Tree Medicines: Witch-hazel

Personal story: This March I was introduced to a witch hazel in a new client's yard that was not flowering like it had in years past. This prompted me to do some research, and hopefully discover what may be "at the root of the problem". I have found that witch-hazels are generally pest and disease free, which is beautiful. They are striking jewels of the winter and it makes me happy they are generally drought tolerant once established. I learned, however, they appreciate "protection from  frost once sap starts to rise." I wonder then, with the particularly harsh winter we've had, if this tree was suffering from winter damage. That being said, I saw many witch hazels this winter around town with glorious flowering. It is still unclear to me what is happening in my client's yard but I'll keep watching.

Witch-hazel blooming in Washington Park Arboretum, February 2017

Witch-hazel & Yoga: When you look at these flowers, what does it evoke for you? To me it's a question of trying to embody the energy of Witch-hazel.

Tree Pose, standing in front of a Witch-hazel in South Seattle College Arboretum, May 31, 2017

I think of Witch-hazel as being rather stately, open, graceful and strong. Therefore standing poses that strengthen the legs and core, while opening the joints in the arms, shoulders, hips, spine and legs are all very appropriate. In addition, holding the poses for longer, building strength through static holds -- seems ideal. Here is one possible sequence (here I assuming you have some knowledge of yoga to be able to follow along):

Start in Tadasana for several minutes.

Inhaling the energetic essence of Witch-hazel, perhaps an image too.

Exhaling with an awareness of the tight areas throughout your body, releasing them and letting tension melt away.

Open the spine, chest and arms with a vinyasa moving between Tadasana and Uttanasana for several minutes. Each breath corresponding with one movement.

You could continue to warm up with sun salutations if you feel called to do that.

Inhale stepping one leg back into Virabhadrasana II.

Holding for perhaps a minute, reaching out through the inner thighs and arms, continuing to breath.

Continue this pattern of inhaling into new poses, holding for a minute or more: Utthita Parsvokonasana, Utthita Trikonasana.

Inhale opening the body into Utkata Konasana, finding a place of centeredness you can hold for several minutes.

Here you might play with different arm variations while staying very grounded in the lower body, maintaining alignment in the low back and knees. Breathe.

From here inhaling to face the opposite direction to complete Warrior II, Side Angle and Triangle on the other side, utilizing the same pattern of stillness and breath.

Then inhaling back to the center, exhale stepping your feet together, preparing to do some balancing poses, such as Vrksasana. 

Inhale bending one knee and lifting it to your chest, continuing the same pattern of holding poses for some time, while breathing: Garudasana, Utthita Hasta Padangustasana, Natarajasana. 

Don't forget to do both sides. Don't forget to incorporate whatever movements feel natural for you to do in your own body, listening deeply.

Step back into Mountain Pose and recall the energetic image of Witch-hazel, while releasing the breath to normal. Reflect on if you feel any different, and how.

Research

Botanical genus: Hamamelis (H. x intermedia, H. japonica, H. mollis, H. vernalis, H. virginiana) Family: Hamamelidaceae Common names: Witch-hazel; Japanese name: Mansaku, "rich crop" and "earliest flowering" [2]. Origin: China, Europe, Japan, North America. Natural habitat: moist woods and along streams [2]. General description: Deciduous shrub or small tree up to 30'. Leaves are simple, ovate, margins toothed, base oblique, petioles short. Fall foliage yellow, orange, bronze, red. Flowers appear in short, auxiliary clusters before new growth in the spring, fragrant, 4-maris, 2cm, petals linear and crumpled in the bud- kind of look like spiders, yellow, orange, red. The flowers attract butterflies! Fruit is 2-parted with two black seeds that are explosively released when ripe [1]. Slow growing, it takes about six years to flower from seed [5]. Cultural Requirements:  Sun-part shade, moist, acidic soil-woodland conditions [1]; prefers a sandy-loam [5]. Needs a winter chill to achieve full flowering, yet also protection from frost once the sap starts to rise, such as with mulch [2]. Needs summer irrigation, especially to establish young plants [2]. They can become stressed by drought or scorching sun [7]. Zone 5 (although H. vernalis is hardy to zone 4, and H. virginiana is hardy to zone 3) [1]. Propagation: by seed, a specific process of cold and warm stratification followed by scarification; also softwood cuttings may be taken in summer [5]. WSU Extension recommends tip layering over a one year period [7]. Pruning: OSU Extension classifies Witch-hazel as a "tree-like" and recommends light, selective pruning, never removing more than 1/8 of the total leaf surface in one year. Otherwise you may stress them or cause watersprouts [8]. 

