Virginian witch hazel

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Virginian witch hazel
Virginian witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Virginian witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana )

Systematics
Eudicotyledons
Nuclear eudicotyledons
Order : Saxifragales (Saxifragales)
Family : Witch Hazel Family (Hamamelidaceae)
Genre : Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis )
Type : Virginian witch hazel
Scientific name
Hamamelis virginiana
L.

The Virginian witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ), also known as the fall-blooming witch hazel or Virginian magic bush (English common name : Witch Hazel), is a species of plant in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). As part of the shrub and undergrowth flora, it is native to mixed deciduous forests in eastern North America.

description

Illustration of the Virginian witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana )
Close up of the foliage leaf
Flower and fruit of Hamamelis virginiana

Vegetative characteristics

The Virginian witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) is a tree-like shrub , also as a small tree with a short trunk in its homeland. The deciduous, deciduous shrub usually reaches a height of 3 to 6 m, rarely up to 10 m. The bark of young twigs is hairy gray or brownish-red. The bark is later light brown, smooth or slightly scaly.

The alternate, hazelnut-like leaves are divided into a petiole and a leaf blade. The petiole is usually 6 to 15 (to 20) mm long. The simple leaf blade is 4 to 17 cm long and 2.5 to 13 cm wide - elliptical to almost circular or obovate.

Generative characteristics

The strongly smelling, strikingly light yellow, coral-like shaped flowers with long, narrow petals appear in autumn and early winter, between the already discolored leaves or after they have fallen off. The egg-shaped, woody, densely hairy, 10 to 14 mm long capsule fruits, which ripen in the next summer, jump up when ripe and throw the only two black, 5 to 9 mm large seeds up to 15 m away.

Chromosome number

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 24.

Occurrence

The Virginian witch hazel grows in eastern North America from Mexico to Canada . It prefers moderately nutrient-rich, moist, rather lime-free soils without waterlogging in full sun or partial shade.

Natural range (1938)

use

Use as an ornamental plant

After Europe , the American Witchhazel came only in the 18th century, namely as ornamental tree . The hardy plant is occasionally planted in gardens and parks in temperate latitudes. It is one of the few species that bloom in winter.

Medical use

Witch hazel preparations were used as a medicinal plant by several tribes of the indigenous people of North America. Corresponding uses are particularly documented for Cherokee and Iroquois . The Cherokee used tea infusions as pain relievers as well as for colds and skin injuries, the Iroquois also in gynecology and as emetics.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) has created monographs for witch hazel water, witch hazel bark and witch hazel leaves.

Medicinal drug Manufacturing Quality description Important ingredients use
Hamamelidis aqua
( syn.Aqua Hamamelidis ,
Aqua Hamamelidis corticis ,
Liquor Hamamelidis )		 Steam distillate (witch hazel water) from freshly cut or partially dried branches or leaves. volatile oil For superficial skin injuries, local inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, for the treatment of hemorrhoids in the initial stages.
Hamamelidis cortex
(syn.Cortex Hamamelidis )		 Extracts of the dried, crushed bark of the trunks and branches. European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Tannins (approx. 8–12%), such as hamamelitannin and free gallic acid . Also essential oil, ellagitannin and flavone glycosides. For complaints such as itching, burning sensation, light bleeding with hemorrhoids (grade I and II), inflammation of the mucous membrane in the area of ​​the intestinal outlet. Popular to support acute, unspecific diarrheal diseases and menstrual cramps .
Hamamelidis folium
(syn. Folia Hamamelidis )		 Extracts of dried witch hazel leaves. European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Tannins (approx. 3–8%), especially hamamelitannin as well as simple and oligomeric proanthocyanidins , essential oil ( ionone , safrole ), flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives . For itching, oozing and burning in hemorrhoid disorders (I and II degrees) with inflammation of the mucous membranes in the anal area.
Hamamelidis cortex

The German Medicines Codex (DAC) also describes fluid extracts from the leaves ( Hamamelidis folii extractum fluidum ) and the bark ( Hamamelidis corticis extractum fluidum ).

