Latin name: Humulus lupulus .

Description :
Hops has been used as medicine for at least as long as for brewing. The flowers effect and were either drunk as a tea or stuffed in a hop pillow to sleep on.

Warning: Do not use in cases with marked depression

Hops is a hardy perennial. It climbs and gowns about 20 feet a summer, dying back in the winter. There are separate female and male plants. No…no little legs to tell. The male plant has yellowish flowers growing in branched clusters. They are without sepals (the little leaves like thingy at the base of the flower). They have five petals and five stamens.

The female plant has tiny greenish yellow, scented flowers hidden by big scales. The scales become papery when the fruiting heads are ripe. These are the parts that are harvested for beer.

The plant entwines clockwise. In the spring divide roots and separate rooted stems and suckers. In the fall cut back growth into the ground. Hops is a remedy that has a marked relaxing effect upon the central nervous system It is used extensively for the treatment ofinsomnia. It will ease tension and anxiety, and may be used where this tension leads to restlessness, headache and possibly indigestion. As an astringent with these relaxing properties it can be used in conditions such as mucous colitis. It should, however, be avoided where there is a marked degree of depression as this may be accentuated. Externally the antiseptic action is utilized for the treatment of ulcers.

I bought two plants and they grow on a trellis. Each year more shoots come out. In Swampy's Den, in the section The Yard you can see it on the trellis.

Pick young fresh side shoots in the spring. Gather young fresh leaves as required. Pick male flowers as required. Pick ripe female flowers in early autumn. Dry and use within a few months, otherwise the flavor become unpleasant.

Hop tea made from the female flower only is recommended for nervous diarrhea, insomnia, and restlessness. It also helps to stimulate appetite, dispel flatulence, and relieve intestinal cramps. A cold tea taken an hour before meals is good for digestion.

The leaf can be used to make a brown dye.

Actions: anaphrodisiac, anodyne, antiandrogenic, antimicrobial, antiseptic (topical), antispasmodic (on smooth muscles esp. intestines), antituberculotic, appetite stimulant, aromatic bitter, astringent, bactericide, bactericide (topical), bitter, calmative, decreases desire for alcohol, diuretic, estrogenic, expectorant, hepatic, hypnotic, mild depressant, nervine, respiratory stimulant, sedative, spasmolytic, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge

Traditional use: acidosis, anorexia, anxiety, cirrhosis, Crohn's disease, cystitis, dyspepsia, dysuria, earache, excitability, fever, gonorrhea, hyperexcitability, indigestion, inflammation, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, leg ulcers (topical), menopause, migraine, mucous colitis, muscle spasms, nervous insomnia, nervous restlessness, neuralgia, pain, polycystic ovary disease (decreases androgens), poor circulation, priapism, rheumatism, spastic colon, stress, tension headache, toothache, trigeminal neuralgia, tuberculosis, ulcer, urethritis