Hops
Humulus lupulus
Description: The hop plant is a perennial with green, pencil-thick stems which do not turn woody. They are covered in climbing barbs and have leaves which are 3 to 5 lobed, serrate and opposite. The male flowers are yellow-green and inconspicuous. The female flowers are in richly blossomed, heavily branched inflorescences. A yellow fruit cone grows from the female flower. The light yellow glandular scales which contain hop bitter cover the inside of the bracts. The plant is indigenous to Europe, but is cultivated elsewhere.
Composition:
The medicinal parts include the whole dried female flowers, the fresh cones collected before seeds ripen, and fresh or dried female inflorescences. The herb contains alpha- and beta-bitter acids and 2-methyl-3-butanol.
Properties: Sedative.
Actions: Calming. Sleep promoting.
Uses: May be used as a aid for mood disturbances such as restlessness and anxiety and for sleep disturbances.
Cautions: The fresh plant may have an sensitizing effect.