Hamamelis virginiana is a small deciduous tree with yellow flowers and native to eastern North America. It is commonly known as witch hazel or American witch hazel. European horticulturists started to use witch hazel for ornamental purposes. Native Americans used the bark of witch hazel as a traditional medicine for wound healing and eye problems. A decoction of witch hazel twigs and bark can be distilled and the witch hazel water is used as a skin toner. Witch hazel ointment has been a commercial product in Germany since 1878 and it has shown good effects on skin injuries and topical inflammation A study about witch hazel ointment on diaper dermatitis showed that the effect of witch hazel ointment was as good as dexpanthenol which was used as a positive control. The anti-inflammatory activity of witch hazel distillate lotion on UVB induced erythema was also reported.