Plant Profile: Hops

Hops

(Humulus lupulus)

Family:CANNABACEAE. 

Energetics: Drying. Cooling. 

Taste: Bitter, salty 

Parts Used: Strobiles (Cones). 

Systems affected: Heart. Digestive system. Nervous system. Respiratory. 

Key Components: Lupulin, bitters, resin, volatile oils, tannins, estrogenic substances, flavonoids, alkaloids vitamin C. 

Preparations & dosage: Infusion: 1 tsp dried flower per 1 cup water steeped for at least 30 minutes. Tincture: 2 dropperfuls 30 minutes before bed & 2 more at bedtime. For stomach, 10 drops 1-3x per day Pillow: fill a small pillow to sleep with for insomnia. Poultice: Crush hops & moisten with water of cider vinegar. Apply over boils or painful swellings and cover with a hot, moist towel several times per day. Can be very effective and have an antibiotic effect on skin ulcers, accesses or poorly healing sores. 

Flower essence: Stimulates growth, both spiritually & physically. 

Actions:

Foundational: Astringent. Aromatic. Relaxant. Bitter.

Primary: Sedative. Nervine. Mild diuretic. Mild alterative

Secondary: Analgesic. Tonic.

Uses: Calms & relaxes nerves & organs. Strong sedative that can calm an overactive central nervous system that shows symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, overthinking & body twitches. 

Respiratory System: Can help relieve constricted lung issues such as asthma & dry spasmodic coughing. 

Reducing body fat.

Metabolic syndromes such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. 

Used externally for skin ulcers. 

Stomach Support: Stagnant digestion. People who have made bad dietary choices & those who feel emotions in their stomach. Relaxes tension & normalizes gastric juices. Used for mucous colitis which is a chronic colon disease that causes the formation of masses or plugs of mucus. I surmise that the astringent action of hops has something to do with its ability to help in this condition as it seems to be a condition of dampness. 

Pain relief: good to reduce pain & inflammation with boils & toothaches. 

Male reproductive issues: helpful for overactive urination & excessive nighttime seminal emissions. 

Female reproductive system: Specifically for menopause. Hops has phytoestrogenic qualities that have been shown to help relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. 

Combines well with: 

Identifying: 

Growing:


Harvesting: Harvest before the flowers are fully ripe at the end of the summer around August/September. 

Contraindications: 

Use caution in someone with depression and avoid with severe depression. Do not use if taking pentobarbital. Hops may be estrogenic (per Mischa). 
Avoid if taking pharamceutical sedatives, hypnotics or antidepressants. 
Use within 6 months of drying for tea or tincture.

Sources:

https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/hops/
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 268

Studies:

The effect of Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) on early menopausal symptoms and hot flashes: A randomized placebo-controlled trial: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388115000390?via%3Dihub

Matured hop extract reduces body fat in healthy overweight humans: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-016-0144-2

The relationship between the effect of matured hop extract and physical activity on reducing body fat: re-analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-018-0405-3

Effects of a hops (Humulus lupulus L.) dry extract supplement on self-reported depression, anxiety and stress levels in apparently healthy young adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study: http://www.hormones.gr/8688/article/effects-of-a-hops-%3Cem%3Ehumulus-lupulus%E2%80%A6.html