Westmoreland Conservancy hike to highlight wonders of witch hazel

It might have a spooky, Halloween-appropriate name, but witch hazel isn't scary, and useful any time of the year.

On Oct. 22, Westmoreland Conservancy officials will lead a witch hazel hike through their 52-acre McGinnis Nature Reserve off of Hunter Drive in Murrysville.

“It's a native shrub that grows all over the area, but few people seem to know much about it,” conservancy President Shelly Tichy said. “Some people are aware that it's actually a medicinal plant from which the (witch hazel) astringent is derived.”

The leaves, bark and twigs of the witch hazel are used for a variety of medicinal purposes.

“It's an astringent, so it kind of tightens the skin,” said certified herbalist Lindsey Praksti of Delmont. “People use it a lot of times with varicose veins, to tighten their skin and sort of push those veins back in.”

Most pharmacies carry witch hazel astringent in an isopropyl alcohol solution that Praksti said can be made at home.

“You can take the leaves and bark and make your own,” she said. “You'd let it soak for a month or so. You can also make a tea with it to use topically, and you can drink the tea, which can help with mouth ulcers or a sore throat.”

The astringency in the plant comes from its tannins, the same organic substance that gives tea a bitter taste.

Witch hazel actually blooms in colder weather, Praksti said, which makes it easy to identify.

“It gives off a weird yellow, spidery-looking flower, and it's pretty prevalent in Pennsylvania,” she said.

Tichy said the McGinnis Reserve's Blue Trail runs past a large stand of witch hazel shrubs.

“It should be in full flower by Oct. 22,” she said. “It should also be full-blown fall, so the leaves, while a bit past peak, should still be gorgeous.”

The hike will leave from 10 a.m. at the reserve, which is on the 5000 block of Hunter Drive in Murrysville.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2862 or pvarine@tribweb.com.