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Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Spotted Alder, Snapping Hazelnut, Winter Bloom

Native to

Eastern North America

A majority of the Witchlist's Garden include naturalized species that now live across the globe, for history's sake and to ensure we recognize any appropriation that we may make in our use of a plant, we include it's nativity.

Parts Used 

  • Leaves can be gathered or harvested in the late summer and throughout the fall

  • Bark & Twigs are suggested to be harvested when branches and twigs fall naturally


  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Antiseptic

  • Astringent

  • Hemostatic

  • Tonic

Divinities & Mythos


Plant Energies

Over the course of millenia, various religions, physical sciences, diviners and star gazers, etc. have come to assign energies. This is perfectly synopsized by JD Walker in A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft:

Plants can be hot, cold, wet, or dry. They are assigned to or governed by one of seven (or nine [by including the Moon and Sun], depending on your outlook) heavenly bodies. People assigned these characteristics based on where a plant grew, what it looked like, and what effect it had on the humans and animals that came in contact with the plant.

  • Planet(s): Saturn, Sun

  • Element(s): Water, Fire

  • Gender: Masculine

  • Sign(s): Capricorn

  • Chakra: Heart

  • Taste: Astringent, Bitter

  • Energy: Cooling, Neutral

Warning: Pregnanacy + Prolonged Use

Avoid internal use during pregnancy and limit internal use to short periods with time to detox.


Warning: Appropriation

Witch Hazel is native to North America as such white folx were introduced to witch hazel and its medicinal powers by indigenous populations. Know the history, your place and privilege there within, and honor it when you use this ingredient.

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Witch Hazel in Action

The Bat & Raven offers these products that utilize the properties of Witch Hazel.

Magical Properties

  • Balance

  • Beauty

  • Cleansing (Physically, Spiritually)

  • Comfort

  • Divination

  • Dowsing

  • Finding Lost Objects

  • Healing

  • Heart Healing

  • Honesty

  • Initiation

  • Inspiration

  • Love

  • Peace

  • Preserverance

  • Protection

  • Soothes Anger, Passions

  • Warding

  • Wisdom

  • Water Magic

Talk to your Doctor/Medical Professional before adding any Supplements, herbal teas, Infusions, etc.

Part of the reason that we list medical jargin is because many plants can interfere with or even counteract medications we already take or it can exacerbate ailments we already have. 

When talking to your Medical Professional, we suggest asking what "actions" an herb might do to interfere 
with your health, either positive of negative. For example, if you suffer from heartburn, a Cholagogue which creates more bile may not be advantageous. Too much of a good thing, eh?

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