Hops
Humulus Lupulus
Family: N.O. Urticaceae
AKA Hop Bine.
Hops is a fast growing perennial vine that can live for 10-20 years and grow from 20 to 40 feet tall. The flowers are green and are known as cones. It is the cones from the female plants that are dried and used in Aromatherapy. Very little growth takes place the first year and as a rule it takes 3 years before the plant is full bearing.
The Hops plant is a member of the cannabis family. Its prickly stem is twining, flexible and very tough. It can be used to make rope, however the stem's fiber are so tenacious that it needs to soak in water an entire winter in order to separate the fibers. In Sweden they use the stem fiber to make a coarse, white cloth.
Hops is well known world wide as a flavoring in beer. It was first introduced to brewers as a preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Today, the bitterness of Hops is also used to balance the sweetness of the malt, giving it an aroma and flavor that cannot be achieved by any other flavoring agent.
Hops has been used medicinally for centuries. Its strong bitter flavor is what accounts for its ability to stimulate digestion and increase gastric and other secretions. It can improve both appetite and digestion as it decreases intestinal cramps and other spasmodic conditions. Hops is also beneficial for heart disease, irritable bladder and sluggish livers. It is rich in vitamin C and B-complex, and also contains various minerals. The natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties found in Hops are beneficial in promoting healthy kidney functions, treating urinary tract infections and reducing painful urination.
Being a natural sedative, Hops is valuable for calming the nerves, reducing stress, anxiety and to induce sleep. Use internally as a tea for nervousness, hysteria and other mentally stressed situations.
Externally, it's antibacterial and other healing properties are effective against many strains of bacteria. It is also fast acting to reduce inflammation and pain. Make a Hops poultice for rheumatic arthritis, boils, wounds, abscesses, even cancerous ulcers.
The hormonal affect of Hops on women was noticed as female harvesters would get their menstrual cycles early and when given to nursing women, it increases milk production. It is helpful for PMS and menstrual cramping.
Medicinal Properties include: anodyne, antibacterial, antiseptic, bitter, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine, reducing inflammation, wound healing, antispasmodic. The hairs on the fruits contain lupulin, a sedative and hypnotic drug.
Dried Hops Usage in Aromatherapy
Inhalation - Keep a Hops sachet or Dream Pillow close to the
bed to promote sleep.
Compress - Use hot or cold for wounds and inflammation.
Tea - Drink 3 times a day for most stomach disorders.
Bath - Perfect addition to any night-time herbal bath blend.
Culinary - The young shoots can be harvested in the spring
and prepared the same as asparagus.
Caution: Do not use if suffering from depression.
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Recipes
Hops Poultice: Soak the fresh or dried flowers in boiled water and let cool to desired temperature. (Add ice for cold poultice.) Squeeze out excess water from herb, rub oil on the affected area to prevent sticking and apply the soaked herb directly to affected area then wrap with bandage, gauze or cotton strips. Leave on up to 3 hours.
Evening Cordial
Steep Dried Hops in Sherry or Brandy to make a nice evening cordial
that is beneficial to the stomach.
Tea For Relaxation
1 tablespoon English Breakfast tea
1 teaspoon Elder Flowers
2 teaspoon Rose Hips
1 teaspoon Chamomile
2 teaspoon Hops
Mix all ingredients together and steep one tablespoon to one cup
of hot water.
Soothing Herbal Bath
1 oz Hops
1 oz Sage
1 oz Lavender
Combine the herbs and put the mixture into a muslin bag and tie
securely. Soak the bag with you in your bath water.
Beer Shampoo
1/2 pint Beer (any brand)
1 bar Castile Soap, grated
2 ounces Glycerin
1 ounce Hops Tea
Mix together all ingredients, shake well and shampoo hair as usual.
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