Bulk Herbs: Hops Flowers, Whole
Humulus lupulus
Format: Flowers
Size: 1 oz package
Also known as: Lupulus strobula. European Hops, and Lupulin.
Origin: USA
A “hop” is a green cone around the female flower of the hop plant. Inside the hops are golden grains that form a sticky greenish yellow to organ-yellow powder. Hops have been used for centuries to flavor beer, at least as far back as 10,000 years ago in Asia, where it spread rapidly to Eastern Europe. The lore of hops and beer is intertwined. The Sumerians goddess Ninkasi was the goddess of brewing and beer, and head brewer to the gods. The Romans said that hops grew “wild among the willows, like wolves among sheep”, hence the name Lupulus. The first mention of hops in European literature was in 1079 by Abbess Hildegarde of St. Ruprechtsberg who said that “if one intends to make beer from oats, it is prepared with hops”. There is also evidence that they have been used even longer to aid sleep and to reduce libido. This should not come as any surprise as hops are a distant relative of stinging nettles and cannabis. As most of the brewing of beer was done during the middle ages by monks, there are innumerable mentions to hops and hops gardens in monastic literature. In fifteenth-century Germany, monks prescribed teas of hops to young males to help them remain chaste.
The German food chemist Udo Pollmer notes that soaking red or white meats in beer, before grilling, reduces the formation of HCA’s (heterocyclic amines), and actually prevents the formation of these compounds, although “lite” or alcohol-free beers do not have this effect. Another way to avoid the HCA’s, of course, is to serve vegan entrees.
NOTE: The hops in beer are responsible for an unfortunate condition in men known in German herbal medicine as “beer drinker’s droop,” or erectile dysfunction. Avoiding excessive consumption of beer or hops helps men retain potency.
In magick, Hops is ruled by Mars and Air. As with all Mars herbs, use in small quantities. An excellent herb to add to sleep pillows and healing blends.
Keywords: Healing, Sleep
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.