Benefits and Medicinal Properties of Hops

Aaaaah hops ... For most people, its name evokes beer because it's one of the recurring ingredients in its composition. Yes, but hops aren't just useful for that.

It is one of the medicinal plants that humans have used for centuries to treat certain ailments . To say that you can drink beer to treat yourself is perhaps not to overdo it, but its therapeutic virtues are undeniably recognized.

However, it's no coincidence that hops are among the key ingredients in beer. Even though the amount of hops in a mug of beer isn't huge, it wouldn't be the same without them.

Thanks to this blog post, you'll become a true hops pro ! That's what we call useful knowledge!

What is hops?

The definition of common hops is, simply put, a herbaceous climbing plant. It has a woody stem that clings to supports and can sometimes reach 6 meters long. Hops are dicotyledonous vines whose stem climbs through thorns, branches, trunks, or other supports it can find in nature.

It has opposite, pointed leaves followed by 3 to 5 broader ones, which are serrated along the edge. The upper leaves are often completely closed.

In this photo, you can clearly see its creeper side:

The flowers are oval inflorescences in which the fruits ripen. Hop flowers are unisexual, with the female parts forming conical inflorescences, appearing from July to August. You can also call them female cones for short. The lower part of the buds contains lupulin glands that contain a concentration of nutrients.

The fruits reach an average length of 30 mm. They have tortoise-shaped scales, which turn from green to green-yellow when ripe. The ripening period can vary from place to place depending on the climate. It generally lasts from August to September. The straws have a strong hoppy smell.

Hops are often used in various products. As proof, I'll let you discover some of our articles:

Our Hop Flowers bath mat:

Soft and fluffy as you wish, it will welcome your little feet as they step out of the shower or bath. To see it, simply click here.

Our Hop Flower T-shirt:

No need for text; the drawing speaks for itself. Connoisseurs will appreciate it! Find it here.

Our Hop Bombs T-shirt:

Make beer, not war! Find the bombing by clicking here!

To know if the fruits are ripe, you can try crushing them (gently, mind you, not like a brute, please!). If the fruits are ripe, they will fall apart when you squeeze them. The mature inflorescences are full of lupulin.

Because of these characteristics, the female plants are highly valued and are specially cultivated. The vine has a well-developed root system capable of surviving the winter. Hops are therefore a perennial plant because they re-grow each year.

Wild hops grow almost everywhere, but like many of the plants we use, humans have bred them to make them more productive. A wild hop plant will therefore not have the same yield at all.

Hop harvest

The cones are harvested at the beginning of their maturation. Only female plants that are not pollinated are used for harvesting . The cones are harvested when they are about to ripen and have turned a greenish-yellow color. The inflorescences are harvested with the stems.

After harvesting, the raw material is spread out on paper or thin cloth in the open air, avoiding direct sunlight. It should be noted that the volatile alcohol contained in the plant's essential oil increases in concentration during long-term storage. It reaches its maximum when stored for two years. The longer, the better!

Composition of hops

Among the main active components contained in hop cones are ascorbic acid and up to 10% tannins. Hop inflorescences contain 1-3% essential oil, triterpenes, bitter substances, organic acids, phytocides, lupulin, hypoxanthine, choline and gum. Hop stems also contain estrogen-like substances and B vitamins.

What are the virtues of hops?

Pharmacological action

Hop cone preparations have a sedative and calming effect on the central nervous system. They are anti-inflammatory , antibacterial , diuretic and analgesic . All these effects are due to the presence of phenolic compounds, bitterness and essential oil components in hop cones .

How to consume hops ?

Hops , and more specifically their flowers, are used in herbal medicine . They are presented dried in bags and are often mixed with other plants to be consumed in the form of herbal teas . On the other hand, if you are not a fan of bitterness, you will have to add sugar or honey because hops are not known for their bitter side for nothing!

Healing properties

The medicinal properties of hops are provided by B vitamins, tannins, essential oils, and bitterness. Preparations based on these products stimulate tissue regeneration and inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. The bactericidal effect of hop medicines allows their use in the treatment of cystitis, for example.

