Witch hazel is a shrub native to North America that produces a liquid extract used for soothing skin irritations. The plant has crinkly yellow flowers that bloom in late fall, sometimes even after the first frost, when most other plants have stopped flowering.

The extract made from witch hazel bark and leaves has been used for centuries as a natural remedy. If you've ever had a minor scrape, sunburn, or bug bite, someone might have dabbed witch hazel on it to reduce swelling and help it heal. Athletes use it to soothe sore muscles. Many people keep a bottle in their medicine cabinet because it's gentle enough for everyday use.

Native Americans taught early European settlers about the plant's medicinal properties. They also used forked witch hazel branches as divining rods to search for underground water.

Today, you'll find witch hazel in drugstores, usually as a clear or slightly amber liquid. It has a distinctive, slightly medicinal smell that many people find refreshing.