WITCH HAZEL - HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA Ophthalmic

Date

February 27, 2026

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information

References: Proper name: USDA 2025; Common names: Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Bradley 2006; ESCOP 2003; Source information: Bradley 2006; ESCOP 2003.

¹See dose section below for information on the method of preparation required to obtain Hamamelis/Witch hazel water.
²Dry = partially dried as per the USP preparation.

Route of administration

Ophthalmic

Dosage form(s)

The following dosage forms are acceptable when used according to the requirements indicated in this monograph: Liquid; Solution.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine for the temporary relief of eye discomfort due to dryness of the eye or to exposure to wind or sun (EMA 2009; Bradley 2006).

Notes

• For multi-ingredient products:
  • To prevent the product from being represented as a "traditional medicine", any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific medicinal ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Witch hazel water is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine for the temporary relief of eye discomfort due to dryness of the eye or to exposure to wind or sun).
  • When ALL of the medicinal ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Adolescents 12-17 years; Adults 18 years and older (EMA 2009)

Quantity(ies)

Method of preparation: Distillation

10% of distillate (hamamelis water) in the finished product (EMA 2009)

Notes:

• Hamamelis/Witch hazel water is prepared by macerating in water recently cut and partially dried dormant twigs of Hamamelis virginiana in a ratio of 1:2 w/w (twigs:water) for 24 hours, and distilling twigs to a ratio of 1:0.80-0.85 w/v (twigs:distillate). To the distillate, 15% of ethanol (% of volume of finished product) is added. For example, 150 mL ethanol must be added to 850 mL distillate (USP-NF 2024).
• One part Hamamelis water diluted with 10 parts sterile water (EMA 2009).

Direction(s) for use

Put 2 drops of diluted hamamelis water in each eye, 3-6 times per day (EMA 2009).

Duration(s) of use

Use for a maximum of 4 days (EMA 2009)

Risk information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if symptoms worsen or persist (for) more than 2 days (EMA 2009).
• Stop use and ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness, or irritation of the eye (EMA 2009).

Contraindication(s)

No statement required

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

EXAMPLE OF PRODUCT FACTS:

Consult the Guidance Document, Labelling of Natural Health Products for more details.

References cited

• Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (GB): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.
• EMA 2009: European Medicines Agency. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Community Herbal Monograph on Hamamelis virginiana L., folium et cortex aut ramunculus destillatium. [Accessed 2026 February 3]. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-hamamelis-virginiana-l-folium-cortex-aut-ramunculus-destillatum_en.pdf
• ESCOP 2003: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy Scientific Committee. ESCOP Monographs: The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2^nd edition. Exeter (GB): European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy and Thieme; 2003.
• Gardner Z, McGuffin M, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 2^nd edition. Boca Ration (FL): Taylor and Francis Group; 2013.
• USDA 2025: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)- Global. U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. [Accessed 2025 January 21]. Available from: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch
• USP-NF 2024: United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary. Rockville (MD): United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc.; 2024.

References reviewed

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