A rather odd
clue object, in the form of a labelled bottle, discovered in a
dwarf tunnel by
Team 3 of Series 7. The
witch queen
Greystagg accepted it (instead of the usual
witch amber) in exchange for her anode of
power.
Witch hazel is a soothing astringent lotion containing an extract from the bark and leaves of the witch hazel plant, a large shrub native to North America. It is applied externally to treat bruises, inflammation, insect bites, acne, psoriasis, eczema and other skin complaints, as well as being the active ingredient in many haemorrhoid medications. We can only speculate as to which problem Greystagg was suffering from.
The plant is not actually named after witches, but has the same root as the words 'wicker' and 'weak' - the Old English
wice meaning pliant, from the verb
wícan, to yield or bend. It does, however, have one magical use that was seen in
Knightmare - its forked twigs are employed as
divining rods.
