Witch Hazel Uses

Witch hazel extract comes from a plant and the liquid has many beneficial properties, including antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The unique mixture of properties and health-promoting components makes with hazel a product that can benefit you in a wide variety of ways.

Here are some other ways besides treating your standard bug bite.

• Facial Cleanser

Clean skin is clear skin and witch hazel helps to remove any impurities that your face wash leaves behind.

Simply put some witch hazel on a cotton swab and gently wipe it over your whole face to remove any leftover dirt, makeup and oil.

• Treating Acne

Acne is hard to treat, but witch hazel can help because this product has potent antibacterial benefits.

Apply witch hazel twice per day after washing your face to help prevent a buildup of bacteria on the skin.

Once you get your acne under control, use this produce once a day to maintain your results.

• Under Eye Bags Reduction

Looking tired makes you look older so you want to get rid of under eye bags as quickly as possible.

Take two cotton pads, soak them in witch hazel, wring out the excess, place these on your eyes and allow them to sit in place for 10 minutes.

When you remove them, make sure to thoroughly rinse your eyes. (I will have to try this!)

• Soothing Diaper Rash

Diaper rash will leave your baby uncomfortable and crabby, but your baby can be comfortable. Take some petroleum jelly and mix a little witch hazel in.

Apply this directly to the rash to immediately soothe it and you can apply this as often as necessary.

• Soothing Chicken Pox Blisters

The blisters that come with chicken pox are itchy, but drying them out helps to stop the itching. Witch hazel helps to dry them out and it soothes the itch in the meantime.

You can apply witch hazel liberally to the blisters and reapply it several times per day to promote comfort.

• Healing and Cleaning Cuts and Scrapes

If you do not want to deal with the burning of rubbing alcohol or the bubbling of peroxide, you can apply witch hazel directly on minor scrapes and cuts.

This product has antibacterial properties so it helps to kill germs and prevent infection from occurring.

• Healing Bruises Faster

Unsightly bruises typically take several days to heal, but you can speed up this process by applying witch hazel to your bruises.

Soak a piece of sterile gauze in witch hazel, apply it directly to the bruise and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before removing it.

• Soothing Razor Burn

Razor burn causes itching, burning and unsightly bumps. After you shave, use a little witch hazel as aftershave to help prevent razor burn and the associated symptoms.

It calms inflammation to keep your skin smooth and comfortable.

• Reducing Varicose Veins

Visibility Varicose veins look bad and they age you. Take a piece of sterile gauze and soak it in witch hazel. Apply the soaked gauze directly to the vein and leave it in place for 15 minutes.

This helps to reduce swelling and puffiness so the vein is not as visible.

• Treating Sunburn

Sunburns are painful and they take a while to heal, but witch hazel can take the sting out so a sunburn is a bit easier to handle.

Only use this on minor sunburns and perform the treatment three to four times per day maximum.

Soak a clean washcloth in witch hazel and apply it to the sunburn. Let this sit for 10 minutes and remove.

• Moisturizing the Skin

Everyone can use a little moisture and witch hazel helps to clean your skin without stripping away the natural moisture.

This helps you to retain your natural moisture so you do not experience dry skin. This product also helps to seal moisture into your skin.

• Refining and Shrinking Pores

Invisible pores are something everything wants and you can achieve this when you use witch hazel regularly.

Simply apply a thin coat of witch hazel after washing your face twice a day to shrink your pores.

• Curing a Sore Throat

A sore throat ruins your ensure day, but a witch hazel gargle can decrease the inflammation and soreness.

Once you use the gargle, be mindful to fully rinse your mouth and brush your teeth. Make sure to never swallow the witch hazel.

(Same goes for Hydrogen Peroxide!!!)

• Soothing and Reducing External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids can burn and cause pain, making them very uncomfortable. You can soothe the symptoms of hemorrhoids by combining witch hazel with petroleum jelly.

You can apply this mixture as frequently as necessary to enjoy relief. (Yes a bit embarrassing but a helpful tip for those sufferers)

• Soothing Bug Bites

Bug bites are characterized by inflammation and itching. Witch hazel works to combat both of these.

Use a cotton ball to apply witch hazel to the area to soothe your symptoms. (This works amazing I get bad swelling from mosquito’s and I feel instant relief when I apply witch hazel)

• Poison Oak and Poison Ivy

Both of these issues are incredibly itchy and they can cause swelling. Witch hazel helps to alleviate the swelling and it alleviates the associated itching.

Make sure to always use witch hazel properly and never overuse it. It is a highly beneficial substance with many health and beauty benefits when you use it two to three times daily maximum.

Overuse may dry out the skin or result in the opposite effect. ( I never new you could use Witch Hazel with Poison Oak and Poison Ivy, I thought the only way to help with that was that Pink Calamine lotion)

A big thanks to http://www.mixer2mower.com/17-genius-uses-of-witch-hazel.html for their great article