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 While
not a traditional vine, the hops plant is similar to vines in that
it is a climbing plant. It found growing naturally in Europe, Asia,
and a various regions of North America. Hops are the cone-like,
fruiting bodies of the plant and are most frequently harvested from
cultivated female plants. The majority of the work recognize hops as
the main ingredient in beer and other beverages.
Other than
being the main constituent in many beer products, hops also offers a
variety of medicinal benefits. It is believed that hops may be
useful when used in connection with insomnia, anxiety, restlessness,
and related conditions. It is still used for sedation, often in
combination with other sleep-promoting herbals such as valerian;
however, little scientific evidence supports the use of hops as a
medicinal herb.
In a few small laboratory studies, chemicals
in hops have shown to have some anti-infective activity. Hops may
also have anticancer properties. In several small studies of
laboratory cultures or animals, hops prevented different cancer
types from starting, growing, or spreading. Perhaps more
significantly, a chemical derived from hops has caused laboratory
cultures of leukemia cells to disintegrate. Whether any of these
effects may apply to humans has yet to be
determined.
Dosage and
Administration
Hops is available as capsules, liquid
extracts, tea leaves, and other dosage forms. Directions for use
vary considerably. If you decide to take hops, follow the
instructions on the manufacturer's label of the package that you
purchase. The standard dosage of hops is 0.5 g (about 1 heaping
teaspoonful) taken 1 to 3 times
daily.
Precautions
Patients who are
allergic to hops should not use them. If you are taking sedative
drugs, do not take hops except under a physician's
supervision.
Supporting
Literature
Bradley PR. British Herbal
Compendium. Bournemouth: British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992,
127–130.
Blumenthal M, Busse WR, and Goldberg A. The Complete
Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines.
Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, pg
147.
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