Herbal Medicine: Astringent, Hemostatic, Homeopathic, Sedative, Tonic (H. virginiana). Popular ingredient in eye drops, skin creams, ointments and skin tonics; used externally for bruises, sore muscles, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, sore nipples and inflammations [5]. Internally used to treat diarrhea, colitis, dysentery, hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, excessive menstruation, internal bleeding, prolapsed organs [5]. A homeopathic remedy made from bark is used to treat nosebleeds and varicose veins [5]. Native Americans traditionally made a decoction of twigs and bark for treating cuts and bruises, or as a salve to treat sore eyes [2, 5]. Wildcrafting: bark and twigs are harvested in the spring, and leaves harvested in the summer [5]. Contraindications: Avoid long term use from cancer risk due to high tannin content; avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding; internal use may cause vomiting and nausea; external use may cause dermititis [5]. Witch-hazel water made from steam distillate does not contain tannins (although is less effective) [5]. Other uses: flowers used in traditional tea ceremonies, and branches used to make rafts, baskets and shelves (Japan); branches used as divining rods by American colonists [2]. The wood is heavy, hard and close-grained [5].

Plant Health Care/Integrated Pest Management: Generally free of insects and diseases [1], however there may be some associated problems in special cases. Abiotic problems in Western Washington: as already mentioned, Witch-hazel may become stressed by drought. Although by most accounts, Witch-hazel is considered drought-tolerant once established. Therefore provide supplemental irrigation to young trees, particularly during summer drought. And as already mentioned, Witch-hazel has a low pruning budget, so use a light hand. Biotic problems in Western Washington: Insect problems:Witch-hazel root weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus, O. singularis, O. ovatus): small, dark, nocturnal beetles with a snout ("rostrum"), elbowed antennae, slow moving and cannot fly [10]. Upon feeding they leave ragged notches on the edges of leaves or flower petals [4] -- symptoms of pest presence. This type of insect damage is usually considered "aesthetic" and noninjurious to the health of the plant. During the day adult root weevils remain in soil or in debris at the base of the plant [10]. Look for them at night with a flashlight for a clear sign of pest presence [6]. Life cycle: Eggs are laid in soil at the base of the plants 4-6 weeks after the adults have emerged, and one adult female may lay 500 eggs [11]. From eggs they develop into larvae, in the soil, over a period of 2-8 months [11]. The larvae are C-shaped, legless, white-reddish with tan heads, and half an inch long [10]. The larvae overwinter in the soil, form pupae in the spring [11] and emerge as adults in May/June [6]. Pest management: although the adults are merely "aesthetically damaging", larvae can cause more harm by feeding on roots, and may cause girdling [10]. With adults, you can dislodge and capture them into a pitfall trap or simply hand remove them [10]. One cultural control method is to plant cereal cover crop around the base of the tree, because these crops are not a recorded host of root weevils [10]. Also placing oak leaves at the base of the tree may attract ground foraging birds [10]. To manage the larvae, you can apply beneficial nematodes via soil drench (on soils above 52 degrees, in the fall) -- which is a biological control strategy [6]. If cultural, mechanical and biological control strategies don't work, and notched leaves or larval feeding become intolerable -- chemical management is an option. Spray the adults when they first emerge in May/June, or spray larvae in the fall with: acephate, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin. Be aware that applying chemical pesticides may be just as damaging and therefore counterproductive. Acephate is an organophosphate, target insecticide [12]. It affects the nervous system and is classified as "a possible human carcinogen", while also being "moderately" toxic to birds, "slightly toxic" to amphibians and fish, and "highly toxic" to bees/beneficial insects [12]. It's half life ranges from 4.5-32 days [12]. Bifenthrin is also an insecticide that affects the nervous system; it is derived from pyrethrin, which comes from chrysanthemum flowers [13]. It is also classified as a "possible human carcinogen" and is "highly toxic" to fish and bees [13]. Cyfluthrin is also in the pyrethroid family [14]. It has a high risk of run-off and is highly toxic to bees [14]. For organic chemical control you can use: Beauveria bassiana, or azadirachtin neem extract [10].  