HOPS

Hops is phytoestrogenic, anti carcinogenic, antiviral, anti inflammatory.
Hops includes vitamin E, vitamin B6 & Vitamin C, have antioxidant properties & makes the immune system more active & less prone to diseases.

Hops can be used for treatment of diabetes symptoms.

Hops is effective in treating stones in gallbladder, kidney & urinary tract, cystitis, debility, delirium, dyspepsia, fever, fits, inflammation, jaundice, neuralgia, rheumatism, earache or toothache.
Hops has been proven as an excellent remedy for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, nervous indigestion, peptic ulcers, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis & other kinds of stress related digestive problems.
Hops is also used for treating coughs & bladder ailments, also the bitter principles in hops aid in digestion, enhance the action of the liver & aid in the secretion of bile as well as other digestive juices in the body.
Hops aid in the quick healing of many types of irritated inflammatory conditions & can treat diarrhea.

Externally it is used to treat itching skin rashes & hives.
It has been used to alleviate the pain & inflammation of abscesses, swellings & neuralgic & rheumatic complaints, as well as to allay skin infections, eczema, herpes & ulcers.
Hops tincture helps to reduce painful swelling, bruises & boils.

Hops contains phyto-estrogen which acts like the female hormone estrogen in the body.
As a tea, hop flowers have been used as a remedy for cramps, swellings & hardness of the uterus.
Hops can ease the physical & emotional disturbances linked with PMS, supports the female hormonal & urogenital systems, provides relief from menopausal symptoms, helps to treat irregular menstrual cycles & excessive bleeding.
Hops can reduce hot flashes, night sweats & insomnia.
Hops are reputed to decrease sexual desire, increase perspiration & are beneficial as a herbal pain reliever, diuretic, nervine & to expel intestinal parasites.

Hops has a remarkable relaxing effect on the central nervous system.
Hops tea is a traditional sleeping aid, helping with nervousness, hysteria, insomnia.

It is also effective for anemia & restoring the appetite.

Hops helps to remove poisons & toxins from the body.

Compresses reduce neuralgia & rheumatic pains.

Extracts of hop flowers have been used in treating leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis & acute bacterial dysentery. 

A poultice of the leaf & fruit of the Hops plant has been used to remedy "cold" tumors.
A pomade made from lupulin, has been used to remedy cancerous ulcerations.

PRECAUTIONS:

Although hops has sedative effects it is not recommended for administration to infants & children.
Individuals who suffer from major depression or who use medication for insomnia or anxiety are advised to avoid taking hops due to it sedative properties as well.
Because hops has diuretic properties which may affect certain enzymes in the liver, individuals using prescription drugs such as Allegra, Sporanox & Nizoral, etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine , lovastatin & oral contraceptives should contact their health care provider before start using Hops.
Combining hops with other sedative herbs such as: catnip, St. John’s wort, valerian, or kava kava may result in excessive sedation.
Given the potential for increased hormonal activity stimulated by hops, women who have had breast cancer or who are at risk for it should avoid hops until more is known.
Safety in pregnancy is not known.
Hops may have sedative effects, so driving or operating heavy machinery should not be attempted while using hops.
Some chemicals in hops act like the hormone estrogen. People who have conditions that are sensitive to hormones should avoid hops. Some of these conditions including breast cancer & endometriosis.
Hops might cause too much sleepiness when combined with anesthesia & other medications during and after surgical procedures. Stop taking hops at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

RECIPES:

When we think of hops, we naturally think of beer, as hops are an integral part of any beer recipe.
You can also incorporate hops into your food.
Sprinkle a few minced hops flowers onto ice cream or sprinkle on salads.
Sauté young tender hops shoots in a bit of olive oil. 

Chop up tender shoots & sprinkle on salads or stir into bruschetta.
Infuse a few hops flowers into your pitcher of tea or lemonade.

Hops Honey: 

Heat organic, raw honey with a few minced hops flowers.
Let infuse until honey cools.
Strain & use as a drizzle on yogurt, scones, or biscuits.

Tincture:

take 20 drops in a glass of water 3 x daily for anxiety or 10 drops with water up to 5 times daily for digestion.

For insomnia sleep with your head on a pillow of dried hop flowers.

Hops Tea:

Add 2 tsp of chopped hops flowers to 1 cup of boiling water,
cover & leave for 15 minutes.
Strain & drink 1 cup 30 minutes before bedtime for peaceful sleep.
Drinking hops tea during day will contribute to general relaxation.
Caution: If sleeplessness is due to depression or low mood disorders please choose a different remedy as hops can make things worse.
This tea will also help diseases of the chest & throat.
Soak a towel in warm hops tea & apply to the inflamed area for a calming & healing action that can help relieve pain associated with arthritis.
For difficult digestion take 1 cup of tea 3x a day after meals.

After a long day, soak your feet in a foot bath infused with hops to clear away any possible harmful agents while helping to rest our tired feet & improving the skin.

Sherry Hops:

To 1 bottle of sherry add 30 ml dried hop flowers.
Leave to macerate for 24 hours.
Strain.
This can be taken as it is, in a sherry glass or diluted with hot water before the main meal of the day.

BEAUTY:

Applied topically, hops tea is good for your skin, keeping it healthy & clean.
It may be used for its antiseptic action to clear & heal sores, wounds & other skin injuries.

Hops Wash for Falling Hair:

Take 1 tbsp of hops,
pour over 1 cup of boiling water
Leave it to steep in thermos for overnight.
At the morning mix this with 3 liters of warm water & wash your hair.
Do this once a week.

MAGIC:

Hops has long been regarded as an herb of prosperity & good luck.
It is an old custom among the English to hang a spray of flowering hops in the kitchen or dining room to ensure the prosperity of all in the household.

Hops possess healing energy vibrations & plant’s flowers & leaves can be used to stuff healing poppets & sachets.
Sleep spells, when sewn up in a pillow.
To help cure insomnia & ward off nightmares, stuff a pillowcase with dried hops that have been enchanted by visualization & incantation.
Sleep with the herb-stuffed pillow beneath your head & you should enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.

Place hops along with calendula flowers into the pillow to encourage dreams with lucky numbers. 

To bring peaceful sleep to children who often awaken during the night add hops flowers into the floor wash to clean nursery room.

Dried hops are also added to magickal incenses & burned during the casting of spells to help heal many ailments.

Carrying hops as an amulet will promote healing.

To attract good luck, as well as to keep bad luck away, fashion a wreath from dried hops & keep it in your home over the mantelpiece or the hearth.
Be sure to replace it with a new wreath every year at hop-picking season to prevent your good luck from running out.

Hops are given magically to increase fertility & sexual energy. If your libido is flagging, you can propitiate Frey for help with an offering of hop blossoms.

In Celtic mythology hops is associated with wolf medicine & with the power of the winter months.