Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Hops (Humulus lupulus) is a plant with a stout root, heart-shaped leaves and cone-like flowers. Romans ate the young shoots in the spring in the same way we do asparagus. Hops was first used by breweries in the Netherlands in the early fourteenth century. Hops has been used traditionally for nervous disorders.

The therapeutic use of hops in Europe dates back to at least the ninth century. Before that it was used in making beers and breads, and also as a salad vegetable (DeLyser and Kasper, 1994).

In Germany, Hops is licensed as a standard medicinal tea, and about 70 prepared sedative medicines contain hops extract. In Germany and the United States, Hops infusions, tinctures, and dry extracts are used in sedative preparations for anxiety and unrest (Leung and Foster, 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).

Effects

Hops can be used for for mood disturbances such as restlessness and anxiety as well as sleep disturbances.

The British Herbal Compendium indicated its use for excitability, restlessness, disorders of sleep, and lack of appetite (Bradley, 1992). The German Standard License for Hops tea infusion indicates its use for disturbed states such as restlessness and disorders of sleep (Braun et al., 1997).

Usage

Take one drop about an hour before the desired effect. The dosage may be increased and combined with other calming herbs such as Valerian and/or Passionflower.