It’s always a good idea to have a bottle of witch hazel around the house. Look below to see that various ways to use it!

Soothe Sunburn
Too much fun in the sun?  Witch hazel can help. The anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel can help calm even a bad burn.  By simply mixing some of it with your aloe vera gel and applying to the burn, you will not only cool and soothe, but also promote healing to the skin.  In fact, this treatment can help prevent skin from peeling after an especially bad burn.

Put Down Poison Ivy
We’ve all been there, the one errant step that took us into a patch of poison ivy.  That’s what’s given me reason to keep a bottle of witch hazel handy when camping.  Witch hazel naturally dries skin and reduces itching and inflammation.  As such, applying it to skin irritations from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac will counteract contact dermatitis, the condition caused by the sap of those pesky plants.

Stop The Bleeding
The natural skin tightening effect of witch hazel can stop bleeding and promote faster healing of minor cuts and scrapes.  Some forms of witch hazel you can purchase also contain isopropyl alcohol, making it an excellent way to clean, treat, and disinfect a wound.

Beat Bruises
When applied with a cotton ball or cosmetic pad, witch hazel is a great and soothing treatment for acne inflammation and irritation, but it can also be used to treat bruises.  When applied to the skin, witch hazel can help fade discoloration and promote healing to the underlying damage within your body.

Treat Varicose Veins
Want a great way to help ease the pain and appearance from swollen veins?  Start by soaking a soft towel in witch hazel and lay it over varicose veins.  Elevating the area will maximize the effectiveness of this treatment, as it helps decrease blood pressure within the veins.

Help For Hemorrhoids
Witch hazel is a safe and effective way to treat pain, itching, and bleeding from hemorrhoids.  As a matter of fact, it is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter creams.  But by simply mixing witch hazel with aloe vera gel and applying it to the irritation, relief comes faster than you can say “Ahh”.

Don’t Neglect Your Gums
By using an alcohol free witch hazel mouth rinse, you can reduce pain and swelling of irritated or infected gums.  It will also help with minor bleeding.  To ease teething pain in infants or to treat wisdom tooth or oral surgery pain and inflammation, you can mix a teaspoon of witch hazel tea with a drop each of clove and myrrh oil.

You can find witch hazel on-line or in specialized stores. Be certain to check directions and if you show any indications of illness or distress be sure to see a doctor.

For more information about witch hazel and its uses please go on over to I See, I Do, I Make. As always, a product with multi uses is always a prize for a survivalist. Witch hazel answers the call!