In years gone, Indian tribes used Witch Hazel for medicinal purposes. These days, it is one of a handful of medicinal treatments that are allowed to be used by the Federal Drug Administration. Of course, there are other herbal extracts permitted as dietary supplements, but witch hazel is one of just a select few that are still allowed as topical treatments. It was widely used for ailments such as hemorrhoids, insect bites and stings, skin ulcers, tumors, boils and other rashes like chiggers or poison ivy.

Witch Hazel is a native shrub found in America and Europe. Witch Hazel has many medicinal qualities that have seen it highly valued over the years and used in many different ways. In early days, it’s branches and flowers were steamed and the broth mixed with alcohol then used for astringents or topical medication. Nowadays, it is an ingredient in many different things ranging from mouthwashes to anti aging creams and also anti wrinkle creams. It is an ingredient in many different hemorrhoid treatments today. It’s a popular home remedy and skin care experimentalists claim that medicines made up of Witch Hazel work in anti aging of skin.

In the anti aging treatments, because it has been found to contain capillary constricting properties to reduce inflammation, and topical antioxidant properties, it is a safe, and affordable home remedy, as witch hazel oil can be purchased for under a couple dollars in the pharmacy section of most stores. It’s use as an ingredient in the skin care line of anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams, may be in a more concentrated form and thus promotes cell turnover and new cell moisturizing by using the oil concentrates to keep skin cells plump and hydrated.

The Oneida Indians showed Theron Pond from Utica, NY, the medicinal uses of witch hazel circa 1840. Witch Hazel is native to New York and Connecticut and these regions still supply much of the witch hazel today. After many years studying with Oneida Indian medicine men, Theron Pond was astounded by the healing powers and decided to sell the extract using the name of Golden Treasure. The company moved location several times and after the death of Theron Pond, established in Connecticut using the name “Pond’s extract”.

Witch Hazel production is still alive around Connecticut and the region is one of the leading manufacturers of witch hazel extract. The bulk of harvesting is done in Northwestern Connecticut. Here, property owners harvest from the shrubs every few years, they re-branch and sell directly to distributors. From here, it is then sold for pharmaceutical uses.

Witch Hazel has been confirmed as an antioxidant, radiation protective and anti-inflammatory. It is an approved astringent and external analgesic, and has internal medicinal uses as well. It is only natural that it is an ingredient in anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams, as a proven treatment.

You may have heard the term copper peptides. Being used in anti wrinkle creams, copper peptides are a wound healing compound that are part of the quick regeneration of cell. If you cut your finger and the blood clots, copper peptides speed up the healing of the skin, before scarring is produces, then when the scar fades, new skin is produced with the blood vessels. Basically, this is how the principle of copper peptides contribute to the anti-aging, anti wrinkle process.

When it comes to application of anti aging creams or anti wrinkle creams, a complex mix with alpha hydroxy acids to remove the dead, dry skin cells that reveals as fine lines and wrinkles. Followed by an application of copper peptides speeds up rejuvenation of the area. A dermatologist will use a stronger alpha hydroxy acid peel, then follow with the copper peptides to encourage a rapid healing of newer, healthier skin.

Many different types of anti aging and anti wrinkle creams use very similar strategies, only the applications are not as strong. These two step processes that would be best left to experts. However, these two step treatments are available over-the-counter with varying results.

Some processes like this can be dangerous, as it is the same technology that is used to treat burn patients and is considered a little like skin remodelling or rebuilding. Similar again are laser abrasive treatments, which can leave scab or scars that last weeks.

There are anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams that contain copper peptides, and they may contain a wound-healing, over-the-counter type of agent, that works much like a topical antibiotic, like Neosporin. This technique for wrinkle reduction would involve removal of that outer layer of skin, along with the encouraged healing of a new, under-layer of skin, that would not have the blemishes, age spots or discoloration of the previous one. There are some microdermabrasion kits that utilize this method of skin remodeling or rebuilding of a newer, better layer of skin, over multiple applications and time.

You would need to do research on what will work best for you based on the your skin type, where you are in the aging process, and know what side effects to look for. Since this normally involves an alpha hydroxy acid treatment, which can cause redness, burning or blistering in some individuals, followed by a copper peptide based healing moisturizer, you need to exercise caution for side effects and check with a dermatologist, when in doubt.