Hops: botany, benefits and use in phytotherapy
Hops, the essentials in 3 points:
-Helps restore restful sleep, especially in cases of difficulty sleeping or central nervous system agitation
-Improves lactation in nursing mothers
-Soothes menopausal symptoms (hot flashes)
In phytotherapy, hops or “humulus lupulus” has an established reputation. Rich in active ingredients, it is one of the most commonly used climbing plants in natural health care.
Get to know and recognize hops
Hops are herbaceous plants in the Cannabaceae family. It is characterized by a long, downy, quadrangular and relatively rough stem. The voluble stem winds clockwise around any type of support: a tree trunk, a wall, a pergola or even a concrete pylon. It is to this characteristic that the plant owes its nickname of “snake”. When conditions are right, the stem can grow up to 10 m high and as wide. Palmate and about 15 cm long, hop leaves resemble those of grapevines. The only difference is that hop leaves are opposite. Hops are also dioecious. Flowers from female plants produce catkin-shaped blossoms that evolve into ovoid cones with greenish scales. These cones are entirely covered with a fragrant, floury resin called lupulin. The male inflorescence is a cluster usually found in the leaf axils. Hops are pollinated either by dispersal or by the wind. The plant also produces fruits, which are actually achenes about 3 mm long. Only female plants are capable of producing these fruits.
About habitat and hop growing
Hops grow spontaneously throughout the northern hemisphere, except in the far north. In the wild, it grows naturally in hedgerows, ditches and riverbanks. Hops have the advantage of being easy to grow. It can grow in any type of soil, even clay. However, for healthy, vigorous plants, the soil must always be cool. Hops are also extremely hardy. It is drought-resistant and can withstand sub-zero temperatures down to -28°C. Hops can grow in very sunny or slightly shady locations. However, the cone produced is larger when the plant is grown in full sun. Hops have a particular characteristic: they grow very rapidly in spring, and stop growing altogether in summer. In spring, it can gain up to 50 cm a day. In winter, once the cones have been harvested, the plant immediately enters its vegetative resting period.
To take full advantage of the benefits of hop extracts
A key ingredient in beer brewing, hop cones are also used in phytotherapy. These elements of the plant contain certain active principles, including sesquiterpenes, known for their soothing action. They help to restore restful sleep, particularly in cases of sleep difficulties or central nervous system agitation. Today, hop extracts are marketed in a wide variety of formats to meet consumer needs. These include dry extracts, capsules and tablets. Hop cone extracts can also be found in powder form and in herbal tea preparations. As the latter is bitter, the addition of a few teaspoons of honey is recommended to soften the taste. Whatever format you choose, we encourage you to follow the product’s instructions for consumption to the letter. We also invite you to pay close attention to the dosage and, above all, to the duration of the cure. The latter can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the case. In addition, remember to eat a varied diet and live a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise. Although unusual because of their bitter taste, young hop shoots have now become an essential ingredient in cooking. They can be eaten raw or cooked, and have been successfully incorporated into omelette recipes. They can also be combined with truffles, for example, or morels.
Our France-Herboristerie hop products:
-Our hop capsules:
-Our hop teas:
-Our hop powders: