Anti Aging Guide 4U

Many Indian tribes used Witch Hazel as a medicinal treatment. It is one of the few medicinal treatments allowed by the Federal Drug Administration today, as a topical treatment. There are many other herbal extracts allowed as dietary supplements, but witch hazel is one of the few still allowed in topical treatments. It was widely used topically for hemorrhoids, insect bites and stings, skin ulcers, tumors, boils and other rashes, such as chiggers or poison ivy.

Witch Hazel is a native shrub found in America and Europe. Witch Hazel has many medicinal qualities that have seen it highly valued over the years and used in many different ways. In early days, it’s branches and flowers were steamed and the broth mixed with alcohol then used for astringents or topical medication. Nowadays, it is an ingredient in many different things ranging from mouthwashes to anti aging creams and also anti wrinkle creams. It is an ingredient in many different hemorrhoid treatments today. It’s a popular home remedy and skin care experimentalists claim that medicines made up of Witch Hazel work in anti aging of skin.

In those anti aging treatments, it is particularly useful because it has been found to have capillary constricting effects that reduce inflammation. It also has topical antioxidant properties and is considered a safe, affordable home remedy. Witch Hazel Oil is cheap and can be purchased for under a couple dollars in the pharmacy section of most retail stores. It is a very useful ingredient in skin care lines, specifically anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams, where it may be found in a more concentrated level and promotes cell turnover as well as cell moisturizing by using the oil concentrates to moisterize the skin cells, keeping them plump and hydrated.

In the 1840’s, Theron Pond from Utica, NY, learned from the Oneida Indians, the medicinal properties of the witch hazel shrub. The shrubs are native in the New York and Connecticut area, and still supply much of the witch hazel today. After several years of studying with the Oneida Indian medicine men, Theron Pond was amazed at the healing powers and in conjunction with the Indians, decided to market the extract commercially under the name of Golden Treasure. After several moves by the company, company sales, and the death of Theron Pond, a manufacturing plant was established in Connecticut and the name was changed to “Pond’s extract”.

The witch hazel production still centers around Connecticut and is one of the leading manufacturers of witch hazel extract still today. Much of the harvesting is still done in Northwestern Connecticut where property owners cut the shrubs every few years, so they can re-branch and sell directly to the distilling distributors, and then sold for pharmaceutical uses.

Witch Hazel has been confirmed as an antioxidant, radiation protective and anti-inflammatory. It is an approved astringent and external analgesic, and has internal medicinal uses as well. It is only natural that it is an ingredient in anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams, as a proven treatment.