The sedative effect of using drugs based on hop cones allows their use in the treatment of hysteria, neurasthenia of the hypersthenic type, as well as in vegetative dystonia, menopausal disorders.

The ability of hop cones to stimulate the secretory function of the stomach determines its usefulness in gastritis caused by a lack of gastric juice production. Consuming medicines based on this raw material stimulates the appetite.

In addition to its calming effect on the nervous system , hops combines other useful properties. The presence of phytoestrogens in the composition of the cones helps to reduce sexual orgasms in men. Thanks to these substances, one can also combat increased libido.

If you're reading this and you're a man, go see a doctor. He'll confirm that regular beer consumption limits male libido . It's a bit like constantly taking a course of female hormones. A shame or not, depending on the case!

At the same time, hop preparations can reduce pain and swelling.

Hops and their benefits

Hops have many beneficial properties. Due to the phenolic compounds in their cones, preparations made from the plant's straws have an antioxidant effect. The use of hop- based medicines has a positive effect on the body's metabolic processes, as the active substances help regulate mineral metabolism and contribute to maintaining the body's water balance.

Herbal medicines also have an antiarrhythmic effect . They are used for malignant tumors of the stomach, skin, and breast. The use of hops can be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including tuberculosis.

Hops is also a remedy for hair loss ! Due to its bactericidal properties, its preparations are used externally to treat skin rashes, traumatic injuries, trophic ulcers, and fungal skin lesions. Our favorite plant can also be useful in the external treatment of rheumatism and joint diseases.

Hops in gynecology

Due to the high concentration of phytoestrogens in hop cones, they are used for disorders of estrogen production by the body. Hop preparations can be useful for the treatment of menstrual irregularities, especially with menopause.

The doctor may prescribe hops-based medications for hyperlactation, amenorrhea, or dysmenorrhea. These medications may also be used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Hops in beer

If this is the part you were interested in, you see, we're finally getting there! So we come to the question of why hops are in beer.

The first hops were added to beer about a thousand years ago. This historical event took place in France in a Benedictine monastery in 882. The author of the idea also described the process of collecting wild hops in the abbot's book of affairs. At that time, it was not yet a question of beer hops , but this traces the history of European beer .

Monks (also abbots) have repeatedly acted as innovators throughout the history of brewing and made significant changes in beer production. Each monastery brewed its own beer at the time as the monks tried to be self-sufficient. This is how hop beer got its start.

A legend, or a true story, depending on the version, says that the English increased the hop content of their beer when they sent supplies to quench their soldiers' thirst in India. This was at the time when India was part of their colonial empire. They also increased the alcohol content in the process.

The increase in hops and alcohol allowed the beer to preserve better during the long journey from England to India. Thus, the India Pale Ale, more commonly known as the IPA, was born and was preparing to wreak havoc centuries later!

Why hops in beer? Thanks to the 5 most important qualities of brewing hops:

1. Acts as a condiment. It expands the range of flavors and recipe variations.
2. Allows you to brew strong beer. At a certain stage of brewing, as the alcohol content increases, beer without hops turns into vinegar.
3. Prepares beer for travel. Hops contain natural preservatives and allow beer to last longer, which is a key indicator for transport. It was thanks to hops that brewers had the opportunity to exchange experiences. Previously, beer could only be drunk in the region where it was brewed.
4. Fights germs. As a preservative, hops prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
5. Adds bitterness to the taste. Centuries have passed before people have become accustomed to the characteristic bitterness of beer. And some beer lovers still aren't used to it.

The benefits of hops in beer are therefore numerous and explain why it is used so much.

Where do hops grow in France?

Wild hops can grow almost anywhere in France, but they tend not to like excessive heat. Hop cultivation is mainly concentrated in the Alsace and Flanders regions. In fact, it is called hopen in these parts.

You can make a direct connection with certain French beer brands that most people know: Kronembourg in Alsace and Pelforth in the North, to name just two.

However, I would like to point out that hop cultivation is growing in many places in France thanks to the explosion of craft breweries . Some of them import this plant while others grow it themselves.

