Description :
Hops is a perennial bine, native to the Northern Hemisphere that grows vertically up to 33 feet tall. It has dark green, heart-shaped leaves. Male and female flowers grow on separate vines. Hops are the dried cone-like female flowers or fruits and are yellowish-green in color. The bine grows to its full height in one season and then dies back to roots and short stems for overwintering. The leaves are sparse and can be opposing or alternate along the length of the vine. Leaves cluster around and cover the fruits wherever they appear. Taken internally, Hops has been used in Europe to reduce anxiety and help with some sleep disorders. Externally, it is often an ingredient in skin creams.
History and Folklore:
Humulus lupulus is the most commonly used species of Hops. The name lupulus means small wolf. The Romans incorrectly believed that the Hops bine strangles the plants around it as a wolf does with its prey. It is believed that the word Hops comes from the Anglo-Saxon word hoppan which means “to climb.” The word bind is a dialect of the word bind.
Cultivation and Harvest:
Harvest the entire aerial part of the plant between August and September. After harvest, separate the flower heads and buds from the rest of the aerial parts.
Precautions:
Do not take if pregnant or nursing. Avoid in persons with depression or in women with estrogen-related breast cancer.
Traditional Herbal Actions:
Nervine, Antibacterial, Antispasmatic, Diuretic, Antimicrobial
Other Names:
Zarsa, Lupulo, H. Neomexicana, H. Lupulus var. Lupuloides
Related Species:
Crataegus chrysocarpa, C. columbiana, C. douglasii, C. crythropoda, C. oxyacantha, C. rivularis
Ingredients: Hops (Humulus lupulus)
None of these items or statements are approved by FDA. Consult your physician before taking any supplement. Do not take herbs or tinctures during pregnancy without consulting your healthcare provider. This product is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. All information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.
*This statement has not been verified by the FDA and is only referenced here as a fun fact and/or for historical commentary, is not to be used as medical advice in any way. Consult your doctor before ingesting any herbal product.
Eli –