HOPS

Hops ( Humulus lupulus) are the flowers (also known as seed cones or strobiles) of the hop plant. Hops are used in beer-making, but they also have valuable medicinal properties. The essential oil from the female hops has mild sedative properties that are used to treat insomnia and promote sleep as well as ease anxiety and tension. Hops are also commonly used to soothe and relieve pain, increase urine output (good for those suffering from water retention or excess uric acid), stimulate a sluggish digestion and reduce fever

Hops is an herbaceous perennial vine that can reach 6m-7m high each year. It is dioecious, bearing male and female flowers on different plants.

The female flowers are the source of the hop’s essential oils, bitter acids and polyphenols, all contained in a fine yellow resinous substance called lupulin.

You can grow hops by seed, but if you only want hops for their medicinal value, then only the female plant would be useful. For that, take cuttings of female plants in summer or make root divisions in spring. Keep cuttings well watered until the root system is established before transplanting.