There are many varieties of hops ( citra , chinook , colombus , etc.) which all have particular characteristics. Some are better adapted than others to local climates and the taste buds of their consumers. This is the reason why you will have American hops , French hops, etc.

We also have a T-shirt that includes the names of the most famous hops:

Our Hop Types T-shirt:

Available on our website by clicking here!

Hoppy beers

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 10 years and/or aren't a beer lover, you've definitely noticed a rise in hoppy beers, led by IPAs. It's the cascade of hops that has been sweeping our country for the past fifteen years or so. IPAs, Pale Ales, Neipas, and others used to only exist on the shelves of specialty wine shops.

For several years now, you may have noticed that supermarket shelves are increasingly making room for this type of beer, and brands are not mistaken. Many of them have released IPA versions in particular. Some even use a hop flower scale to indicate their bitterness.

The English invented the IPA, but it was the Americans who brought it back into fashion and made it their own. Other countries quickly followed, although most consumers struggled to adjust to its more pronounced bitter taste.

Barley and hops definitely go well together, to the delight of bitter beer lovers. I should point out that I am one of those die-hard fans who adore a beer with a good hoppy taste.

It's not for nothing that we offer a lot of products on our site aimed at IPA fans:

Our round IPA blanket:

It's the concept of being warm and classy at the same time! It's waiting for you to click on this link to discover it!

The essential I love IPA T-shirt:

9 colors with text color variations too. Find them here!

For those who are afraid of making a mistake during an infusion or transfusion:

It can literally save lives! To avoid medical errors, click here!

Craft beer fans will also love this doormat:

It will make you smile every time you pass by! It's waiting patiently for you after clicking on this link! 

As for the amount of hops in the beer , it will depend on the brewer's wishes. Too little hops will not bring the desired taste and too much hops will destroy all the other tastes. Hops are like chili peppers; you need the right amount because they have a powerful aromatic force.

Hops are the cousin of cannabis

Yes! It may seem strange, but it's true. As I told you before, hops are a medicinal plant. Its Latin name is humulus lupulus , from the Cannabaceae family . It's when you see the name of this plant family that you understand the connection with cannabis or hemp.

Within the same family, plants can have similarities but also differences. For example, hemp grows on its own, while hops need a support to cling to. The flowers and leaves of these two plants are not at all similar, and the properties of these two plants differ. However, they do have in common their sedative properties or appetite stimulation, for example.

These plants, due to their shared family, are often associated together. For example, we sell a set of 50 mini beer stickers, and 14 of them feature this association:

For your information, the complete set contains 50 different models:

They are on average 5 x 5 cm and you can find them here!

Hops are the perfect plant

Thanks to its virtues, once hops entered a region, they would take root there forever. Almost every country with suitable climatic conditions grows its own varieties. Every hop grower will be able to describe their production as unique, of course.

We now hear about hopping , hop gardens or hop growers and others, but some tend to forget that this plant has been used for a very long time. It is a true treasure of nature.

Hops are one of those miraculous plants with a thousand virtues and benefits. It's clear that humans can no longer do without them since they realized how useful this gift of nature can be. This makes them extremely valuable.

Do you know how to say hops in English ? "Hop"! Funny, right? What's funny is that this name allows for a rather nice pun that works in French and English: hoptimist. Okay, the French literary types will cry scandal, but we don't care because it gave us the opportunity to create 2 t-shirts on this theme! Here they are:

Our Hoptimist T-shirt:

Clear, clean, and efficient! You can click this link to see it.

Our Hoptimist Definition T-shirt:

With its definition this time! A hoptimist is a person who believes that everything is better with a good craft beer! See it urgently by clicking here!

It's worth what it's worth, but I also find that hops are a plant that is aesthetically pleasing and that has the advantage of growing in our latitudes. I always find it better than importing aloe vera from tropical countries, for example. Conclusion: long live hops! 😍

Writing these blog articles takes me a lot of time for research, writing, images, etc. You have noticed, there are no unwanted advertising banners for insurance, credits or other but suddenly it does not bring me any source of income.😢

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