The flowers of the hops plant (Humulus lupulus) have been used in the brewing of beer for centuries, both for their taste and their use as a preservative. However, hops also has a long history as a medicinal herb. Cultures as distant and disconnected as the Chinese and the Cherokee have traditionally used hops as a sedative and a stomach remedy (Ulbricht & Basch, 2005). Although this natural sleep herb is considered generally safe, hops should not be taken by people on antidepressant or antipsychotic medications. Hops is most often taken as a tea, tincture, or capsule.
Humulus Lupulus, the Hops Plant
Hops is a perennial marsh plant that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Although it is a climbing plant, it is not considered a vine, which use suckers or tendrils to grow. Instead, it is known as a "bine," which use bristly hairs for support while climbing. As with Cannabis (to which hops is related), separate male and female plants exist. It is the cone-like flowers of the female plant – called strobiles – that are used in herbal medicine (Gladstar, 2001). These strobiles are, in fact, a collection of multiple flowers that have no petals; instead, each tiny flower is encased by an overlapping, scale-like leaf called a "bract." Enfolded at the base of each bract is a tiny fruit.
Hops strobiles contain many active parts and natural chemical constituents, including volatile oil, flavanoids, tannins, bitter substances, valerianic acid, estrogenic substances, and lupulin (Gladstar, 2001; Ody, 1993). Lupulin is the powder that coats the fruit of the hops and the inside of the bracts; it contains two lupamaric acids (humulone and lupulinic acid), as well as humulene and tannic acid (Grieve, 1971). Lupulin is said to contain much of hops' medicinal value. In fact, it is considered a remedy in its own right, a sedative that is reputed to induce sleep without headache (Grieve).
Hops Uses
Besides being used as a natural insomnia remedy, hops is most often taken as a digestive stimulant, a diuretic, and to reduce excessive sexual desire. Hops uses include:
- febrifuge (reduces fever)
- nerve tonic
- diuretic (stimulates the production of urine)
- anodyne (painkiller)
- sleep aid
- hypertension
- anxiety
- reduction of excessive sexual desire
- digestive aid
- delirium tremens
- appetite stimulant
- skin inflammation and wounds
Tea, Hops Tincture, and Herbal Sleep Pillows
To make hops tea, add two teaspoons of fresh or dried hops to a cup of boiling water and infuse (that is, steep) for five minutes (Ody, 1993). Alternately, place a tablespoon of hops in a pint of water and simmer for ten minutes (Kloss, 1988). Drink two or three cups of the tea while it is hot.
Since hops is very bitter, some people prefer to take it as a capsule or a tincture instead of a tea (Gladstar, 2001). Both preparations can be found in many natural health stores. Rosemary Gladstar suggests mixing hops tincture with the tincture of valerian, another herbal sedative; several dropperfuls of this mixture can be diluted in warm water and drunk like a tea.
Hops can also be used to create an herbal sleep pillow by sewing dried strobiles into a homemade pillow or by placing them in a small sachet and tucking it into a pillow case. Penelope Ody suggests replacing the hops used for a pillow every few months, as the old strobiles can be stimulating (1993). For a sweeter, more aromatic sleep sachet, mix the hops with dried lavender buds and chamomile flowers.
For skin inflammation and wounds (including ulcers), hops can be applied topically as a hot poultice or compress. To create the compress, soak a clean cloth in hops infusion (tea) or in diluted hops tincture (Ody, 1993). Alternately, the infusion can be used as a wash (that is, poured over the skin or wounds). When using hops in this manner, please take care that it is not hot enough to scald the skin.
Hops Warnings
Because hops is a strong sedative and a mild depressant, it is not recommended in large dosages for those with depression (Gladstar, 2001; Ody, 1993). Likewise, it may be unsafe to combine with antidepressant or antipsychotic medications, so avoid this remedy if currently taking these drugs.
The growing hops plant can cause dermatitis, so take care when harvesting fresh hops (Ody, 1993; Ulbricht & Basch, 2005).
References:
Gladstar, R. (2001). Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality. North Adams, MA: Storey Books.
Grieve, M. (1971). A Modern Herbal: Volume I. New York: Dover Publications.
Kloss, J. (1988). Back to Eden: Golden 50th Anniversary Edition. Loma Linda, CA: Back to Eden Publishing Co.
Ulbricht, C.E., & Basch, E.M. (2005). Natural standard herb & supplement reference: Evidence-based clinical reviews. ST. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Christie Bailey - Christie is an RN, BSN with a passion for holistic health. Currently, she is pursuing her masters degree to become a holistic nurse ...
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