Witch Hazel Usage

Witch hazel is widely marketed for direct application to the skin to relieve pain, stop bleeding, control itching, reduce symptoms of eczema , and treat muscle aches. Pads, ointments, and suppositories containing witch hazel are used for treatment of hemorrhoids . Extracts of the bark and leaf are used in Europe to treat diarrhea , inflammation of the gums, canker sores , and varicose veins . However, there is no meaningful evidence that witch hazel is actually effective for any of these conditions.

One small double-blind study is commonly cited as evidence that witch hazel is effective for treatment of eczema . This study compared topical witch hazel ointment to the drug bufexamac, and found them equally effective. ¹ However, bufexamac itself has not been shown effective for the treatment of eczema, and so this study proves little. A subsequent study failed to find witch hazel more effective than a placebo treatment for eczema. ² There are no other meaningful studies of witch hazel. Extremely preliminary evidence hints that it may have anti-inflammatory properties, ^{3 4} and even weaker evidence suggests that witch hazel may increase the contractility of veins (potentially making it useful in varicose veins ). ⁵ However, this evidence is far too weak to support using witch hazel for any of these conditions.