botanical name(s): Humulus lupulus
synonyms: hops, hopfen, hopfenzapfen, hopfendrusen, lupulin, houblon
part(s) used: glands, strobiles
qualities: bitter, pungent, cool, dry
affinities: nervous system, urinary tract
actions: anaphrodisiac, hypnotic, sedative, stomachic
dosage:
» powder: 0.5 - 1 g
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
» lupulin: 120 - 300 mg (glands separated from strobile)
therapy:
» internal: nervous excitement; hysteria; insomnia; priapism; chordee; nocturnal emissions; cerebral hyperemia; genitourinary irritation; delirium tremens (Ellingwood, pp. 124-125)
» external: over painful, acute local inflammations, facial neuralgia, ulcerating tooth, earache (Ellingwood, pp. 124-125); nervous gastropathies; sexual neuroses (Weiss, p. 285)
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2d
toxicity: 1
» handling fresh plant may cause contact dermatitis (Muenscher, p. 9); purpuric eruptions have been noted (Duke, pp. 233-234)
» excess use may cause sedative-soporific effects (Duke, pp. 233-234)
» some sources recommend against use in depression (McGuffin)
constituents: volatile oil, flavonols, resin, estrogenic substances of undetermined structure, tannins, lipids
drug interactions:
» sedative activity increases the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital (Lee et al)
footnotes
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Ellingwood, F. 1898. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Lee KM, Jung JS, Song DK, Krauter M, Kim YH. 1993. Effects of Humulus lupulus Extract on the Central Nervous System in Mice. Planta Med., 59(Suppl.):A691.
Muenscher, W.C. 1951. Poisonous Plants of the United States. New York: The MacMillan Company.
Weiss, R.F. 1988. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum; Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers, Ltd.