Hops
(Humulus lupulus) have beenparticularly abundant this year, giving an
attractive display in many hedgerows. The plant is a native, but new varieties
were introduced from Europe towards the end of the Middle Ages. when it became
customary to add hops to ale as a preservative (thus making beer). Long before
that, the young shoots were boiled as a vegetable and the strobiles used
medicinally.
The best-known medicinal use for hops is as a sedative. They have long been used to treat insomnia, both as an internal medicine and in hop pillows. They are useful in anxiety states and in certain conditions of the digestive system including gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. They are known to contain an oestrogen-like substance so may be helpful in some hormonal conditions. The extremely bitter taste makes them unacceptable to some patients, and they should not be used in depression.
Caroline
Wheeler,
Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
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