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Medical Forum / General / Alternative / October 2005Effecacy of Witch Hazel water astringent (Hamamelis virginiana)
I'm trying to find scientific evidence whether Witch Hazel is an effective treatment for hemorrhoids or if it's merely a quaint nostrum remedium. Googling for "Witch Hazel efficacy" reveals an amazingly confusing array of patent medicine websites (many selling the brew purporting to help alleviate the pain of hemorrhoids) and encyclopedic references (e.g., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_hazel_%28astringent%29 ) yet I can not find any US GOVERNMENT or SCIENTIFIC quote for the true efficacy of Witch Hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids (or anything else, for that matter). Even a search on the US Pharmacopeia ( http://www.usp.org ) for Hamamelis virginiana netted a surprising lack of information about this concoction. Of course, many pseudo-scientific websites (hundreds it seems) boldly state the H. virginiana based astringent is effective for the treatment of hemorrhoids (e.g., http://www.paghat.com/witchhazelmedicinal.html ) but that doesn't make it so. About the closest I can find to a reliable government or scientific source is this short quote from http://www.herbdatanz.com/nf_usd_a-d.htm stating: AQUA HAMAMELIDIS; N.F Hamamelis Water [Aq. Hamam.] Witch Hazel Water. This is a popular, but useless, embrocation made by distillation of Hamamelis twigs It contains a trace of volatile oil but no therapeutically active substance; even the alcohol present is in too small a proportion to exert any beneficial action. The problem is this is the ONLY government or scientific source I could find that discussed the efficacy of Witch Hazel water (Hamamelis virginiana) and it did not discuss hemorrhoids in particular, yet, I can find thousands of quotes from the popular websites stating it is effective. My question: Do you know of any scientific evidence reporting the efficacy of witch hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids? Chris > I'm trying to find scientific evidence whether Witch Hazel is an effective > treatment for hemorrhoids or if it's merely a quaint nostrum remedium. Oooops. "Efficacy" (embarrassed) ... Can anyone find reliable government or scientific studies on the Internet which have tested the claims of the use of Witch Hazel water (aka Hamamelis virginiana water) for the treatment of common hemmorrhoids? > > I'm trying to find scientific evidence whether Witch Hazel is an effective > > treatment for hemorrhoids or if it's merely a quaint nostrum remedium. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > which have tested the claims of the use of Witch Hazel water (aka Hamamelis > virginiana water) for the treatment of common hemmorrhoids? I searched Medline and found this reference, but there isn't an English translation available: "Drug therapy of hemorrhoids. Proven results of therapy with a hamamelis containing hemorrhoid ointment. Results of a meeting of experts. Dresden, 30 August 1991] Fortschr Med Suppl. 1991;116:1-11. German. No abstract available. PMID: 1684558 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE" It looks like this might be the kind of study used by Germany's Commission E, which is sort of their version of the American FDA, except they fund more investigations of herbal medicine. I have in front of me a textbook by the American Botanical Council entitled "The Complete German Commission E Monographs", and the section on witch hazel describes it as an astringent, antiinflammatory and local hemostatic agent, with hemorrhoid treatment among its uses. So I suppose you could take this as evidence to back up the use of witch hazel water to treat hemorrhoids. Mark, MD On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:15:16 GMT, OldGoat wrote: > I'm sorry I can't give you any study or site any statements from official > sources, but seeing is believing and if this is more than a school project > or paper and are asking for more "personal" reasons, stop the torture and > find out yourself. Keep the expensive ointments, that 75 cent bottle is > worth it's weight in gold. Hi OldGoat, Thank you for the advice. Yes, this is for ME (not a school project)! I never had them before but now that I'm out of college and working sitting down all day, all of a sudden I have ... well ... you know ... piles. And it hurts. After unsuccessfully pushing it back, I looked it up and was horrified to find that I couldn't find good scientific reports showing what works and what doesn't work. I wasn't born yesterday so I know there is a lot of quackery out there. Even the doctors have it wrong sometimes, for example, duct tape occlusion therapy removes warts better than cryogenics, for example. This kind of information is never anecdotal ... it's factual. However, my hasty web-based research as to what to use to alleviate my sudden case of the piles didn't turn up anything other than "Preparation H" and "Witch Hazel Water Astringent" for the hemmorrhoid and other items for the itching and burning sensations, neither of which seemed well tested in the literature, but both of which were well recommended in the urban legend. I did find out the itching & burning isn't due to the hemmorrhoid but to a secondary infection or inflammation so I put some Clotrimizole 1% antifungal cream to kill the fungi; some Bacitracin cream to kill the bacteria; and Benadryl 2% diphenhydramine hydrochloride to lessen the inflammatory immune response. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing and no idea if this will help but the creams seem to feel good if nothing else (although time may tell). Since piles apparently spontaneously heal, only a scientific study can tell for sure - so THAT is why I'm looking for one to read. Having the real problem to resolve and not just a theoretical one, I'll also try the Witch Hazel Astringent Water tonight. I also tried the Preparation H 72% petrolatum, 14% mineral oil, 3% shark liver oil, 1/4% phenylephrine hydrochloride hemorrhoidal ointment last night but the vein is STILL sticking out so it didn't work (at least not yet). Certainly the ingredient list smacks of patent medicine quackery (what is "mineral oil" anyway and what is "petrolatum" and why would a shark liver have something that would make a vein recede back where it belongs, etc.)? How is this any different than swabbing by anus with Johnson & Johnson K-Y Jelly or plain old vaseline? One thing I did notice was that bowel movement this morning was VERY EASY (I'm not sure if it was due to the squatting I tried based on my literature search or if it was due to the friction reduction due to the many creams.) One unexpected bonus was that cleanup was surprisingly easier with all those creams protecting the skin surface ... this in and of itself (especially in a work environment where a bidet or sitz bath is unavailable) may help with the burning and itching part due to the secondary infection by either the bacteria or fungus. Having said all that, I have not yet tried the Witch Hazel Astringent Water (I looked up an "astringent" which seems to match slightly what I need to happen. I mean ... I have a little tiny balloon that needs to go back home and the word "astringent" seems a bit light for what I need to occur.) However, if the creams help with the itching and if the astringent helps reduce the size of the bulbous veinous hernia, I'm willing to try it. Thanks for the advice ... if anyone else finds SCIENTIFIC evidence that witch hazel (or anything else) REALLY works ... please post as I'm sure I'm not the only woman in the USA who has a sudden case of nasty piles! Chris > After unsuccessfully pushing it back, I looked it up and was horrified to > find that I couldn't find good scientific reports showing what works and > what doesn't work. You have been misinformed. Basically nothing works for hemorrhoids except the body healing thyself. So, no matter what you use, you'll be convinced it's what cured you. The proof that witch hazel is an old wives tale cure for hemorrhoids is the fact that the bottle in my kitchen doesn't even have an NDC number or a USP number on it. All it says is it's an astringent. Nothing is said about hemorrhoids so please don't believe anyone who says it can help as it can't. Nothing can help but time and mother nature. > The proof that witch hazel is an old wives tale cure for hemorrhoids > is the fact that the bottle in my kitchen doesn't even have an NDC > number or a USP number on it. All it says is it's an astringent. It's not so clear to me that proves anything other than it doesn't have an NDC or USP number whatever they are. Is there anyone who knows what an NDC or USP number indicate? > > The proof that witch hazel is an old wives tale cure for hemorrhoids > > is the fact that the bottle in my kitchen doesn't even have an NDC [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Is there anyone who knows what an NDC or USP number indicate? The NF (National Formulary) and the USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) were official drug lists that told manufacturers and pharmacists how to make such preparations as Witch Hazel. They would actually tell how to soak the plant leaves, how to extract the drug using alcohol or water, how to dilute it to proper strength. It also gave the chemical assay method and how to do the test and what the results should be. Now many or most drugs are products of the laboratory, not mother nature. Valium, for instance, a muscle relaxed and sedative, was once the top selling drug in America. If you give a person 10 mg. of it, you pretty well know what to expect from the drug. Once we used drugs like Tincture of Cannabis, obviously a good sedative with funky side effects, and tincture of Opium. That was the stuff we had before organic chemistry came along with Valium, and Hydrocodone-APAP. If you like the smell of Witch Hazel it still is OK for hemorrhoids and makes a good after shave lotion. Anyone still use Bay Rum for shaving lotion? Witch Hazel is inexpensive and safe to use. It is no wonder drug. Yet I doubt that Witch Hazel has killed anyone. That puts it ahead of Vioxx which proved to be neither safe to take or inexpensive. > On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:15:16 GMT, OldGoat wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] > > Chris You really need to catch them early, before they are swollen too badly, but for future reference, get on your knees, and use the Preparation H, tuck them up and back, stay on your knees, (keep tucking) for at less five minutes. Do this often. Keeping them tucked is the secret. When they are out is when they swell. Hope this helps, it did for me. Good luck, I know what you are going through, it is not fun to say the least. Jan >> Can anyone find reliable government or scientific studies on the >> Internet which have tested the claims of the use of Witch Hazel water >> (aka Hamamelis virginiana water) for the treatment of common >> hemmorrhoids? I read the link which said Witch Hazel was useless but I also found this link which says it's astringent qualities shrink the hemorrhoid by sucking the water out of them so that they shrivel up and snap back in. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/47/75.cfm This same link says Preparation H suppositories are totally useless and there was some talk somewhere about the NY attorney general prosecuting the company that makes it. > > I'm trying to find scientific evidence whether Witch Hazel is an effective > > treatment for hemorrhoids or if it's merely a quaint nostrum remedium. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > which have tested the claims of the use of Witch Hazel water (aka Hamamelis > virginiana water) for the treatment of common hemmorrhoids? it's reasonably cheap. why don't you do your own experiment? http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe 33da65dd4&chunkiid=21721 http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/expandedcommissione/he103.asp > http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/expandedcommissione/he103.asp This has to be the ONLY STUDY on the entire Internet! I looked it up myself only to find nothing whatsoever, so I, for one, laud you for finding this scientific study which apparently concluded: - European witch hazel is DIFFERENT than USA witch hazel water - The USA witch hazel water has no tannin (astringent) for example - The astringency in USA witch hazel water is due to the 15% alcohol - In UV irritation tests, the witch hazel worked about as well as creams - Hydrocortisone, in general, is a more effective anti-inflammatory creme > > http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/expandedcommissione/he103.asp > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > - Hydrocortisone, in general, is a more effective anti-inflammatory > creme I used to buy a witch hazel soap at the local Drug Emporium. I have very sensitive skin (it turns red from the slightest contact) and this stuff was great! Calmed my skin right down, and had this bracing medicinal smell. I think it was from Germany, but the store closed long ago and I can't seem to find it online - probably would help if I could remember the name ! > I'm trying to find scientific evidence whether Witch Hazel is an effective > treatment for hemorrhoids or if it's merely a quaint nostrum remedium. [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > Chris Use your Yellow Pages to find a surgeon who has the equipment to do laser coagulation of hemorrhoids. The procedure is nearly painless, can be done in the doctor's office, and offers permanent relief, not just temporary reduction of the symptoms.  Signature--Rich Recommended websites: http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles http://www.acahf.org.au http://www.quackwatch.org/ http://www.skeptic.com/ http://www.csicop.org/ > My question: > Do you know of any scientific evidence reporting the efficacy of witch > hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids? No, but it's lovely in my eyes and shrinks surrounding tissue when used as a cold compress so it should shrink haemorrhoids too. >> Do you know of any scientific evidence reporting the efficacy of witch >> hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids? Witch hazel does not work. Nothing works but time and removing the cause. You need to find the cause and remove that cause. For years, Harry Hemorrhoid attacked me after my annual winter bout of coughing. At first, I thought it was due to the pressure exerted when I coughed so I took massive doses of cough syrup to quell the urge. I only realized the hemorrhoid was the third step in the problem. 1. The coughing induced me to take massive doses of dexromethorphan cough syrup. 2. The dextromethorphan induced the severe constipation. 3. The straining to relieve constipation induced the hemorrhoids. Work your way backward and remove the CAUSE of the hemorrhoid. Then, let time and sitz baths heal the hemorrhoid. Forget about using witch hazel or any other emollument with wholly unsubstantiated claims. >>> Do you know of any scientific evidence reporting the efficacy of witch >>> hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Forget about using witch hazel or any other emollument with wholly > unsubstantiated claims. Forget ALL that, and see a surgeon. "Nothing can heal like cold hard steel." (Or, in more modern terms, "Nothing's so right as hot laser light.") Signature--Rich Recommended websites: http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles http://www.acahf.org.au http://www.quackwatch.org/ http://www.skeptic.com/ http://www.csicop.org/ > >> Do you know of any scientific evidence reporting the efficacy of witch > >> hazel for the treatment of hemorrhoids? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Forget about using witch hazel or any other emollument with wholly > unsubstantiated claims. the witch hazel (and probably horse chestnut) should cause some temporary shrinkage, but to totally fix the problem, the diet must be changed: more fiber and more water (not coffee, not tea, not soda, not juice: WATER). surgery might still be needed, depending on how bad they are. |
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