Beauveria bassiana (Bb)is considered an "environmentally friendly mycoinsecticide" - a fungi that infects insects. The sexual stage has been identified as Cordyceps bassiana [15]. It has a wide host range of over 700 species [15]! In China, approximately one million hectares a year are treated with Bb to control forest insects [15]. Neem oil has been used for hundreds of years to control pests and diseases; Azadirachtin is the most active component [16]. It reduces insect feeding and acts as a repellent. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs [16]. Although neem oil is made of fatty acids, essential oils and other substances that are commonly eaten in a normal diet, Azadirachtin can be very irritating to the skin and stomach [16]. Azadirachtin has a half life in soil from 3 - 44 days [16]. By comparison to the other chemical options, Azadirachtin is nontoxic to birds and bees, and "slightly toxic" to fish [16]. Disease problems: Witch-hazel may be a host for Phytophthera ramorum, which causes symptoms of "Sudden Oak Death"[3], cankers, leaf blights and shoot dieback - depending on the species [9]. It is a "fungus-like" spore-producing plant pathogen related to algae [17]. Life cycle: P. ramorum thrives in cool, moist areas and primarily acts as a leaf pathogen [17] as compared to other Phytophthera that are soil dwelling [17]. It is vectored through through water, wind-driven rain, plant material, or human activity [17]. Trees growing in a mixed woodland or forest environment seem more likely to become infected by P. ramorum  than plants in a residential setting [17]. Because P. ramorum is rarely fatal to non-Oak hosts (like Witch-hazel), the disease is sometimes referred to as Ramorum blight [17]. If there is a concern for Phytophthera, note that proper identification of P. ramorum requires lab work (although even in a lab it can be difficult to detect) and may require sensitive molecular techniques to detect DNA [9]. You can send in foliar samples to a lab, collecting 10 symptomatic leaves [17]. Disease management: Once P. ramorum infects plants, there is no cure [17]. therefore prevention is the best medicine. Be careful when buying new plants from a nursery - inspect the leaves for symptoms, or if you are really concerned, you can quarantine your plant for 8 weeks in a moist environment to see if symptoms develop [17]. In general, avoid over-irrigation or planting in poorly draining sites [9] because the organisms are only active at or above field capacity. Similarly avoid situating Witch-hazels near plants that need more irrigation [9] so they aren't unnecessarily irrigated. Although common sense, avoid planting in a site where the soil is already contaminated with P. ramorum. However if the ground is already contaminated you can solarize the soil, apply steam heat for thirty minutes, or apply fertilizer regimes to reduce pH - although if there are surrounding plants, you must simultaneously apply foliar fertilizers to make up for the root uptake loss (9). It might be wise to alter the soil conditions like that only in cases of complete renovation where there are not existing plants. Another preventative measure for the very concerned is to apply the phosphonate fungicide, Agri-Fos - which is really only recommended for high value Oak trees, and only if infected host plants are nearby [17]. Booster treatments must be made every 1-2 years [17]. An alternative is to plant Witch-hazels with plants that are reportedly resistant to P. ramorum such as some cultivars of rhododendron and Douglas fir [9]. Again, if you have any concerns for Phytophthera in your landscape, you might be less concerned for your Witch-hazel, and more concerned with any Oak trees.  This is because P. ramorum acts as a blight on Witch-hazel, so the damage is more aesthetic in nature. Other problems: WSU Extension recommends protecting very young trees from browsing deer by constructing barriers [7].

