Question 1

True or false: Native Americans used witch hazel to treat wounds and inflammation long before European settlers arrived.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Indigenous peoples used poultices from the bark and leaves to reduce swelling and stop bleeding.

Question 2

True or false: Witch hazel is a natural astringent derived from the bark and leaves of a North American shrub.

Accepted Answer

True. True. The plant Hamamelis virginiana yields a distillate used for its astringent properties, thanks to tannins in its bark and leaves.

Question 3

True or false: Witch hazel can cure poison ivy rashes by neutralizing the plant's toxic oil.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Witch hazel can soothe symptoms but cannot neutralize urushiol oil; it only provides temporary relief from itching.

Question 4

True or false: Witch hazel is a member of the mint family, related to peppermint and spearmint.

Accepted Answer

False. False. It belongs to the Hamamelidaceae family, not Lamiaceae (mint). The resemblance is only in name and scent of some products.

Question 5

True or false: Witch hazel contains alcohol naturally in its plant extract, without any added ingredients.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Most commercial witch hazel contains added denatured alcohol; the plant distillate itself has little to no alcohol.

Question 6

True or false: Drinking witch hazel tea is a common remedy for digestive upset and is considered safe in large quantities.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Witch hazel is toxic if ingested in large amounts due to tannins and safrole; it's for external use only.

Question 7

True or false: The 'witch' in witch hazel comes from an Old English word meaning 'to bend,' referring to its flexible branches.

Accepted Answer

True. True. 'Witch' derives from Old English 'wice,' meaning pliable, as the branches were used as divining rods for water.

Question 8

True or false: Witch hazel flowers bloom in late autumn, often after the leaves have fallen from the shrub.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Unlike most plants, Hamamelis virginiana flowers in October to December, with bright yellow, spidery petals.

Witch Hazel Trivia Questions