Hamamelis – Witch Hazel

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh bark of the branches and roots of the plant, Hamamelis virginiana L., which grows in the U.S.A. – often wild – and in Germany is planted in many parks. N.O. Hamamelidaceae.

Hamamelis is particularly a remedy for the veins, and is used in venous stasis, varicose veins and passive haemorrhages of dark blood. One of the main symptoms is a painfulness, as if bruised, similar to Arnica; this painfulness is present not only in venous stasis, but may also be found in rheumatism.

Hamamelis patients feel better in warm, humid air.

The veins and varices of the lower leg are almost always sensitive to touch. Hamamelis is also indicated in thrombophlebitis and varicose ulcers. Haemorrhoids may bleed copiously with a sensation as if the back were about to break. Hamamelis is also the remedy for haematemesis with vomiting of dark blood. Likewise it will have a favourable action on dysmenorrhoea with profuse bleeding and a full, bruised feeling in the abdomen. If there is haematuria, there will usually be a dull pain in the renal area. In haemoptysis a full, bruised sensation in the floating ribs will indicate Hamamelis.

One should always think of Hamamelis if soreness and a bruised sensation are characteristically present in the affected parts, and particularly where there is a sen- sation as if the sacrum would break. There may also be a sensation of tiredness and stiffness in the lower limbs, with dull drawing pains in the legs. Hamamelis may also be indicated in inflammatory conditions of the oral cvity, such as tonsillitis with a dark red appearance.

The main indications are haemorrhages and varicose veins.

The symptoms of hamamelis may be set out in the following summarised form:

1. Venous stasis. Varices. Ulcers of the lower leg.
   1. Venous haemorrhages. Dark, passive flow.
   1. Epistaxis. Haematemesis. Bleeding haemorrhoids. Haematuria with kidney pains. Haemoptysis.
   1. Characteristic severe soreness of affected parts. Bruised sensation, as if broken.
   1. Dysmenorrhoea with severe venous haemorrhage and pain on the surface of the abdomen.
   1. Tonsillitis with dark red appearance and great thirst.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hamamelis virginiana, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hamamelis: varicose veins; haemorrhoids; bleeding of the skin and mucosae.