Latin Name: Humulus lupulus L.
Family Name: Cannabaceae
Common Name: Hops
Parts Used: The Female Flowers or Strobile. Sometimes the Oil Glands (Lupuline) sifted out from the Strobiles

Botanical Description:
A member of the Cannabaceae, this perennial climber with annual stems runs to considerable height in hedges and trees and shrubs up to 6 meters (18') . The stems twist in a clockwise direction and at intervals give rise to opposite leaves, broadly ovate more or less, cordate at the base, deeply 3-5 lobed, sharply-toothed, acuminate lobes with a very rough surface; smaller leaves are single lobed. The plants are dioecious, the male flowers in catkins in the upper leaf axils, 5 mm in diameter, yellowish-green, 5 segmented perianth and 5 stamens; the female flowers are closely stacked cone-like strobili made up of bracts with the flowers themselves tucked into the bract axils. After fertilization these cones grow from 15-20 mm up to 5 cm in length, and from pale greenish-yellow to yellow-brown to brown. The odour of the female strobiles in characteristically heavy; the taste is bitter.

Distribution:
Native to northern temperate zones; in hedgerows and thickets, on damp humus-rich soils in warm situations.

Cultivation:
Wild; cultivated commercially in Northern Europe, North America and Chile. Moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Propagate by tip cuttings in spring from female plants or by division. Remove previous season's growth during dormancy.

Harvest:
Flowers are picked in autumn and used fresh or dried. Note: Some people find fresh hops to be a skin irritant and allergen.

Constituents:

• Volatile oil, about 0.4-0.85% composed mainly of humulene (=a-caryophyllene) with b-caryophyllene, myrcene, farnesene, 2-methylbut-3-ene-2-ol, 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-ol, 2, 3, 5- trithiahexane, and similar compounds; with traces of acids such as 2 methyl propanoic and 3-methylbutanoic, which increases significantly in concentration in stored extracts.
• Flavonols; mainly glycosides of kaempferol and quercitin.
• Resins, about 3-12% composed of a-bitter acids such as lupulone, colupulone, adlupulone, etc.
• Estrogenic substances of undetermined structure; two of these have molecular weights of approximately 66,000-80,000 and 80,000 respectively.
• Miscellaneous: tannins, lipids, the chalcones, xanthohumol and others.

Properties: Tonic Nervine, Anodyne, Antilithic, Anthelmintic
The flowers are the part used, and are a fine, stimulating and relaxing nervine of great power. In insomnia the Hop pillow has been used from early days, and it is certainly effective. All that is needed is to stuff a pillow with Hops and let the patient use it as an ordinary pillow. It will soothe and quiet the whole nervous system.
In sleeplessness, nervous troubles, delirium, etc., the Hop has a most soothing effect and will frequently promote sleep in overwrought conditions. An infusion of half an ounce to a pint of boiling water may be given in doses of two to three tablespoonfuls every one, two or three hours as needed.
As a poultice and fomentation in inflammation, rheumatism, neuralgia, boils and gatherings the Hop is a superior article. It is often used alone, and may also be combined with Chamomile, Poppy heads or Ragwort. Applied thus to painful swelling it will relieve the pain and reduce the swelling.
The Hop has also a reputation in calculi, is useful in some liver troubles and jaundice, relieving the secernents because of a favorable alterative property. They have a relaxing influence upon the liver and gall ducts, and are very gently laxative to the bowels.
For worms, half to one pint of the decoction (1 ounce to the pint) should be taken in the mornings. In excessive sexual desires, puritis, painful erections in gonorrhea, nymphomania, etc., Lupulus is a good agent. A flannel bag filled with Hops and heated will often relieve toothache and neuralgia.
The tincture may be used to induce sleep and also in delirium tremens and may be given in ½ to 1 teaspoonful doses. The patient will be quieted and no evil effects will follow such as is found after using opiates.

Contraindications:
1. Avoid driving or operating machinery after taking this herb (sedative effect).
2. Avoid in depression.
3. Massive doses of the aromatic oils can cause fever, sleeplessness, excitability, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. A feeling of heaviness and no appetite (interestingly most symptoms are opposite of the therapeutic effects).
4. Avoid in lymphatic diseases, especially malignancy, since it is a potent lymphatic stimulant.