All About Hops
Hops have been brewed in beer for over 1,000 years. It's not surprising that this herbg has a sedative effect that can help with insomnia and anxiety. It is also anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic. It's estrogenic quality may help with menopausal symptoms; more research is warranted.
Fun Fact
Beers that include hops as an ingredient are less likely to spoil than others!
Hops
Latin Name: Humulus lupulus
Family: Cannabinaceae
Other Common Names
Other common names: wild hops, hop strobile
Plant Description
A perennial climber growing up to 20 feet with dark, coarse, toothed, lobed leaves and fragrant flowers that attract insects. Male and female flowers look different, and the green cone like fruit comes from the female plant.
Herb Description
Female fruit and flowers, also called strobiles, lupulin, and hop-meal, are gathered. As a tea, 1 tsp of fresh hops strobiles can be infused in 1 cup of water for about 6 minutes. Drink just before bedtime.
Key Constituents
- essential oil with sesquiterpenes
- bitters: humulone, lupulinic acid
- choline (which is a Vitamin B)
- asparagine
- tannins, resins
- phenolic acids, valerianic acid
- flavonoids including a phytoestrogen
