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Health Benefits of Hops and Side Effects
 The Hop Plant ( Humulus lupulus
) (Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution: Dr. Hagen Graebner
Botanical Name: Humulus lupulus
Other Common Names of Hop: Houblon, lupulin, pliny the elder, common hop.
Habitat: Western United States, England, Asia, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.
Plant Description: Native to England, hops is a plant that grows on bines; long stout stems with strong hairs to aid climbing that can reach 22 feet in height. This herb bears dark green colored, heart-shaped leaves on a fibrous stalk with finely toothed edges. The male and female flowers spring from the axils of the leaves on separate plants. The flowers of the male plant grow in panicles, 3 to 5 inches long, but are not cultivated. Only the female flowers are used for medicinal purposes. The fruit of the female plant are called strobiles and resemble small pine cones. When fully ripened the strobiles measure about 1 1/4 -2 inches long, in a rounded, oblong shape with a number of overlapping, yellowish-green bracts, attached to a separate central point containing a small fruit (achene) at the base. Both the bracts and achene contain the bitter principle lupulin, which gives hops its tonic qualities.
Plant Parts Used: Flowers.
| Hops (Humulus lupulus) Supplements
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Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Hops
| Recommended Herbal Remedies
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Native Remedies ®
Native Remedies offers more than 250 herbal and homeopatic remedies which are manufactured in an FDA and GMP registered pharmaceutical facility.
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Dosage and Administration
In tablets and capsules form the ususal dosages of hops is 500mg.
As an infusion, drink one cup in the evening to aid sleep. Tincture, take 20 drops in a glass of water 3 times daily for anxiety or 10 drops with water up to 5 times daily for digestion.
Commercial preparations of hops can vary from product to product so the manufactures directions should be followed whenever available.
Potential Side Effects of Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Although hops has sedative effects it is not recommended for administration to infants and children. Individuals who suffer from major depression or who use medication for insomnia or anxiety such as: carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, alprazolam, diazepam, Ambien, diphenhydramine, doxepin and nortriptyline are advised to avoid taking hops due to it sedative properties as well.
Because hops has diuretic properties which may affect certain enzymes in the liver, individuals using prescription drugs such as Allegra, Sporanox and Nizoral, etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine , lovastatin and oral contraceptives should contact their health care provider before start using Hops. Combining hops with other sedative herbs such as: catnip, St. John’s wort, valerian, or kava kava may result in excessive sedation.
Leave a Comment on the Hop Plant
Please leave a comment if you have any additional information, advice, or if you want to share your experience, on the use of hops.
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Name: Matt Sweeny E-mail: fattymattybrewing@gmail.com Date posted: January 27, 2010 - 10:48 am Message: Thank you for sharing these insights about alternative used for hops. I am interested in diversifying the use of hops outside of just for brewing beer including soaps, lip-balm, hand-rubs, deodorant and other products.
"Health is not simply the absence of sickness !"
Hannah Green
May You Grow and Prosper.

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