Hops for More than Merely a Brewing Ingredient

Hops are floral clusters ( seed cones or strobiles ) , of a specific hop variety , Humulus lupulus . Hops are most commonly known as a stability element as well as a bitter flavoring in beer . Whilst hops are likewise put to use as flavorings in various other beverages and foods for instance gelatin , candies as well as cakes , hops boast therapeutic properties , whose health benefits were very popular in traditional and natural herbal remedies .
 

Hops are vibrant , herbaceous perennial climbing plant life which are indigenous to European countries but have since been cultivated in temperate locations across the world . Hops develop with stout hairy stems that assist it in climbing as much as seven meters in height . When cultivated , hops are raised in vertical strings . Hops possess darkish green , heart-shaped foliage with finely toothed rims .
The hops’ blossoms spring from the axils of the foliage on individual plants . The blossoms develop in panicles , six to twelve cm in length . Only the female hops and blossoms are utilized for therapeutic purposes . Hops’ female blooms are followed by cone structured fruits known as strobiles . 

When completely ripe , the hops strobiles they are approximately three to five cm in length , rounded-oblong appearance with a number of overlapping , yellowish-green bracts , connected to a separate central position possessing a small fruit ( achene ) at the base .
The principal use for hops is as a mild sedative . Hops are known to be a relaxant for the gastric nerves ; it helps relieve anxiety and tension , and decreases hyperactivity , excitability as well as restlessness , and can help with delivering peaceful sleep . They will also assist with indigestion and irritable bowel . 

For indigestion and irritable bowel try it with chamomile and comfrey , for anxiety use it with valerian and passionflower . To assist with insomnia combine with passionflower , wild lettuce and California poppy .
 

Numerous studies and research has found that hops also has anti-inflammatory , anti-cancer , anti-infection , anti-HIV , anti-acne , benefits weight loss , anti-platelet for cardiovascular disease and benefits chronic liver disease .

Hops has been traditionally used for hundreds of years , in beers all over the world . Hops is furthermore widely used as a smoking substitute for tobacco .  

An intriguing fact : Hops is among the many herbs which contains plant oestrogens which makes it a useful friend to women experiencing the symptoms of menopause . The oestrogen content is probably what gives it a reputation ( for males ) of dampening sexual appetite , not an feature of beer drinking which is broadly advertised .

The Herb Shed offers Hops in its dried form, which makes it easily usable for adding to herbal teas, as a smoking alternative or for culinary purposes.

Botanical Name : Humulus Lupulus
Actions : Hops Flower is considered to be a sedative . A restorative healing tonic for the central nervous system . It is additionally a digestive stimulant and an astringent .
Contraindications : Hops ought not to be used in pregnancy or conditions of depression . Hops is should not be used by very young children .
All details on this site are for information based purposes only . We stress that you should complete your own research , or speak with your health professional if you are suffering from an existing health condition , or if you happen to be on other medication , prior to consumption of our products .