The Healing Properties Of Hops Flowers

Hops flowers have a calming effect on the body and has been used to relieve insomnia and anxiety when nervous tension has taken its toll. Hops has been used for many many years in TCM for digestive problems, various types of intestinal or bowel problems. The many conditions it treats include nervous or irritable coughs, irritable bowel syndrome, excitability, sleep disorders, restlessness, hyperactivity, hysteria, fits, delerium tremens, toothache, earaches, painful or absent menstruation, and externally used to treat crural ulcers. Hop’s chemicals have anti-infective activity and anti-cancer properties, which are important to the immune system. Hops has been used in traditional chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of numerous forms of leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis and acute bacterial dysentery. One of the active components of Hops herbal extract demonstrates antiviral effects against cytomegalovirus, HIV, and herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2.  As a tonic for the liver, Hops are thought to increase the flow of bile, and the herb was used historically for liver afflictions, such as jaundice. Hops are used as a diuretic and believed to relieve water retention and excess uric acid, which can lead to gout. For women who suffer from serious menstrual discomfort, Hops Flower extracts may offer relief.

Finding Calm In Times Of Stress:

Hops flowers are traditionally used as a main ingredient in beer and have naturally occurring sedative properties. Hops are useful as a sleep inducer, and has become popular among people troubled with sleep disorders or insomnia. Its sedative effects are particulary useful when this tension leads to restlessness and headache. It has also been found to be effective for nervous exhaustion or tension and nerve pain. Hops are sometimes combined with Valerian to make a powerful supplement that can help you to relax, sleep more soundly and alleviate mental conditions, helping to promote a feeling of calm and peace during times of stress.

Hops Assists Digestive Problems

As a further demonstration of soothing the body, Hops tinctures are excellent for the digestive system, calming the smooth muscle and easing muscle spasms (supporting the herb’s historical use to treat cramps and menstrual pain). The bitter principle in Hops flowers are considered a fine stomachic and tonic that stimulates gastric juice secretion, which promotes good digestion, relieves and expels flatulence, eases colic, nervous stomach, intestinal cramps, indigestion and nervous intestinal complaints. When Hops flower extracts are sometimes combined with Plantain and Chamomile, the herbal combination has even been known to help treat IBS naturally. Hops are also beneficial for loss of appetite, and may be helpful for those who are recovering from illness. Hops is considered to be a relaxant for the gastric nerves and have shown to have a relaxing influence on the liver and gall duct and a laxative effect on the bowels.

High In Antioxidants

The concentration of antioxidants found in Hops flowers has been found to be as beneficial as that found in red wine. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Hops may inhibit the formation and growth of tumors. Researchers have studied the effects of the extract of Hops flower and found evidence that suggests the flavonoids found in the herb may cut the risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer. These flavonoids neutralize free radicals in the body, which can promote early aging signs. A ten-year study found that the strong antioxidant effects of the polyphenols, may help to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Hops Helps With Bloating

Hops acts as a diuretic, and therefore may decrease bloating and water retention, which corresponds with weight loss. It can also aid in digestion by increasing stomach secretions. However, Hops flower extracts also increase the appetite, so if decreasing the intake of food is the goal, this herb may not be right for those who are trying to lose weight naturally.

Hops are believed to have estrogenic activity, and laboratory studies have indicated it is helpful in treating symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, sleep disorders and other problems related to lack of estrogen production in women. And studies claim it is useful in treating dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea with an anti-oxytocic property.

Some experts claim that Hops flowers have a potent effect on neuralgic and rheumatic pains, by inhibiting inflammation. Hops have anti-spasmodic properties that can be helpful for muscular irritability and twitching, by inducing a calming effect. This appears to be helpful for those who suffer from nerve pain, and early clinical research suggest that it reduces symptoms of rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and joint stiffness in fibromyalgia. Another finding was that Hops flowers may help to fight bone loss, and even prevent reverse the process.