Hops (Humulus
lupulus)
Description: While
not a traditional vine, the hops plant is a climbing plant found
growing
naturally in Europe, Asia, and regions of
Other than being the main continuant in many beer products hops also
offers a
variety of medicinal benefits. It is believed that hops may be useful
in treating insomnia, anxiety, restlessness,
and related conditions. Hops were thought to
have a sedative effect, after observing that workers in the fields were
falling
asleep frequently. Initially, it was thought that an
oil
that evaporated from the plant was the cause. However, despite the
absence of
this oil, dried hop preparations do appear to be somewhat calming. It
seems
that a sedating substance known as methylbutenol develops in the dried
herb
over a period of time. Sleeping on a hops
herbal pillow is useful in treating
insomnia.
Useful in
treatment
of:
Insomnia:
Hops may be useful in the treatment of insomnia, and recently have been
mixed
in with the stuffing of pillows to try and promote
natural
sleep.
When to
take hops:
Due
to its sedative effects, hops is best reserved
for nighttime.
Dosage: The standard dosage of
hops is
0.5 g taken 1 to 3 times daily. As well
as sleeping on a Hops Pillow to improve
sleep quality.
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]
Schmitz M,
Jackel M. Institut fur Psychosomatik, Wien.
Wien Med Wochenschr. 1998;148(13):291-8.
This
randomized, double-blind, controlled
clinical trial in parallel group design demonstrated equivalent
efficacy and
tolerability of a hop-valerian preparation compared with a
benzodiazepine
preparation in patients suffering from sleep disorders according to
DSM-IV
criteria. Sleep quality, fitness and quality of life were determined by
psychometric tests, psychopathologic scales and sleep-questionnaires at
the
beginning of the therapy, end of therapy (duration 2 weeks) and then 1
week
after cessation of therapy. Patients' state of health (4-point scale)
and
medication tolerability (occurrence of adverse events) were documented.
Using
the following as parameters "Alphabetischer
Durchstreichtest, Feinmotoriktest,
Befindlichkeitsskala, Beschwerdeliste,
Schlaffragebogen A and B" the differences
between beginning and the end of the therapy were analyzed by
simultaneous
testing of the equality or superiority of the test preparation. The
equivalence
of both therapies according to sleep quality, fitness and quality of
life was
proven by a Mann-Whitney-Statistic of 0.50 with a lower boundary of the
95%
confidence interval of 0.46. The patients' state of health improved
during
therapy while showing a deterioration after
cessation
with both preparations. Withdrawal symptoms, however, were documented
with
benzodiazepine. Only one adverse drug reaction was reported during this
study,
namely stomach complaints from both the test and reference medication.
This
study shows that the investigated hop-valerian preparation in the
appropriate
dose is a sensible alternative to benzodiazepine for the treatment of nonchronic and non-psychiatric sleep disorders.
Buy
Hops Pillows: http://www.joyofsleep.com/herbal.html
Buy
Hop Tincture: http://www.vitacost.com/Store/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?SKUNumber=083000003493&CFID=37665038&CFTOKEN=71427344