Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana, L.)

This plant is native to the eastern USA, and eastern Canada. It grows into a small tree. Alternate names include Spotted Alder and Snapping Hazelnut, for its habit of "spitting" its seeds. Native Americans used this plant -- bark and leaves -- for various applications.

Poultices can help bring down skin swelling and inflammation. The herb has been used as an astringent and an anti-inflammatory agent. While it can be taken internally, most uses are external. It may even be genuinely useful as a treatment for the condition of poison ivy-induced dermatitis (see my previous post). Apparently safe around the eyes, a diluted preparation could bring down eyelid inflammation, and was so used by the Native Americans. Distilled commercial preparations typically omit all or most of the tannins, which result in a less-astringent product.

You can read further information at: Botanical.Com, and good identifying photographs of all plant parts can be found at Hamamelis virginiana Fact Sheet.
Other information via: Lust, John. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam Books.
Photo courtesy Onions Hatshepsut.