Hamamelis virginiana

Virginia witch hazel. · Plant · Hamamelidaceae

BoerickeClarkeAllenNashCowperthwaitePhatak

People who respond best to Hamamelis often feel a lack of appreciation and respect from others prior to illness, which tends to make them become depressed and solitary. When ill, they are prone to feelings of restlessness and irritability.

The remedy’s primary use is in treating hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The veins are typically inflamed and weak. There is susceptibility to hemorrhaging, such as heavy periods in women or nosebleeds. Bleeding is generally slow to stop, and is usually accompanied by calm. Hamamelis may also be used for injuries to the eye.

Key symptoms

Venous congestion, haemorrhages, varicose veins with bruised soreness of affected parts
Passive venous haemorrhages from any part; blood dark and non-coagulable
Haemorrhoids bleeding profusely with soreness; anus raw and sore
Uterine haemorrhage; menses dark and profuse with bearing-down back pain
Epistaxis profuse with tightness in bridge of nose
Eyes bloodshot, injected, painful; hastens absorption of intraocular haemorrhage
Great value in open, painful wounds with weakness from loss of blood

Worse (aggravation)

For warm, damp air; for pressure on the affected area; for movement.

Better (amelioration)

For fresh air; for reading; for thinking; for talking.

William Boericke

Homoeopathic Materia Medica · 1901

Witch-hazel (HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA)

Venous congestion, hæmorrhages, varicose veins, and hæmorrhoids, with bruised soreness of affected parts, seem to be the special sphere of this remedy. Acts upon the coats of the veins causing relaxation with consequent engorgement. Passive venous hæmorrhages from any part. Great value in open, painful wounds, with weakness from loss of blood. After operations, supersedes the use of morphia (Helmuth).

Head

Wants "the respect due to me" shown. Feeling as of a bolt from temple to temple. Fullness, followed by epistaxis. Numbness over frontal bone.

Eyes

Painful weakness; sore pain in eyes; bloodshot appearance; inflamed vessels greatly injected. Hastens absorption of intraocular hæmorrhage. Eyes feel forced out.

Nose

Bleeding from nose profuse; flow passive, non-coagulable, with tightness in bridge of nose. Bad odor from nose.

Throat

Mucous membrane distended and bluish; varicosis of throat.

Stomach

Tongue feels burnt. Thirst. Blisters on side. Hæmatemesis of black blood. Throbbing and pain in stomach.

Stool

Anus feels sore and raw. Hæmorrhoids, bleeding profusely, with soreness. Dysentery. Pulsation in rectum.

Urine

Hæmaturia, with increased desire.

Female

Ovarian congestion and neuralgia; feel very sore. Vicarious menstruation. Uterine hæmorrhage, bearing-down pain in back. Menses dark, profuse, with soreness in abdomen. Metrorrhagia, occurring midway between menstrual periods. Intermenstrual pain (Jas. W. Ward). Vagina very tender. Profuse leucorrhœa. Vulva itches. Milk-leg, hæmorrhoids, and sore nipples, after confinement. Metrorrhagia; passive flow. Vaginismus, ovaritis, soreness over whole abdomen. Phlegmasia alba.

Male

Pain in spermatic cord, running into testes. Varicocele. Pain in testicles. Orchitis. Testicles enlarged, hot, and painful. Epididymitis.

Respiratory

Hæmoptysis; tickling cough. Chest feels sore and constricted.

Back

Sore pain down cervical vertebræ. Severe pain in lumbar and hypogastric region, extending down legs.

Extremities

Tired feeling in arms and legs. Very sore muscles and joints. Varicose veins. Chilliness in back and hips, extending down legs. Neuralgia of internal saphenous nerve.

Skin

Bluish chilblains. Phlebitis. Purpura. Varicose veins and ulcers; very sore. Burns. Ecchymosis. Traumatic inflammations (Arnica).

Modalities

Worse, warm, moist air.

Relationship

Compare in hæmorrhoids: Calc fluor; Aloe; Mur ac in varicose veins. Mangifera indica.

Compare: Arnica; Calend; Trillium; Bellis; Sulph ac; Pulsatilla.

Antidote: Arnica.

Complementary: Ferrum.

Dose

Tincture, to sixth attenuation. Distilled extract locally.

John Henry Clarke

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · 1900

H. macrophylla. H. dioica. H. virginica. Witch-hazel. N. O. Hamamelidaceæ. (A shrub growing in all parts of U.S., in damp woods or along streams; flowers in autumn, flowers yellow, the seeds ripen the year following). Tincture of fresh bark of twigs and root. A resinoid, Hamamelin, is also prepared.

Clinical

Abortion, threatened. Ankles, weak. Black-eye. Bruises. Burns. Cancer. Chilblains. Consumption. Enteric fever. Gastric ulcer. Hæmatemesis. Hæmaturia. Hæmorrhages. Hæmorrhagic diathesis. Hæmorrhoids. Leucorrhœa. Melæna. Menstruation, disorders of; vicarious. Nipples, sore. Noises in the head. Nose, bleeding from. Ovaries, affections of. Pelvic hæmatocele. Phimosis. Phlegmasia alba dolens. Purpura. Rheumatism. Scapula, rheumatism of. Scurvy. Small-pox. Testicles, inflamed. Ulcers. Uterus, affections of. Vagina, spasm of. Varicocele. Veins, varicose. Wounds.

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Henry Clay Allen

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons · 1898

Witch Hazel. (Hamamclaceae.)

This shrub flowers from September to November, when the leaves are falling. The seeds mature the following summer. It is adapted to venous haemorrhage from every orifice of the body; nose, lungs, bowels, uterus, bladder. Venous congestion; passive, of skin and mucous membranes; phlebitis, varicose veins; ulcers, varicose, with stinging, pricking pain; haemorrhoids. Patients, subject to varicose veins, take cold easily from every exposure, especially in warm, moist air. "Is the Aconite of the venous capillary system.". Bruised soreness of affected parts (Arn.); rheumatism, articular and muscular. Wounds: incised, lacerated, contused; injuries from falls; checks haemorrhage, removes pain and soreness (Arn.). Chronic effects of mechanical injuries (Con.). Traumatic conjunctivitis; sugillations, or extravasations into chambers of eye; from severe coughing; intense soreness (Arn., Calen., Led.). Nosebleed: flow passive, long-lasting, blood non-coagulable (Crot.); profuse > headache (Mel.); …

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Eugene Beauharnais Nash

Regional Leaders · 1901

Nose

Epistaxis with a feeling of tightness on bridge of the nose, and crawling pressure in forehead between the eyes. It clears the head and affords relief.