Introduction

A climbing plant native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Hops are the cone-like, fruiting bodies (strobiles) of the plant and are typically harvested from cultivated female plants. Hops are most commonly used as a flavoring agent in beer.

A perennial vine reaching up to 30 feet long. Opposite leaves commonly have three to five coarsely toothed lobes. Tiny male flowers (July-August) are greenish yellow; female ones are pale green, and are followed by greenish to greenish pink fruiting cones (called strobiles), which are covered with yellow glands that contain the hop bitters.

The official preparations are an infusion and a tincture. The infusion is employed as a vehicle, especially for bitters and tonics: the tincture is stomachic and is used to improve the appetite and digestion. Both preparations have been considered to be sedative, were formerly much given in nervousness and hysteria and at bedtime to induce sleep; in cases of nervousness, delirium and inflammation being considered to produce a most soothing effect, frequently procuring for the patient sleep after long periods of sleeplessness in overwrought conditions of the brain.

• Relaxant nerve remedy used as a sleep inducer, sedative, to relax smooth muscle function, to relax central nervous activity.
• Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory used for infections of the upper digestive tract.
• Locally antiseptic when used as a poultice.
• Used for nervous dyspesia, nervous colitis, palpitations, nervous and irritable coughs, nervous digestive problems, classic hysteria, amenorrhea with nervous association, in males for premature ejaculation and sexual neuroses.
• Also used for asthma and to treat tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis.
• Used to relieve headaches and toothaches (flowers heated and applied to face as poultice.)
• Used to lower fevers and promote urination (strongly diuretic)
• Also used to expel worms, stimulate milk flow, for leprosy, dysentary, skin ulcers, and frostbite.