Thursday, January 1, 2009

Using Witch Hazel As An Anti Aging Cream

By Julie Samtsonn

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 native to America and Europe and its medicinal qualities have made it highly valued over the years. Some early treatments involved it's branches and flowers being steamed and the results mixed with alcohol then used for astringents and topical medication. Nowadays, its uses vary greatly from mouthwashes (using distilled witch hazel) to anti-aging creams and anti wrinkle creams (using witch hazel oil). Some witch hazel formulas have been used by home remedy skin care products, which claim to work as a skin anti-aging process.

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.

The Oneida Indians showed Theron Pond from Utica, NY, the medicinal uses of witch hazel circa 1840. Witch Hazel is native to New York and Connecticut and these regions still supply much of the witch hazel today. After many years studying with Oneida Indian medicine men, Theron Pond was astounded by the healing powers and decided to sell the extract using the name of Golden Treasure. The company moved location several times and after the death of Theron Pond, established in Connecticut using the name "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 is an antioxidant, radiation protective and anti-inflammatory. It is also an approved astringent and external analgesic. It has internal medicinal benefits also. It's benefits speaks for themselves, so it is natural that it is an ingredient in anti-aging creams and anti wrinkle creams. - 16650

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