Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a flowering shrub native to North America, widely recognized for its long history in traditional medicine. Extracts from its leaves, bark, and twigs are commonly used today in topical skincare and pharmaceutical products. Given its medicinal reputation, many people wonder if the product commonly found in stores is safe for consumption. Ingestion of the commercial liquid form is strongly discouraged and widely considered unsafe due to the way it is prepared.
Understanding the Different Witch Hazel Products
The Witch Hazel product typically purchased at a pharmacy is not a simple tea or herbal extract, but a distilled liquid known as a hydro-alcoholic distillate. This preparation is made by soaking the partially dried twigs and bark of the plant in water and then steaming the mixture. The resulting liquid, which is the common commercial product, is specifically formulated for external application.
The safety discussion hinges entirely on this preparation method and its final composition. Commercially available Witch Hazel distillate usually contains a significant amount of ethanol, often standardized to between 14% and 15% alcohol by volume, which serves as a solvent and preservative. This high alcohol concentration alone makes the product unsuitable and potentially hazardous for drinking.
Health Consequences of Ingestion
Ingesting the commercial Witch Hazel distillate can lead to a range of unpleasant and potentially dangerous health outcomes. The most common immediate effects are severe gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms are the body’s direct reaction to the chemical components within the extract and the high alcohol content.
Consuming large quantities of the distillate poses a risk of systemic toxicity, potentially leading to damage to organs responsible for filtering waste. High doses of Witch Hazel taken orally have been linked to liver and kidney problems. The ingestion of any substantial amount of a liquid containing 14% to 15% ethanol also carries a serious risk of alcohol poisoning. This is particularly dangerous for children, where even small amounts of a liquid with this high concentration can quickly lead to respiratory depression, dangerously low blood sugar, or coma.
The Role of Tannins and Alcohol
The specific negative health effects are a result of the product’s chemical makeup, representing a dual source of risk. Witch Hazel bark and leaves are naturally rich in tannins, which are a class of astringent compounds, including hamamelitannin. These tannins are responsible for the plant’s ability to tighten and tone tissue, which is beneficial on the skin.
When ingested, however, the high concentration of tannins can be profoundly irritating to the delicate mucous membranes lining the digestive tract. This irritation is what causes the symptoms of stomach upset and vomiting. The second major risk comes from the ethanol used in the distillation process, which is present in the final product at concentrations of about 14%. This alcohol is a systemic toxin that contributes to the risk of organ damage and alcohol poisoning, compounding the local irritation caused by the tannins.