Common hop

Family Cannabaceae Popular names: brewer's hop, hop flower, hop cone. Used parts: female inflorescences ("cones") and lupulin glands (glandular scales). Pharmacopoeial names: hop cones - Lupuli strobulus (formerly: Flores Humuli lupuli), hop glands - Lupuli glandula (formerly: Glandulae Lupuli).

Botanical description. A perennial climbing plant reaching approximately 3 - 6 m in height. The stems are rough due to small prickles, and opposite 3- to 5-lobed very rough leaves are present. Male inflorescences form loose panicles on the stems with inconspicuous small greenish-white flowers. For the brewing industry and for pharmacy only the female hop plants are of interest. They form globular inflorescences composed of tightly packed flowers in a false spike, the so-called hop cones. These are used for medicinal purposes. The resinous glands that are located on the bracts of the flowers and on the scales of the cones are also used to obtain medicines. It flowers in summer. In Germany hops are cultivated, but they are also often found growing wild in damp floodplain forests and thickets, along water margins, and in wooded bogs.

Harvesting and preparation. The female inflorescences are collected in late summer, shortly before they are fully ripe, so that their glandular scales do not fall off during collection. They are then further dried. If the hop glands are to be used separately, the completely dry material is sieved. The glandular scales fall off and accumulate as a greenish-yellow, somewhat sticky powder.

Active constituents: Bitters, resinous substances, humulone and lupulone, essential oil, mineral substances, flavonoids - the most important components of the plant, which in combination also account for the sedative action of hops. Recently this property of the plant has been attributed to the recently discovered 2‑methyl-3-buten-2-ol, but I believe that such an effect of hops cannot be ascribed to it alone.

Therapeutic action and uses. Hops are characterized by three lines of action. First, they stimulate appetite, which is provided by tannins and bitters. Next, hops act as a sedative in agitation, insomnia and mild depression. And finally, hops are said to have a stimulating effect on the menstrual cycle. This applies to both hop cones and their scales. Although the action of the scales is more intense and stronger, tea made from hop cones is more commonly used. The German public health service recommends hop tea for restlessness and anxiety, as well as for sleep disorders.

Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic remedy Humulus lupulus is regarded primarily as a good sedative, and in addition is used for nervous stomach ailments. It is interesting that in homeopathy hops are also used in combination with other plants (for example, barley), with hops most often appearing in the second position.

Use in folk medicine. Alongside the applications already mentioned, hops play a special role in treating menstrual disorders and climacteric complaints in folk medicine. It is also used for bladder and kidney ailments. A tea made from hop cones is given (preparation described above) or a small amount of hop glands is taken 2 - 3 times a day on the tip of a knife. And, of course, hops are a favorite component of fillings for sleep pillows.

Side effects. At normal dosages no side effects need be feared.