Article courtesy of the BCHA Student Subcommittee for the 2019 Herbal Medicine Awareness Week.
Most people today are familiar with Hops in the context of beer, but did you know Hops also has a long history of use as a traditional medicine?
Hops became popularized in Canada in the 1890s when Henry Hulbert moved to Sardis, BC and joined a community of people growing the bitter flower people were becoming to know and love for its diverse medicinal benefits and flavour profile in brewing. (Chilliwack Museum, 2008). Clemons Horst moved to BC in 1902 and joined the cultivation of Hops. This farm grew to eventually be the largest producer in the area and what we know today as BC Hop Company. (Chilliwack Museum, 2008)
Both Agassiz and Sardis, in the Fraser Valley, grew to be areas producing the most hops within the British Commonwealth by the 1940s. However, as breweries industrialized in the 1990s, the hops industry collapsed. (Botn, 2014)
With the growth of craft brewing and people reconnecting with traditional practices, hops has resurged and once again become a beloved taste we know well and connect with. Now as the industry grows this creates space for society to also once again connect with the many properties this plant encompasses to support health and well-being. (Botn, 2014)
Medicinal Actions and Uses of Hops
- Relaxing and sedating for the mind and body
- Soothing and stimulating to the digestive system
- Mild estrogenic effect
- Pain relieving
- Anti-microbial (PRC Monograph)
In the same plant family as Cannabis, preparations of Hops have a sedative, relaxing, anti-spasmodic action and a warming, bitter action on the digestion – actions familiar to those who like Bitter Beer!
Hops are excellent for calming the nervous system and very useful for insomnia. The hop flower is also beneficial for anxiety and nervousness, especially when this causes digestive upset. The effect on digestion is attributed to the bitter taste – the bitter flavour stimulates the production and secretion of digestive enzymes and acids.
The relaxing effect of hops can extend to the airways and may be beneficial for tight, spasmodic conditions like asthma (PRC Monograph).
Since hops have estrogenic properties, they may be especially beneficial in insomnia and anxiety associated with menopause. Some research suggests that Hops flavonoids may also help reduce hot flushes (PRC Monograph).
Botany of Hops
The hops perennial vine is native to Europe and Asia, but also thrives in North America. This climbing vine is a member of the Cannabaceae family and is rich in essential oils and resinous bitters. The female flowers, called strobiles, are used in both medicine and beer making. (PRC monograph)
The annual stems twist in a clockwise direction, growing up to 6m in length and giving rise to 3-5-lobed sharply-toothed leaves with a very rough surface. The smaller leaves are single lobed. The flowers are dioecious: the small male flowers occur in loose panicles in the upper leaf axils, the female flowers (strobiles) in closely-stacked, cone-like catkins made up of bracts with tiny flowers tucked into the axils. The cones grow threefold after fertilisation, up to 5 cm in length, and change colour from pale greenish-yellow to yellow-brown. (PRC monograph)
Key constituents in hops are volatile oils, resinous bitter principles (The oil and bitter resins together are known as lupulin), condensed tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoid glycosides (PRC monograph).
Historical & Traditional Uses
One of the first recorded uses of Hops comes from the 12th century, when they were used as a preservative by German monks in the beer brewing trade (PRC monograph).
Historically hops was used to increase the melancholic humor. This humor was based on the earth element, the element of deep thinkers and creative minds. In a time when medicine was used to purge medical conditions, hops was considered to purge the sanguine and choleric humours, which consisted of air and fire elements. These elements were very outwardly expressive and reactive. By purging these qualities one would be moved towards a more reflective and calm state. (Ody, 1993)
Dosage and Safety
Due to the estrogenic effects hops should be used with caution during pregnancy, lactation, and with estrogen dominant conditions. This caution also extends to andropausal men (PRC Monograph). Hops has depressant effect in higher nerve centers of brain which suggests caution with depression. (Ody, 1993)
It’s generally considered safe to consume 1.5 to 3 g of dried hops per day, and 10 to 30 mL per week of a 1:3 tincture (PRC Monograph).
Hop Infused Recipes
SUNSHINE TEA WITH HOPS by Student Subcommittee Member Cheyenne Jackson
Enjoy this invigorating and relaxing iced tea to cool you while inspiring your inner sunshine.
5g Hop flowers (Humulus lupulus)
10g Fresh Orange zest or dried peels (Citrus sinensis)
5g Fresh or dried mint (Mentha piperita or Mentha spicata)
10g Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis)
* Fresh lemon juice
* Honey
*Add desired amount to your preferred sweetness/taste
Infuse in hot water for 15 minutes with lid to savour the many therapeutic and delicious qualities of the volatile oils (essential oils).
Strain. Add honey and fresh lemon juice. Place in fridge to cool.
This refreshing beverage can be enjoyed any time of day and will bring a whole other level to relaxing in the sunshine!
HERBAL TEA RECIPES by Student Subcommittee Member Elizabeth Rodriguez:
Restful Tea:
This recipe makes a calming and restful tea, suitable for before bedtime.
10 g Hop flowers
10 g Passionflower
10 g Oat straw
20 g Lemon balm
Mix dried herbs together and steep 2 teaspoons in a covered cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Covering your teacup helps to retain the volatile oils!
Digestive Tea:
Try this tea after a heavy dinner or to calm an acidic feeling stomach.
10 g Hop flowers
15 g Peppermint leaves
25 g Chamomile flowers
Mix dried herbs together and steep 2 teaspoons in a covered cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Covering your teacup helps to retain the volatile oils!
References
Botn, M. (2014). History of hop growing in BC. Retrieved from http://www.orchardandvine.net/articles/the-resurgence-of-hops-farming/
Chilliwack Museum and Archives. (2008). Henry hulbert of hulbert hop gardens. Retrieved from http://www.chilliwackmuseum.ca/hops/BG_Growers.html
Ody, P. (1993). The complete medicinal herbalism. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley Limited.
PRC Monograph. (n.d). Humulus lupulus (Hops). Pacific Rim College.
