Botanical Index No. 517

Hops

humulus lupulus

Medicinal Actions

Allergenic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hypnotic, Lactagogue, Laxative, Litholytic, Myorelaxant, Narcotic, Secretagogue, Sedative, Soporific, Stomachic, Tonic, Uterotonic, Climacteric, Antifungal, Antistaphylococcic, Motility-depressant, Anesthetic, CNS depressant

Primary Conditions Treated

Anaphrodisiac Aperitif Bitter Emollient Nervine Tranquilizer Vermifuge Adenopathy Anemia Angina Anorexia Anxiety Arthrosis Asbestosis Asthma Atony Bacteria Boil Bruise Calculus Cancer breast face liver lymph spleen stomach uterus Cardiopathy Catarrh Chlorosis Colitis Constipation Cough Cramp Crural Ulcer Cystosis Debility Delirium Depression Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Earache Edema Enterosis Enuresis Fever Fit Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gravel Headache Hepatosis Hyperactivity Hypochondria Hysteria Impotence Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Jaundice Leprosy Mastosis Menopause Morning Sickness Mucososis Mycosis Nephrosis Nerve Nervousness Neuralgia Neurasthenia Neurosis Nymphomania Oligolactea Onanism Pain Priapism Prostatosis Pulmonosis Restlessness Rheumatism Satyriasis Scirrhus Scrofula Silicosis Sore Splenosis Spermatorrhea Stomachache Stone Stress Swelling Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Ulcus cruris Uterosis VD Water Retention Worm Anodyne Improves human sleep performance Irritable bladder Urinary incontinence Relieves pain in chronic cholecystosis

General Dosage

500 mg/day; 2–6 tsp fresh flower; 1–3 g dry flower; 2 g dry flower:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water; 1–2 tsp inflorescence/cup water; 0.5–1 g hops, or in tea; 0.5–1 g powdered herb; 0.5–15 g cones; 1 tsp cone cup; 0.5–2.0 ml liquid hops extract; 0.5–4 ml liquid inflorescence extract; 1–2 ml hops tincture 1–3 ×/day; 2–4 ml inflorescence tincture; 2–4 g inflorescence tincture; 120–300 mg lupulin. Cones = flowers = dry infloresences.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. None reported. Some caution against use in depression. Mild allergies or dermatosis may result from contact. Oleo-resin reported to be allergenic, possibly causes dermatosis. Respiratory allergy caused by handling of hop cones. Pollen can cause contact dermatosis. They suggest that hops be contraindicated in depressive states as the sedative effect of hops may aggravate or accentuate symptoms. “The sedative effect may potentiate the effects of existing sedative therapy and alcohol”. In vitro antispasmodic activity on the uterus has been documented. Because of uterine activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. “Excessive use should be avoided in view of the limited toxicity data”. Avoid if pregnant. Do not use if suffering estrogen-dependent disorders.

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