Hops

Can be found in our Stress Guard product.

Herbal Medicine Materia Medica: HOPS

David Hoffmann L. BSc (Hons), MNIMH ©

 

Humulus lupulus

 

Part Used: Flower inflorescence.

 

Constituents:

• Volatile oil, composed mainly of humulene (= x-caryophyllene), with b-caryophyllene, myrcene, farnesene, 2-methylbut -3-ene-2-ol, 3-methylbut-2-ene-l-al, 2, 3, 5-trithiahexane and similar compounds; with tracesof acids such as 2-methylpropanoic and 3-methylbutanoic, which increases significantly in concentration in stored extracts.
• Flavonols; mainly glycosides of kaempferol and quercitin
• Resin, composed of x-bitter acids such as humulone, cohumulone, adhumulone and b-bitter acids such as lupulene, colupulone, adlupulone
• Oestrogenic substances of undetermined structure;
• Miscellaneous; tannins, lipids the chalcone xanthohumol.

 

Actions: Sedative, hypnotic, antiimicrobial, anti-spasmodic, astringent.

 

Indications: Hops is a remedy that has a marked relaxing effect upon the central nervous system It is used extensively for the treatment of insomnia. It will ease tension and anxiety, and may be used where this tension leads to restlessness, headache and possibly indigestion. As an astringent with these relaxing properties it can be used in conditions such as mucous colitis. It should, however, be avoided where there is a marked degree of depression as this may be accentuated. Externally the antiseptic action is utilized for the treatment of ulcers.

 

Ellingwood considered it specific for "marked cases of nerve irritation and wakefulness where anxiety and worry are the cause." He recommends it for the following pathologies: hysteria, insomnia, acute local inflammations, facial neuralgia, delirium tremens, sexual excitement.