Hamamelis virginica is a homeopathic medicine (short form: Ham ), which is made from the fresh bark of roots and twigs. It was examined by Constantin Hering in 1850 and used as a means especially for the treatment of injuries to the soft tissues with painful venous abundance of blood, bleeding, phlebitis or hemorrhoids .

Systematics and common names

The first publication of Hamamelis virginiana was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , 1, p 124. When selecting the botanical Artepithetons virginiana Carl Linnaeus moved from the origin to eastern North America, at that time beyond the boundaries of today's state as Virginia designated. Synonyms for Hamamelis virginiana L. are: Hamamelis androgyna Walter , Hamamelis corylifolia Moench , Hamamelis dioica Walter , Hamamelis macrophylla Pursh , Hamamelis virginiana fo. parvifolia (Nutt.) Fernald , Hamamelis virginiana fo. rubescens Rehder , Hamamelis virginiana var. angustifolia Nieuwl. , Hamamelis virginiana var. Orbiculata Nieuwl. , Hamamelis virginiana var. Macrophylla (Pursh) Nutt. , Hamamelis virginiana var. Parvifolia Nutt. , Trilopus dentata Raf. , Trilopus estivalis Raf. , Trilopus nigra Raf. , Trilopus nigra var. Catesbiana Raf. , Trilopus parvifolia (Nutt.) Raf. , Trilopus rotundifolia Raf. , Trilopus virginica (L.) Raf.

Other common names are: American witch hazel, fall flowering witch hazel, witch hazel, Virginia witch hazel.

Trivial names for witch hazel leaves: dowsing rod leaves, magic hazel leaves, magic shrub leaves.

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literature

  • Frederick G. Meyer: Hamamelidaceae in Flora of North America , Volume 3: Hamamelis virginiana - Online. (Section description and systematics)
  • Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig: Lexicon of Medicinal Plants and Drugs , Area, Erftstadt 2005, ISBN 3-89996-682-1 (2 volumes, approved special edition).

Individual evidence

Most of the information in this article has been taken from the sources given under literature, and the following individual references are also given:

  1. ↑ a b Hamamelis virginiana at baumkunde.de , accessed on July 10, 2009
  2. ↑ Frans Vermeulen: Prism. Similarities and parallels between substance and drug. Emryss, Haarlem 2006, ISBN 978-90-76189-17-8 .
  3. ↑ Hamamelis virginiana at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  4. ^ Joseph-Amedee Lathoud: Materia Medica , Barthel & Barthel, 1996, ISBN 3-88950-017-X
  5. ↑ a b Hamamelis virginiana on awl.ch , accessed on July 10, 2009
  6. ↑ a b c d e Tobias Niedenthal, Johannes Gottfried Mayer : “Drink before breakfast and vomit”: On the history of Hamamelis in America and Europe. In: Journal of Phytotherapy 2017; 38 (03): 137-144 doi: 10.1055 / s-0043-108664
  7. ↑ Hamamelidis folium - Hamamelis leaves ( Memento of the original from June 22, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at uni-greifswald.de, accessed on July 14, 2009 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / pharm1.pharmazie.uni-nahmswald.de
  8. ↑ Andrew Lockie, Nicola Geddes: Homeopathy. BLV, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-405-14719-0 .
  9. ↑ Manuel Mateu i Ratera: First aid through homeopathy. A homeopathic guide for practice, leisure and travel. Hahnemann Institute, Greifenberg 1997, ISBN 3-929271-10-9 .
  10. ↑ Hamamelis virginiana at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  11. ↑ Hamamelis virginiana on heilkraeuter.de , accessed on July 10, 2009

Web links

Commons : Hamamelis virginiana  - Collection of images, videos and audio files