Additional notes: H. x intermedia is a hybrid between H. japonica and H. mollis [2]. There are more than a hundred cultivars today [2].

Bibliography:
[1] "Hamamelis." OSU Landscape Plants, May 9, 2017. https://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/2plants.htm#hamamelis
[2] Nickel, Earl. "Witch Hazel: Queen of Winter." Pacific Horticulture. October 2008. May 9, 2017. http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/witch-hazel-queen-of-winter/
[3] "APHIS List of Regulated Hosts and Plants Proven or Associated with Phytophthora ramorum." Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook. January 2005. May 9, 2017. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/pathogens-common-many-plants/oomycetes/aphis-list-regulated-hosts
[4] "Witch-hazel (Hamamelis)- Root Weevil." Pacific Northwest Handbooks. May 9, 2017. https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/witch-hazel-hamamelis-root-weevil
[5] L. "Hamamelis virginiana." Plants for a Future. May 9, 2017. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hamamelis+virginiana
[6] "Common Insects, Mites & Vertebrates: Root Weevils." WSU Hortsense. April 30, 2013. May 15, 2017. http://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Public/FactsheetWeb.aspx?ProblemId=6026
[7] "Witchhazels." WSU Extension. Mar 23, 2002. May 20, 2017. http://extension.wsu.edu/skagit/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/.../03-24-02-Witchhazels.doc
[8] "Pruning Basics." OSU Extension. 2012. May 20, 2017. http://http://extension.oregonstate.edu/linn/sites/default/files/pruning_pub_handout2012.pdf
[9] "Diagnosis and Control of Phytophthera Diseases." Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook. May 20, 2017. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/common/oomycetes/diagnosis-control-phytophthora-diseases
[10] "Landscape Pests: Root Weevil." Pacific Northwest Plant Pest Management Handbook. May 20, 2017. https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/common/landscape-root-weevil
[11] "Seasonal development and life cycle - weevils." UC IPM. May 22, 2017. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/LIFECYCLES/lcblvineweevil.html
[12] Christiansen, A.; Gervais, J.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2011. Acephate General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/acephagen.html.
[13] Johnson, M.; Luukinen, B.; Gervais, J.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2010. Bifenthrin General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/bifgen.html.
[14] "Active ingredient: Cyfluthrin." UC IPM: Pesticide Information. May 22, 2017. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/PNAI/pnaishow.php?id=25

[15]

Guohua Xiao

, Sheng-Hua Ying

, Peng Zheng

, Zheng-Liang Wang

, Siwei Zhang

, Xue-Qin Xie

, Yanfang Shang

, Raymond J. St. Leger

, Guo-Ping Zhao

, Chengshu Wang

 & Ming-Guang Feng. "

Genomic perspectives on the evolution of fungal entomopathogenicity in Beauveria bassiana." Scientific Reports 2, Article number: 483. July 2, 2012. May 23, 2017. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00483

[16] Bond, C.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2012. Neem Oil General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html.
[17] J. M. Alexander, UC Cooperative Extension, Marin Co.; and S. V. Swain, UC Cooperative Extension, Marin Co. "Sudden Oak Death." UC IPM: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes. Sep 2010. May 23, 2017. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74151.html

Native Plants

I went to an ethnobotany field seminar hosted by Friends of the Forest and the Salal Chapter of Native Plant Society. I used to live in Anacortes and hike the community forest lands almost every day. It felt great to return and hike around with a bunch of older ladies (and one gentleman). Denise who taught the workshop has worked as a naturalist in this area for over 20 years and began learning ethnobotany at Evergreen long before then. She's built some intimacy with the land and shared much knowledge. I jotted down some plant names and snapped photos to research later on the internet. Not quite the same as receiving her stories but I guess it's all part of the game.

