Behind the colloquial name hops is an aromatic plant that is botanically exactly called the true hop or Humulus lupulus.
Occurrence and cultivation of hops
The fruiting stems of hops contain numerous ingredients that are relevant to health. Hops have become famous mainly because this plant is the basis for making beer. Hops are grown as a cultivated plant in Germany and have a central importance in the context of herbal remedies. Characteristic of hop cultivation are so-called hop gardens, in which the plants are grown on special scaffolds and special parts of the plant are harvested after the hop bines have reached maturity. The fruit clusters of hops contain numerous ingredients relevant to health.
Effect and application
The use of hops as a remedy refers in particular to its effective use as a herbal medicine in traditional medicine, as a home remedy and in homeopathy against insomnia and inner restlessness. For this reason, hop preparations are used not only as medicines, but also, as it were, as sleep aids in the form of the effective hop pillows. Hops were already considered a well-known medicinal herb in ancient times and, in connection with these experiences, have not lost their significance to this day. The sleep-promoting and calming effects of hops are based on various constituent substances, which also account for the special odor and characteristic taste of hops. In the pharmaceutical industry, hops are used as the basis for numerous remedies. In particular, the hop’s fruiting parts, the cones, are rich in medicinal drugs. Products of the pharmaceutical industry include, in addition to the so-called finished medicines as a sleep-inducing and sedative therapeutic agent, as it were, the effective additives for bath water and the preparation of infusions. In this respect, hop oils and solid medicines such as dragées are considered to be effective and aromatic. The basis for the production of these effective and easily dosed products are so-called bitter substances. These contain numerous chemical active ingredients which, after oxidation, present themselves as methylbutanol. Methylbutanol may be related to the sedative effects of hops. In addition, hop constituents include, in particular, various components such as resin, essential oils and proteins. Hops also contain minerals. In pharmaceutical products made from hops, the cones of hops, the flowers located on the cones are used for processing.
Importance for health
Within the framework of the importance of hops, which has been used and traditionally consolidated for centuries, this plant is considered to be curative and soothing for various types of complaints. In addition to sedative, a calming and sleep-inducing effect, hops are suitable to be used as a natural remedy in the diagnosis of nervous stomach disorders and disorders of digestive activity. Hops stimulate appetite and promote digestion. Another therapeutic relevance distinguishes hops in complaints of the bladder associated with irritable bladder, as well as problems with menstruation. Many women are impressed by the excellent help that can be realized by taking and using hop products as a natural remedy for typical menopausal complaints. Pain during menstruation can be successfully relieved with warm body wraps containing hops. Hops have a reliable relaxing effect when an oil or a concentrated tincture of hops is added to pleasantly warm bath water. Regarding the effects of hops on sleep, clinical research has proven that mainly restful rem sleep is favored. To treat sleep disorders with hops supportive, both the dragées and teas containing hops are effective. As sleep-promoting and calming as it were the mad smelling hop cushions are called. Another assumption is that the substance xanthohumol contained in hops is therapeutically relevant in the treatment of cancer.