WITCH HAZEL

Hamamelis virginica
The twigs were used in America as divining rods, as those of hazel still are in England. As water divining was once looked on as the result of occult power, the name Witch Hazel was given (Weiner). This is a useful tree in medicine, the leaves and bark being used in pharmacy as Pond’s Extract, a lotion to be applied for skin inflammation,
bruises (Sanecki), or for scalds and burns (Browning). This preparation, properly diluted, can be used as an eye lotion, too (Leyel. 1937).