Humulus lupulus

Humulus lupulus
Family:Humulus lupulus; Anodyne; Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Galactogogue; Hypnotic; Nervine; Sedative; Stomachic; Tonic
Common name:Hop
Hops have a long and proven history of herbal use where they are employed mainly for their soothing sedative tonic and calming effect on the body and the mind. Their strongly bitter flavour largely accounts for their ability to strengthen and stimulate the digestion increasing gastric and other secretions. The female fruiting body is anodyne antiseptic antispasmodic diuretic febrifuge hypnotic nervine sedative stomachic and tonic. Hops are widely used as a folk remedy to treat a wide range of complaints including boils bruises calculus cancer cramps cough cystitis debility delirium diarrhoea dyspepsia fever fits hysteria inflammation insomnia jaundice nerves neuralgia rheumatism and worms. The hairs on the fruits contain lupulin a sedative and hypnotic drug. When given to nursing mothers lupulin increases the flow of milk - recent research has shown that it contains a related hormone that could account for this effect. The decoction from the flower is said to remedy swellings and hardness of the uterus. Hop flowers are much used as an infusion or can also be used to stuff pillows where the weight of the head will release the volatile oils. The fruit is also applied externally as a poultice to ulcers boils painful swellings etc it is said to remedy painful tumours. The female flowering heads are harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried. Alcoholic extracts of hops in various dosage forms have been used clinically in treating numerous forms of leprosy pulmonary tuberculosis and acute bacterial dysentery with varying degrees of success in China. The female fruiting body contains humulone and lupulone these are highly bacteriostatic against gram-positive and acid-fast bacteria. A cataplasm of the leaf is said to remedy cold tumours.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 03:41 []