Latin name: Humulus lupulus Genus: mulberry plantsHemp plants Folk names: Beer hops, Wild hops, Hop
Plant description
Rough-haired creeper, female and male specimens reach a height of 5 meters. Both for brewing beer and for medicinal use only the female plants are important and are cultivated. From the inflorescences the so-called hop cones are formed. Flowering time: summer. Occurrence: Commonly cultivated in our country, but can also be found wild in damp bushes and along shores.
Medicinally used plant parts
The female flowers (hop cones), but also the hop glands or lupulin glands, which are located on the cone bracts and the bracts of the individual inflorescences. The female inflorescences are harvested in late summer shortly before they are ripe, so that the glandular scales do not fall off during harvesting. Afterwards they are dried.
Ingredients
The bitter substances humulone and lupulone, essential oil, resins, minerals, flavonoids.
Curative effects and application
The tannins and bitter substances have an appetite-stimulating effect. Used for nervous stomach problems. Hops have a calming effect on nervousness, difficulty falling asleep and mild depression, restlessness and anxiety.
Preparation
Hop blossom tea: 2 heaped teaspoons of hop blossoms are poured over with 1⁄4 l boiling water, let it steep for 15 minutes, strain. Two times daily a cup as calming tea or 1⁄2 hour before going to bed as sleep tea.
Combination with other medicinal plants
A mixture of hop blossoms and valerian root has proven to be effective in the treatment of nervousness and sleep disorders. Both plants are mixed in a ratio of 1 part hop and 3 parts valerian root. 1 teaspoon of this mixture is poured over a large cup of boiling water. Let it stand for 5 minutes, strain it and drink it warm half an hour before going to bed. If you have nervous stomach problems, mix 1 part hop and 1 part caraway and prepare the tea as described above.