The benefits of witch hazel on barn injuries

  I recently wrote a post about an injury I had while I was volunteering at a local equestrian club. As the bruises continue coming up, I realize the size of the area affected by the horse’s hoof. Bruises are good, because it means that my foot has started healing. My walk is not perfect yet, but at least I can keep  all my toes on the ground.

Yesterday it felt bad. I had been feeling well during the day, but, in the evening, when I stood up to get ready for the super market, I felt terrible pain on the most affected part. The pain continued till the time I went to bed. I simply could not walk and supported my weight on my unaffected foot and the two front toes of my affected one. So, while I was getting ready, I thought about the witch hazel bottle I keep in my fridge. Mixed with honey, it is my own personal face lotion. I noticed that bruise pain was included in the target symptoms, so I thought “why not?”, it’s just witch hazel and honey anyway.

I took the bottle and poured some quantity on a cotton pad, which I pressed all over my injured area. I immediately felt major relief, but I did not want to make any firm conclusions before I woke up. Et voila! When I indeed woke up this morning, my foot looked and felt much better!

About witch hazel

Witch hazel (or hamamelis) is a flowery tree mainly growing in America and Japan. It blooms every autumn for up to six weeks and its rich spidery flowers have a sublime, spicy fragrance. The species Hamamelis virginiana has been used by the American Indians as a medical remedy.

Today we mostly use distilled witch hazel water. This product is extracted by coppicing the whole plant and boiling up the bark, stems, leaves and wood and distilling the liquid.

Distilled witch hazel water can be found in most pharmacies and does miracles in a big number of uses apart from healing my bruised foot:

• Lessening of the varicose veins
• Relief from sunburns
• Reduction of under-eye bags
• Controlling acne
• Cleaning wounds and stopping the bleeding
• Easing of the sore throat
• Soothing of bug bites and stings
• Treatment of hemorrhoids
• Prevention of razor burns
• Generally used on bruise discomfort, sprains, skin irritation, swellings, as well as rough or sore skin

And the list goes on and on.

*Please consult your doctor before taking any medicines or remedies whatsoever. What works for me might not work for you!

Sources

• Bunny Guiness, “Which Hazel: A Magical Plant for Winter” , The Telegraph, February 2014
• Rona Horowitz, “16 Unbelievable Uses for Witch Hazel” , POPSUGAR, February 2015
• Unknown, “Witch-hazel”, Wikipedia