witch-hazel
Bark-derived skin treatment
Witch-hazel is a shrub with yellow flowers that bloom in late autumn or winter, or the astringent extract made from its bark and leaves.
The extract is applied to skin as a toner or to soothe irritation: She dabbed witch-hazel on the insect bites.
The name has nothing to do with witches—"witch" comes from an old word meaning bendable, referring to the plant's pliable branches.
Imaging powder or facial astringent
- astringentTissue-contracting agent
- poresMinute dermal openings
- cleanserSubstance for removing grime
- blemishesVisible surface flaws
acne · blackheads · complexion · facial · soothing · redness · oily skin · sensitive skin
Locating hidden water underground
- divining rodForked branch for finding water
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- ancestralOf one's forebears
apothecary · herbalist · ethnobotany · home remedy · old-fashioned · pioneers · Native American · poultice
Small woody plant
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- woodlandForested land area
- nativeOriginating from a place
bark · leaves · bloom · pollination · fall foliage · ornamental · tannins · branches
Microbe-killing substance
- hemorrhoidsSwollen anal blood vessels
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- bruisesDiscolored skin from impact
wounds · cuts · scrapes · burns · sunburn · eczema · psoriasis · dermatitis
toner
Imaging powder or facial astringent
- astringentTissue-contracting agent
- poresMinute dermal openings
- cleanserSubstance for removing grime
blemishes · acne · blackheads · complexion · facial · soothing · redness · oily skin · sensitive skin · rosacea
dowsing
Locating hidden water underground
- divining rodForked branch for finding water
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
ancestral · apothecary · herbalist · ethnobotany · home remedy · old-fashioned · pioneers · Native American · poultice · tincture
shrub
Small woody plant
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- woodlandForested land area
native · bark · leaves · bloom · pollination · fall foliage · ornamental · tannins · branches · yellow flowers
antiseptic
Microbe-killing substance
- hemorrhoidsSwollen anal blood vessels
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
bruises · wounds · cuts · scrapes · burns · sunburn · eczema · psoriasis · dermatitis · varicose veins
witch-hazelprescription medication
Medicine requiring medical authorization