Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Hops
Humulus lupulus

Aside from being used to flavor beer, Humulus lupulus (Hops) have a long history of herbal use among the Native Americans; mainly because of the Humulus lupulus' soothing, sedative, tonic and calming effect on the body and the mind.

Humulus lupulus contains asparagin, a diuretic; antibacterial agents humulone and lupulone; lupulin, a mild sedative/hypnotic in the hairs of the fruit and is believed to be an aphrodisiac for men.

Dried Humulus lupulus has been used medicinally as a bitter tonic, sedative, hypnotic. The decoction from the flower is said to remedy swellings and hardness of the uterus. A cataplasm of the leaf is said to remedy cold tumors. The dried fruit, used for poultices and formentations, is said to remedy painful tumors. The pomade, made from the lupulin, is said to remedy cancerous ulcerations.

Hop flowers were most often used as an infusion, but the flowers were also smoked. The fruit was applied externally as a poultice to ulcers, boils, swellings, etc. The female flowering heads were harvested in the autumn and used fresh or dried.

The flowering heads are sprinkled with yellow translucent glands, which appear as a granular substance. Much of the hop's use as a flavoring and medicinal plant depends on the abundance of this powdery substance.