Witch Hazel
 

Just read about this on another post. The lady was using it on her sore knee. So I bought some. Tried it on my arthritic hands, just so sore & stiff in the mornings. About 20 minutes after rubbing a little on my hands my right hand had no soreness and my left was 50% improved. That's about as good as my left gets. I just made a pinhole in the foil lid, so it just drips out. I used it on my skin, I believe she said to wet a cloth and put the cloth on the sore spot. Guess it would stay moist a lot longer that way. Maybe I'll put a scrap of flannall (sp.), (I must have some scraps, grin), on my left hand and reapply later, Not sure if I need to wait before re-appling, suppose I could read the label, it's just so tiny writing.

thanks for the heads up on that one. never heard of that, but if it works for you, can you imagine all the people you've helped today??
thanks for the info.

Hmmm, it can't hurt, I might try that on my shoulder. It's been having soreness, limitation for several weeks; ortho doc says it's not needing replacement yet and he sees from the cervical MRI he ordered that it's coming from the destruction in my neck. Now that my achilles tendon tear has been repaired, it's killing me to use the walker to get around, hopping on one leg.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Jan in VA

My OB doc for one of the kids told I use a small flannel pad with witch hazel on it on my stitches after childbirth. It sure was cool and soothing.

I've used witch hazel for years on bruises and any injury. It is fantastic an old item our granma's used

I also use white vinegar for jobs around the house.it sterilises surfaces. My father used to soak his gout in it , for some relief .

Never knew the healing power of this old product ........will have to buy some and keep on hand......just thought it was an astringent....

It's a good product with an interesting history. Made in the USA, too!

Witch hazel is a good astringent.....very good for skin on your face, after cleansing. Used to use it all the time when I was young....thanks for the reminder, must get some more.

I use it on my face as well. I wish it smelled better though...

Mine is orderless or very low oder, a must for me. I got it at Walmart. Don't think it has a name. The bottle says distilled Witch Hazel USP.

I'm weird. I kind of like the smell! ;)

Thanks for sharing that.. I will have to try that...I have a sore and swollen knee from an injury I got in June. I need surgery but am not ready to have it...

Thanks for the tip...i will definitely give it a try. Have surgery scheduled for after the holidays for my thumbs...no cartilage left. Hopefully this will help. Again...thanks.

I've never used witch hazel for soreness or bruises. I always use arnica for those. It works great! I don't have arthritis and have no idea how it would be for that. I'll remember the witch hazel though just in case. I always think of it as an astringent, too.

My mother has been using Witch Hazel for years for sores, bruises. etc. I use it on my face after washing it daily. Now that you bring it up maybe I should try it on my finger. Was using a circular saw this morning to cut a small piece of wood and the backer board I was using was caught by the blade and snapped out of my hand and then came back at me. I now have a middle finger that's turning blue/purple, swelling and hurts like the dickens. Guess it could have been worse. Could have lost a finger.

Thank you for this tip. I hope it relieves some of the pain in my hands.

Me too lol.

I've never tried witch hazel. My mom used to keep it in the house but I didn't use it as a kid. Several years ago someone posted on the Board about Two Old Goats lotion. I got is as a "joke" for my MIL, who has rhematoid arthritis and other painful joints. It worked! I now use it all the time for aches and arthritis and keep a small bottle in my purse. I gave it to three friends last Christmas, and they all are using it. I also recommended it at a quilt guild meeting and one lady told me she got it and it's made a world of difference in her hands. My local Ace Hardware now carries it so I don't have to order it.
http://twooldgoats.com/

It's the active ingredient in Tucks and other similar remedies. I learned this years ago when my youngest son was born. Boy, was I glad when the nurse gave me that info - it's much more affordable than the name brand products. A couple of months later, my baby had a severe bout of diarrhea and screamed when I tried to clean off his poor poopy bum with baby wipes. I felt horrible, I never knew what I ingested that caused such a reaction in him (I was breastfeeding at the time), but the skin on his bum looked almost like it had chemical burns. I poured witch hazel on a soft paper towel and let it sit on his skin for a few minutes, it soothed him immediately and healed quickly.

I am willing to try anything on my poor knees.

I love witch hazel. Great in the summer as an alternative to an alcohol rub for cooling down and I think the aroma is pleasant. Just use a wash cloth and wet it with the WH and wash arms leg neck and belly. As it evaporates it cools you down. I will try it for my arthritis now. I always have a few bottles in my medicine cabinet. TFS
peace

I have knee replacement surgery next week on my left knee. I will try the Witch Hazel for the right knee and my fingers as soon as I am back from the hospital. I had to stop taking Celebrex until the surgery and boy am I hurting now!!

This stuff is also great for treating insect bites, bee stings or anything itchy; and it's cheap too!

I use Arnica for sore muscles and bruising and can't say enough about it. I always rub it into my knees when they hurt (such as gardening, ect.) My mom says it helps the bursitis in her hip, and a friend I recommended it to swears it has helped him avoid knee surgery. Got a flu shot this week and had a sore arm at the injection site. A bit of Arnica cream and it quit hurting completely. But I did recently use Witch Hazel on a nasty spider bite and it really helped, alternated with lavender oil and ice packs (advice from my Naturopathic Dr.).

My Golden Retriever is prone to yeasty ear infections, I use it to wipe her ears out; it helps.

Oh Jan, So sorry to hear you are limited to a walker.... hoping you are healing and feeling better soon!!!! (((Hugs)))

Good stuff to know, never really knew what it was for. Thanks for posting this.

I am so very glad so many people have discovered witch hazel by my comment earlier in the month. I love this natural remedy it is so cold and healing. You just never know what will come of the things you say on the quilt board. LOL!