What Are Hops?

Hops are a medicinal flower that has been used for at least 10,000 years, originally in Asia. They are commonly used both in beer brewing and as an herbal medicine. Hops flower is distantly related to cannabis.

How to Use Hops (Common Uses)

Hops works well both on its own and when combined with other herbs. It can be taken internally as a tea, decoction, powder, or extract. Hops can also be used for culinary purposes, and is best known for its role in beer brewing. Visit our herbal blog for more inspiration about how to use hops flowers.

Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Hops

Hops has traditionally been used for its relaxing and sedative properties and as an herbal digestive aid.

For difficulty falling asleep and insomnia, hops is a popular herbal remedy, and is often combined with valerian root and chamomile flower. Hops has strong sedative, antispasmodic, and nerve calming effects. Hops plays a key role in both our Relaxing Tea and our Deep Sleep Tea.

The medicinal effects of hops come primarily from the resin found on the plant, which is not highly water soluble. The resin that hops produces is extremely soluble in alcohol. Hops is at its strongest when prepared as a tincture, however, hops tea is still an effective method of ingestion.

Hops may be beneficial for relief from some menopausal symptoms.

Active Constituents in Hops

Acylphloroglucides, humulone, lupolone, valerianic acid, humulene, tannins, xanthohumols, estrogenic substance,  kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, chalcones, aspargin.

Notable Facts About Hops

Hops is related to the Sumerian goddess Ninkasi, who is the goddess of brewing and beer.

Beer was primarily brewed by monks in the Middle Ages, and hops is frequently mentioned in monastic writings from that time period.

Historically, small pillows stuffed with hops were placed beside the head to help induce sleep.