A l l A b o u t HOPS : H u m u l u s s p p .

Hops a hoppan = to Cl imbHops come from the Anglo-Saxon word hoppan which means “to climb,” as the bine will assuredly climb on anything that gets in its way!

The most commonly used Hops species:Humulus lupulus

lupulus a lupus = WolfThe name lupulus comes from lupus or “wolf ” due to the Romans’ incorrect belief that it strangles the plants around it as a wolf does with its prey.

R e g i o nSome sources claim hops is native to Britain, but others indicate that native species are found in Britain, Europe, Asia, and North America.

The Lure & Lore of Hops by Jackie Johnson, N.D. Article excerpted To learn more , v is i t

The strobile can be up to an inch and a half long, is green in color, and is covered with bracts which look a bit like scales.

The female flower produces lupulin, a yellow powdery substance you see between the bracts, as it ripens. This is very sticky and is what gives hops its very distinct aroma.

The leaves are heart-shaped or deeply lobed with three to five lobes and are arranged opposite to one another until towards the end of the bine where they can become alternate.

1.5”

Strobi le

Lupul in

Leaves

The hops plant is a bine (not vine) that can easily grow 30 feet high and can be quite invasive. When deciding to grow hops, find the right place and give it something to climb up, or it may grow right over other plants and even creep across your driveway!

Bines

F a m i l yHops is a member of the Cannabaceae family. Other family members include hemp and cannabis.

Hops is a perennial plant that dies back each fall and returns in the spring. It prefers full sun and a south or southwestern exposure but can survive in partial shade. Hops plants like nitrogen so it’s a good idea to add manure or compost to the soil around them now and then. A friend who grows hops told me they felt it was best grown around the 48th parallel.

Hops are dioecious, meaning they have both male and female plants which produce flowers; however, the flowering hop, or strobile, is cultivated using the female plants only to avoid production of the fruit, which is not of commercial value.5

Propagation is best from root division in early spring or cuttings that have been taken in late spring. Seed germination is erratic and may produce wild hops. I have found the best way to plant hops is in a hill with three plants about 18 inches apart.

Hops are host to several diseases, including downy mildew. I was told by a hops grower that the mildew can survive the winter if it gets in the crown of the plant. If this happens, the entire plant should be removed and burned to keep it from spreading. In cool weather, aphids and spider mites can become a problem.

PERENNIAL

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C U LT I VAT I O N

18”

E t y m o l o g y

E N E R G E T I C SFlavor: BITTER Temperature: COLD

Moisture: DRY Polarity: YANG

Element: AIR

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from the Herbal Academy website with permission to reprint. THEHERB ALAC ADEMY.COM

F U L L S U N

HARVESTING HOPS

Harvest in fall when the strobiles turn an amber or golden color.

The easiest way I’ve found to harvest hops is to throw sheets down under the bines and clip the bines and strobiles, letting them fall on the sheets.

Be sure to dry the strobiles quickly, and store them as soon as they are dry to prevent them from becoming too bitter.

When harvesting or working with hops, the yellow powdery lupulin is very sticky. It will get on your hands and can be very difficult to remove, so gloves are a must.

An interesting note about harvesting hops is that in production when women hand-harvest hops, they will often start their menses shortly after picking the strobiles.4Harvesting over a long time span has resulted in synchronization of the female pickers’ menstrual cycles.

USES OF HOPS

In the spring, the shoots of the hops plant have been used as an asparagus-like vegetable since Pliny’s time (AD 23-79).

In medieval times, hops were used as a bitter potherb. Young leaves were blanched and added to soups.1

Of course, beer is the use most of us associate with hops as they have been used in brews for more than 1,000 years. In fact, it’s thought that the Netherlands may have been the first to brew with hops.

Sleep : King George III was a noted insomniac, and legend has it that he had his mattresses filled with hops to ensure a good night’s sleep. Abraham Lincoln was said to have used a pillow filled with hops to help him sleep. (Fast forward to the 21st century, and we add hops to our dream or sleep pillows to help with sleeping.)

Historical ly , hops was used externally for boils, toothaches, and skin problems. It is still used by some herbalists in poultice form as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis and sore joints. 6

Some Other Uses o f Hops Inc lude :

The leaves yield a brown dye and the stems have been

used in the weaving of baskets.

It is touted as a digestive aid, and

also used for stress & tension.

Due to its fibrous stems, it has been used to make a coarse cloth, rope, & paper.

Cosmetical ly , hops has been used in creams to soften the skin and as a hair conditioner.

It can be tinctured and blends well

with a valerian for a sleep aid. You can also use it to make

your own sleep pillow.

A muslin bag filled with

hops held against the ear may help with ear pain.

IT SHOULD NOT BE USED BY: pregnant women or women who have had

or have estrogen-related breast cancer, kids under two & those suffering from depression

as it could accentuate this condition.

SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION and under their healthcare professional’s

supervision by: Older kids and elders over 65. 2

S A F E T Y Hops is generally considered safe, however, it may cause contact dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people. Hops may potentiate the effects of alcohol or other sedatives (Hoffmann, 2003)

learn more at: theherbalacademy.com/courses-classes/

1 Bremness, L. (1994). The complete book of herbs. New York, NY: Penguin Books Ltd. 2 Castleman, M. (2017). The new healing herbs: The essential guide to more than 125 of nature’s most potent herbal remedies. New York, NY: Rodale 3 Gladstar, R. (2008). Rosemary Gladstar’s herbal recipes for vibrant health: 175 teas, tonics, oils, salves, tinctures, and other natural remedies for the entire family. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. 4 Kane, C. W. (2009). Herbal medicine: Trends and traditions: A comprehensive sourcebook on the preparation and use of medicinal plants. Oracle: Lincoln Town Press. 5 Koetter, U. & Biendl M. (2010). Hops (Humulus lupulus): A review of its historic and medicinal uses. [On-line Article]. Retrieved from http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue87/article3559.html 6 Kowalchik, Claire and Hylton, William (1998). Rodales’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Rodale Press. 7 Mars, B. (2016). The desktop guide to herbal medicine: The ultimate multidisciplinary reference to the amazing realm of healing plants, in a quick-study, one-stop guide. Columbus, OH: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

references

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