Skunk cabbage in the summer is not quite as exciting as early February when the bright yellow flowers stink up the marsh, attracting their early pollinator beetles and flies. See the phallic pimply seed pod displayed in this photo. I always knew they smelled like a carcass, but I just learned the inside of the flower can generate heat up to 70 degrees - making it a thermogenic plant (although some sources say Western Skunk Cabbage is not one of these). Imagine the little beetles trekking around February's cold ground, finding way back into the heat lamp of the skunk cabbage. That sounds awfully cozy and smelly. The roots were eaten as famine food (worst case taste) and the large leaves to store berries.

 We can find Salal inside the city and in the woods since they are popular for native plant landscaping. To be honest I've never more than munched on a berry, but I understand them to be an important food source because they keep well. I learned the young leaves have been eaten as an appetite suppressant, especially important for gatherers - better to avoid eating so many before bringing home the berries! They are an excellent source of Vitamin C. I was fortunate to come across many young leaves as I was feeling quite hungry at the time. The leaves are said to be astringent, and may be taken as tea for reducing internal inflammation. As well they can make a poultice for insect bites and stings. Something to keep in mind among mosquitoes.

Oceanspray is a plant I've never given much thought until now. It just makes me think of the dried fruit company and sugary cranberries. It likes a lot of sun and can be found in younger stands of alder and cascara. And according to King County is a great to plant along the highway. The flowers in tea have been used to treat diarrhea, as well as the berries, to treat diarrhea, smallpox, chicken pox, and more generally as a blood tonic. It's wood is strong and was traditionally used to make tools and furniture. Denise mentioned their use for making baby-carrying frames. I'm wondering how well they'd hold up for backpacking frames!

I took this photo, not because you can really see what's growing but because we were told these were a bunch of wetland plants in the carrot family Apiaceae: water hemlock, water parsley and kneeling angelica. I'm always curious about the wild origins of our favorite cultivated vegetables. Kneeling angelica is a beautiful plant I see all the time I have confused with yarrow and queen anne's lace. The root has been used for headaches and their hollow stems for making drinking straws, whistles and breathing stems to remain underwater longer. We don't need all these plastic straws and snorkels!

I never really knew what this adorable plant was - Cleavers. Considered a noxious weed to some, and causing contact dermatitis for others, cleavers is in the same family as coffee and may serve as a coffee substitute with less caffeine. Apparently geese like to eat it too! this plant has been used as a blood purifier as well as a diuretic and lymphatic for swollen glands and skin problems. One study demonstrated cleavers to lower the blood pressure of dogs. Denise mentioned cleavers was traditionally used to treat HIV but I can't find any information online so far about that.

I hold Oregon Grape close to my heart. I love how abundant they are everywhere I go. I take the roots in tincture and tea form as an alterative - liver detoxing plant. I've seen it an ingredient in salves for it's antibacterial properties. This is a plant to consider in building up your body's own natural antibacterial resistance. Since plants are far more chemically compounded than pharmaceuticals, there's less chance of bacteria developing resistance to store bought creams and such. Though less powerful perhaps, I think they can be more effective long term. This blog encourages us to harvest bark rather than digging up roots to help protect the plant more. Especially important to keep in mind as more and more people turn to plants for medicine. I never thought of chewing the young leaves before but they were quite nice.

I think I've finally learned how to identify Western Hemlock. It looks like a spray of cedar needles except the branches don't curve back up to the sky and it's in the pine family. These trees help identify the more mature stands because they appear in the darker reaches of forest. It can live a long time and has been known to age over 1200 years! The young leaves, as pictured here can be enjoyably chewed or made into a bitter tea full of Vitamin C (we need as many natural sources of this as we can get!) I myself has not brushed my teeth yet and after chewing the needles felt much better. 

I sit here sipping an elderberry infused red wine and I write this. Last fall I went to a workshop with herbalist Corinne Boyer of Opals Apothecary in Olympia, focused on three plants, one which was elderberry. (She writes a useful herbal newsletter called the Gathering Basket she gives away for free!) That's when I made the infused wine. Not only are the berries delicious for making liquors, wines and cordials, it has been used for treating flu, allergies and as a respiratory tonic. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it's used for treating rheumatism. Their branches have been made into flutes. A plant pleasing to both the palette and the ear. 

Oh what a good it was! So much to learn.