Why your skin will thank you for using witch hazel

Today,

When it comes to natural skin care, one medicinal plant is witch hazel, which American Indians relied on for fighting swelling, sores and infections.

There may be no plant more beneficial to your skin, as research showcases the many advantages witch hazel provides. For instance, thanks to its astringent properties, witch hazel is one of the most effective natural acne treatments known to man — and it’s even been shown to protect against skin cancer!

So if you’re looking for cleaner, healthier skin, look no further than witch hazel and its seemingly

What Is Witch Hazel Exactly?

Witch hazel (which has the species name Hamamelis virginiana), a type of plant native to North America, is a member of the Hamamelidaceae plant family. Sometimes also called winterbloom, the leaves and bark from the plant are used to make a skin-healing astringent that’s capable of naturally reducing acne, blisters, insect bites, poison ivy, inflammation and much more.

The most popular use for witch hazel is on the skin, since its strong antioxidant and astringent properties are perfect for killing bacteria that lives within skin’s pores, stopping cellular damage that can lead to skin cancer, preventing signs of ageing, and speeding up healing.

Today, you’ll find witch hazel extract added to a variety of over-the-counter beauty and medicinal products: anti-ageing serums, shaving creamand aftershave, bug repellent, nail treatments, hemorrhoid products, and shampoo, just to name a few.

What are the benefits of Witch Hazel?

The skin is our largest and most vulnerable organ, so it could use all the support it can get. Skin is our natural barrier to the outside world and provides us with protection against UV radiation, chemicals in our food supply, bacteria and other germs, and environmental pollutants.

All of the “stress” that our bodies deal with every day, both internally and externally, show up on our skin in the form of aging, puffiness, infections, inflammation and sensitivities. That’s why we rely on eating and using natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to help curb inflamed and diseased cells.

Herbal plant therapies for skin disorders have been used for thousands of years, and today, many traditional herbs are being reintroduced, studied extensively and experiencing a resurgence in popularity since many chemical treatments don’t always work or have harsh side effects.

Witch hazel has been used for centuries to naturally help heal and prevent: