in hand: two tablespoons of the therapeutic plant, a liter of filtered water.

To prepare the tea, put the water on the fire and also put the two tablespoons of Hamamelis and let the mixture on the fire until it starts bubbling, which takes four minutes. Then, strain the tea and consume it, but do not add any form of sweetener to take better advantage of all the blessings that this plant can give.

Ointments or creams

The substances that are placed inside the ointments or creams impact on their physical constitution. Therefore, the Hamamelis is part of the composition of various ointments or creams, because its astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant actions provide good health to the skin, therefore, also improving its appearance.

Extract

From the leaves and bark of this therapeutic shrub, you can take the extract, which, by the way, is very widespread use and is very effective in astringent function, so the cosmetics industry uses this extract a lot.

Therefore, the extract is a very concentrated form of the elements of Hamamelis, not being very common in personal use, but used in something that requires a large scale of production and distribution of the liquid. So, be careful with this form of use, because there is a concentration of elements and everything in excess is bad for you.

Essential oil

Essential oils enhance any property of a plant, because it is a very concentrated compound of the substances for therapeutic purposes. Thus, the essential oil of Hamamelis is associated with its antioxidant function, relieve itching, refresh the skin, contracts the pores of the skin of the face and has bacteriostatic properties.

Therefore, you can choose to use Hamamelis in the form of essential oil, thus, being a useful option and can be combined with other oils, provided they are handled properly and with the opinion of an aromatherapist.

Capsules

Encapsulating Hamamelis is a great option for consuming the beneficial substances they carry. Also, it is a safer way of ingestion, because each capsule or gathering of them has a label telling you how much you are consuming with the intake of a particular capsule.

But in case you are looking for some solution for your external body, only this option is no use, but you will have to use the plant externally, combining the actions and ways of use.

Do I need medical advice to use Hamamelis?

Medical advice is always good, so it is recommended that you seek a medical opinion regarding the introduction of the consumption of Hamamelis. The plant itself does not offer risks, but there may be pre-existing conditions of your clinical picture that hinders the absorption of nutrients brought by the plant or that cause future health problems, or even aggravate any condition.

Even if it can be acquired without a prescription, infectious comorbidities can arise and can be aggravated with the use of the substances found in this medicinal plant or anything else. Introducing something in your body deserves attention, care and responsibility. Therefore, do not dismiss the consultation with the doctor, because prevention is the best choice and this plant is powerful.