How to make witch-hazel tea?

Offering a colourful winter flowering, from yellow to red via orange, witch-hazel is an ornamental bush appreciated in the garden. Its flowers take the form of scented filaments and its leaves turn flamboyant shades in autumn. Elegant in a garden, witch-hazel is also used in phytotherapy for venous insufficiency and to soothe skin inflammations. Discover how to make witch-hazel infusion.

Which witch-hazels to use?

Choose an organic witch-hazel, without pesticidal or chemical products.

What are witch-hazel's virtues?

• Witch-hazel is used in phytotherapy to treat venous insufficiency, from heavy legs to haemorrhoids and varicose veins, and to calm skin irritations. 
• Leaves and bark are used for infusions.
• They are also said to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

How to dry witch-hazel leaves and bark?

• For your infusions, you can harvest and dry witch-hazel leaves and bark yourself.
• Collect leaves and bark from witch-hazel, bearing in mind that foliage is deciduous and appears in spring then disappears in autumn. 
• Dry harvested parts of the bush in open air by laying them out on absorbent paper
• When dry, store in an airtight jar, such as a glass jar, in a cool, dry place protected from light

How to make witch-hazel infusion?

• Use 5 to 10 g of dried leaves and bark for 1 litre of water
• Bring water to the boil and let dried leaves and bark infuse for 5 to 10 minutes
• Infusion can be drunk at a rate of 1 to 2 cups per day, used as a mouthwash or applied externally to the skin. 
• When consumed orally, witch-hazel may relieve sensations of heavy legs, varicose veins and haemorrhoids.

Contraindications

• Use of witch-hazel may cause heartburn, and rarely skin allergies. 
• It is particularly not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as people on anticoagulant treatment because witch-hazel affects circulation and thins the blood. 
• Ingestion of witch-hazel products is reserved for people over 18 years old.