The benefits and properties of hops and some natural remedies

This medicinal plant known by the name of hop is the ingredient that is used in brewing and that provides you with that more or less bitter taste that characterizes this drink depending on the amount of hops it contains.

The scientific name of this medicinal plant is "Humulus lupulus"And belongs to the family of the" Cannabinaceae ". The medicinal properties of this plant are the following: it is sedative, analgesic, hypnotic, astringent, bitter tonic, digestive, depurative, diuretic, antiseptic and vulnerary.

On the other hand, we can mention some of its most important active ingredients: lupulin, bitter principles, tannins, resin, essential oil and some estrogenic principles.

The most important hops benefits

The medicinal properties that this plant contains make it be used to alleviate various ailments or conditions such as those detailed below:

As a relaxant of the central nervous system.
As a treatment to improve insomnia.
To calm the anxiety.
Improve the cases of melancholy.
Soothe the headache.
To relieve hot flashes.
To help make digestion.
Used externally improves the cases of ulcers or eschar because it has antiseptic properties.

Although this medicinal plant has properties to relax anxiety, sleep and keep melancholy away, its use is not advised in case of suffering a state of depression.

Hops can be obtained in herbalists, parapharmacies, natural products stores, online and in various formats such as fresh or dried plant, liquid extract, capsules and in tincture.

3 natural remedies with Hops

Hops relaxing infusion

Among the properties mentioned above of this medicinal plant one of them and for which it is quite effective is the relaxing property of Hops.

To prepare this Hops infusion we need:

One cup of mineral water or the equivalent of 200 ml. of water.
A teaspoon of dried hops flowers.
Integral sugar, honey or stevia (sweeten to taste with what you like or prefer).

preparation:

We put the water to heat and once it starts to boil add the teaspoon of dried flowers of Hops.

Turn off the heat, cover the infusion and let it rest for 10 minutes.

We strain the infusion and sweeten it to taste.

Once it is warm, we can take it.

We will take a cup of this infusion at night before going to bed, to relax and to help us fall asleep.

This infusion can also be taken at any time of the day when we are nervous or stressed and need to relax a bit or calm the anxiety.

The relaxing properties of this infusion can be increased even more if accompanied by passionflower or valerian, both medicinal plants are also relaxing and favor at the time of improving the states of insomnia.

Hop infusion to improve fluid retention

This Hops infusion is effective due to the diuretic properties that Hops contain to help eliminate liquids in case of retention.

We will need 30 grams of dried flowers of Hops and one liter of mineral water.

preparation:

In a saucepan put the water to heat and once it is boiling add the dried flowers of Hops.

Let boil for 3 minutes and then turn off the heat.

Cover the infusion and let it rest for 15 minutes.

We fill the infusion, let it cool and take a glass 3 times a day.

If the infusion is preferred with a sweet touch, we choose to sweeten what we like the best, stevia, whole sugar, honey.

Hop tincture to improve dermatitis

Hops used externally for their vulnerary and antiseptic properties, is effective to improve the cases of dermatitis, skin ulcers, as well as to calm the inflammation and pains that produce rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis.

For these cases we need to dilute a few drops of Hops tincture in a glass of water.

Then moisten a gauze or cotton cloth in the preparation and place it on the affected area to treat or sore.