Hop Cone

No, hops are not just one of the essential ingredients in making beer or whiskey! Hops, and more specifically their cones, have been used in traditional medicine for several centuries, mainly to relieve anxiety and sleep disorders.

General presentation of the hop cone

The hop cone, used in herbal medicine since the 7th century, is the fruit of the flowering of the catkins produced by the female hop plants. Climbing hops, scientifically known as humulus lupus, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Cannabaceae family.

Hops are also known as northern snakeroot, devil's wood, native sarsaparilla or northern vine.

The plant persistently twines around its support with elongated stems that can reach up to 10 metres in length.

It is therefore the fruits of the hop plant, the cones , covered with a particularly fragrant resin, which are used for their medicinal properties.

Did you know?

Hop cones have been used for centuries for their aromatic properties. It was Hildgard of Bingen, an 11th century German mystic nun and renowned physician, who discovered the antiseptic and preservative properties of hop cones.

Composition and medicinal properties of hop cone

The hop cone has a varied composition: myrcene, humulene, beta-caryophyllene etc.

The active ingredients in the hop cone are sesquiterpenes, including humulene, beta-caryophyllene and monoterpenes.

Sesquiterpenes are molecules that act as hypotensives, that is to say by reducing blood pressure in the case of hypertension. This property is particularly effective in cases of high blood pressure, but also to treat dizziness, palpitations, and in some cases ringing in the ears.

Sesquiterpenes are also known for their calming and sedative properties. Hops are used to promote falling asleep and improve the quality of sleep, but also to reduce states of agitation or anxiety.

But sesquiterpenes, which make up between 50 and 80% of the composition of hop cones, have other health benefits:

• their anti-inflammatory action is effective against joint pain and rheumatism in particular;
• they decongest the lymphatic nervous system, which facilitates the evacuation of toxins , waste and unwanted materials from the human body;
• antihistamines, the hop cone allows a clear reduction , or even a total disappearance of allergic symptoms ;
• Hop cones also have anti-tumor, or anti-cancer, properties, thanks to their action blocking the multiplication of cancer cells .

Another main active component of the hop cone, monoterpenes complete the more than interesting health profile of this plant.

Monoterpenes are lymphotonics that naturally decongest and activate circulation within the lymphatic system, thus strengthening the body's drainage capacities.

They also act as antiseptics and antivirals and effectively prevent the growth of bacteria.

Monoterpenes are also used for their analgesic and pain-relieving properties.

Finally, the hop cone helps to decongest the respiratory tract and acts as an expectorant by promoting the expulsion of mucus present in the lungs and in the trachea thanks to its fluidifying action.

Hops are also known for their ability to reduce the effects of menopause. Their influence on estrogen levels can significantly reduce certain symptoms such as hot flashes.

What does the science say about the hop cone?

Many studies have looked at the medicinal properties of hop cones. However, many of these, particularly for treating sleep disorders, have combined hops with other calming herbs, such as valerian, making the results less clear.

In 2007, a team of Swiss researchers decided to study hops alone, comparing its effects to those of valerian. This study demonstrated that valerian alone had no improvement in sleep, while by adding hops, even at a low dose (120 mg per dose), an improvement in falling asleep was clearly observable (1).

Moreover, this combination of valerian and hops has been shown in several studies to be as effective as chemical treatments such as benzodiazepines for treating sleep disorders (2); (3).

Other studies have shown the real effectiveness of hop cone in the treatment of certain cancers, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer, with possible beneficial effects also on prostate cancer (4).

The beneficial effects of hops on menopausal symptoms are also supported by scientific research. A low concentration of hops has actually been shown to reduce hot flashes in several double-blind studies conducted on women in menopause (5), (6).

Hop Cone Dosage

There are several ways to take the hop cone:

• As an infusion, you will take a cup morning, noon and evening;
• if you opt for capsules, the recommendation is 200 mg 3 times a day during meals;
• in powder form, the hop cone is taken at a rate of 1g 3 times a day during meals as well;
• Finally, in decoction, hops are also taken three times a day, but this time preferably after meals.

Contraindications and side effects

Given its sedative properties, it is strongly advised not to use hop cone before driving. Similarly, it should be stopped 1 day before any planned surgical operation, due to possible interactions with anesthetics.

Hop cone is also not recommended for patients with hormone-dependent cancer, due to its action on estrogens.

In terms of precautions, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with allergies or those suffering from bipolar disorder should refrain from using hops.

Hop cone, a rebalancing treatment

As we have seen, between its ability to improve anxiety and relieve sleep problems, but also thanks to its decongestant action on the different aspects of the lymphatic system, hop cones are a natural remedy promoting balance and well-being.

(1) A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study to demonstrate clinical efficacy of a fixed valerian hops extract combination (Ze 91019) in patients suffering from non-organic sleep disorder . Koetter U, Schrader E, et al. Phytother Res. 2007 Sep;21(9):847-51.

(2) Schmitz M, Jackel M. [Comparative study for assessing quality of life of patients with exogenous sleep disorders (temporary sleep onset and sleep interruption disorders) treated with a hops-valarian preparation and a benzodiazepine drug]. [Article in German, summary in English]. Wien Med Wochenschr 1998;148(13):291-8.

(3) Morin CM, Koetter U, et al. Valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial . Sleep. 2005 Nov 1;28(11):1465-71.

(4)Xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids from hops and beer: to your good health!

Stevens JF1, Page JE.Phytochemistry. 2004 May;65(10):1317-30.

(5)Heyerick A, Vervarcke S, et al. A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomfort . Maturitas. 2006 May 20;54(2):164-75.

(6) A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts . Erkkola R, Vervarcke S, et al. Phytomedicine. 2010 May;17(6):389-96.