Witch Hazel Stories

[LarryAndro]

I was very familiar with witch hazel when young. I didn't know it was used after shaving. I had never seen a bottle of witch hazel. I knew absolutely nothing about its properties and characteristics. But, I still have to say I was quite familiar with the two word phrase "witch hazel." The reason was that it was often spoken of in my locale - Rolla, Missouri USA - in humorous stories. Someone would launch into a story that usually, if I remember correctly, ended up in someone unwittingly applying witch hazel to their nether regions, or some area of the body where it "lit them up." Sometimes, someone else applied it as a practical joke.

But, now I wonder whether my memory is munging things together into a muddle. Does anyone else remember hearing witch hazel jokes and pranks and mishap stories?

(Please, bail me out! I am fighting off encroaching senility and debility already.)

 

[Craig9802]

Can't help you with any good stories, and I grew up not too far north of there. The first time I recall hearing of Witch Hazel (other than the character in some of the Caspar the Friendly Ghost comics my Dad handed down to me as a kid), was hearing Robert Redford ask Jane Fonda to get the bottle of witch hazel from the camper in "The Electric Horseman", so he could put some on his horse's leg. I've learned a lot since coming to B&B. I'll be interested to see if anyone has more stories about it.

 

[inspiringK]

It could be that Witch Hazel had a lot higher alcohol content at some stage...

 

[T.Orso]

Since I have had witch hazel in the house, with two young girls, it is my favourite thing for the random booboo. Scrape, insect bite, bruise: out comes the witch hazel. They ask for it, and seem genuinely convinced of its effectiveness. How can I argue?

There's also ice and princess bandaids to round out the cornucopia of cures.

We'll still give the ER a go if there's a broken limb, mind you.

 

[Bcobu1102]

Morning Larry. I used to live in Rolla and still have very close friends there. Fantastic city. I use witch hazel every day but before I used it for shaving I used to use it instead of water to clean my boots along with saddle soap. Worked pretty well!

 

[LarryAndro]

Morning Larry. I used to live in Rolla and still have very close friends there. Fantastic city....

Straying from the thread, I like Texas a lot, which is where I currently live. The weather is milder, and that is great. But, I really miss the hills, creeks and rivers, springs and caves around Rolla.

 

[LMAN007]

Can't help you with any good stories, and I grew up not too far north of there. The first time I recall hearing of Witch Hazel (other than the character in some of the Caspar the Friendly Ghost comics my Dad handed down to me as a kid), was hearing Robert Redford ask Jane Fonda to get the bottle of witch hazel from the camper in "The Electric Horseman", so he could put some on his horse's leg. I've learned a lot since coming to B&B. I'll be interested to see if anyone has more stories about it.

I remember Floyd the barber asking Barney if he wanted a splash of witch hazel after his haircut on the Andy of Mayberry tv show.

 

[jrp316]

I like to use it in addition to my regular aftershave if I end up with a bad case of irritation. Oddly enough, I found it to work pretty well on treating psoriasis too.

 

[August West]

The Native Americans used witch hazel as an anti-inflammatory, latter adopted by the early settlers. I do not think the healing and astringent properties can be disputed. Hemorrhoid medicines consist of witch hazel and they are fairly effective. It is made from the distillation of the bark and leaves of the North American flora (Hamamelis virginians).

 

[ouch]

The thousand injuries of Witch Hazel I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.


Sorry, that's my only witch hazel story.

 

[August West]

The thousand injuries of Witch Hazel I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.


Sorry, that's my only witch hazel story.

I am convinced you and Zappa have collaborated.

 

[ouch]

That's from The Cask of Witch Hazel, by Edgar Allan Zappa.

 

[August West]

Fortunato!

 

[Lmarkow]

The stuff is a godsend for skin. I think bengay was used for nether jokes, at least where i went to camp as a kid.