Hops ( Humulus Lupulus)

Name

Hop , Humulus Lupulus

Other Common Names: Houblon, lupulin, Pliny the elder, common hop.

Habitat: Western United States, England, Asia, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia.

Description

Hop is a plant that grows on bines; long stout stems with strong hairs to aid climbing that can reach 22 feet in height.

This herb bears dark green colored, heart-shaped leaves on a fibrous stalk with finely toothed edges.

The male and female flowers spring from the axils of the leaves on separate plants. The flowers of the male plant grow in panicles, 3 to 5 inches long, but are not cultivated. Only the female flowers are used for holistic purposes. This plant has been used for menstrual difficulties for over 2500 years, with its earliest uses documented during early Roman and Greek history.

Dried female strobiles of hops have historically been used for its sedative effects on the central nervous system due to its methyl-butenol content as a treatment for stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

The herb has been studied for anti-viral properties and anti-micro bacterial properties. It also contains numerous various flavonoids, and has been studied for containing estrogen precursors as well.

This herb also contains humulone and lupulone, noted for its anti-bacterial qualities which stimulate gastric juice production aiding in the digestion of food.

Hops contain:

phytoestrogen

amino acid asparagine

poly-phenolic tannins

This close relative of cannabis is both a mellowing relaxant and a satisfying smoke. A great alleviator of nervous tension and indeed an all round nervine tonic, hops eases stress and tension.

Despite its unholy alliance with beer, Hops is not really ‘a wicked weed’ and is relatively harmless in moderate amounts. This close relative of Cannabis is a mellowing relaxant, great at alleviating nervous tension and indeed an all round nerve tonic. Hops Flowers placed in a dream pillow (along with Mugwort) will produce deep restful sleep, as well as relaxing the neck muscles!

As the hops bud contains lupuline, the smoking of hops gives a mellow effect. Unfortunately, burning hops is a little harsh on the throat and is best blended with Coltsfoot or similar to soften it.

Hops has a long and proven history of use medicinally, being employed mainly for its soothing, sedative, tonic and calming effect on the body and the mind. The strongly bitter flavour largely accounts for its ability to strengthen and stimulate the digestion, increasing gastric and other secretions.

The female flowering heads are harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried. The female fruiting body is anodyne, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine and sedative.

Uses

Preparation: 1-2 tsp per cup. Steep covered for 10 min-utes. Drink 2-3 times daily.

Teas, tinctures, infusions & traditionally, a cigarette made of the dried flowers was smoked