"Drink before breakfast and vomit": The history of witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) in America and Europe

Background: In North America, Hamamelis was used in diverse ways and was taken up by settlers and industry in the 19th century. The substance complex provides a well-documented example of the transfer of Indigenous medical knowledge into European-shaped medicine, of commercialisation, and of the development of regulatory standards. Aim: To present how applications of Hamamelis used by Indigenous groups in North America were adopted and transformed in America and Europe; to trace commercialisation up to the major branded products; to situate the plant in pharmacopoeias and in today’s monographs. Sources and methods: Evaluation of primary and secondary sources from ethnobotany and the clinical-pharmacological and pharmaceutical literature of the 18th–20th centuries; review of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary; analysis of advertising materials and corporate publications; comparison with European journals and HMPC documents. Results: In Indigenous traditions, Hamamelis served, among other things, as an analgesic and astringent and for skin and mucosal conditions. Settlers rapidly adapted such uses; from the 1840s onwards, industrial production of distillates and extracts followed, culminating in broad marketing by the late 19th century. Inclusion in the U.S.P. and N.F. led to standardisation. Reception in Europe has been documented since the 1870s. Modern monographs classify most uses as traditional. Update since 2017: In 2019 the HMPC issued a corrected bark monograph as well as addenda for leaf and distillate; in 2025 a call for scientific data for the periodic review was launched. The status “traditional use” remains; short-term ocular use is specified for the distillate. Conclusion: The history of Hamamelis illustrates the interplay of knowledge transfer, industrial production, and regulation. Clinically, the plant remains relevant above all for mild inflammatory skin and mucosal complaints and for haemorrhoidal disease. Broader evidence-based appraisal would benefit from additional high-quality clinical research. Keywords: Hamamelis virginiana; witch hazel; history of medicine; ethnobotany; U.S. Pharmacopoeia; National Formulary; commercialisation; pharmacopoeia; HMPC; traditional use; distillate; eye complaints; haemorrhoids