Hops oil comes from hops (Humulus lupulus), a flowering plant in the family Cannabaceae. The dried, flowering part of the plant is used to make medicine. Liquid herbal extract. It is a perennial, herbaceous climbing plant, which grows abundantly in several countries in Western Asia, Europe, and North America. It is widely cultivated for the brewing industry and at present, the major producers of hops are France, Germany, and Hungary. The plant grows up to about 26 feet tall, has green leaves and light-green flowers. The substances found in the female flower are what give beer its bitter taste, as well as act as its preservative. The flower is also the part used in the extraction of its essential oil as it contains medicinal compounds.
Although hops are mostly famous throughout the world for flavoring beers from Belgium to Boston, the essential oil is extracted from hops (Humulus lupulus) through steam distillation. It is an extremely valuable product offered by this plant. The extracted oil has a thin consistency and is light yellow to greenish-yellow colored and normally blended with Cinnamon, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Lime, Pine, Lemon verbena, Hyacinth, Nutmeg, Copaiba, Clove, Citrus, Balsam Fir, Mandarin, and Valerian essential oil. The oil is extensively used in traditional healing practices such as Chinese herbal medicine and Ayurveda, India’s holistic healing system. Its wonderful fragrance, and calming and grounding yet uplifting effect make it much-admired oil in aromatherapy circles. Apart from that, it is expansively used in manufacturing medicines. It is also used as a natural herbal remedy to treat anxiety, tension, insomnia, sleeping disorder, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), high cholesterol, bladder infections and to prevent cancer.
Hops Essential Oil Facts
Hops are precisely known to be the popular herb. It is used to cure several illnesses. But hops are famous all over the world for flavoring beers. It tastes sour and it has a strong fragrance. Essential oil that can be extracted from hops is also an extremely valuable commodity offered by this plant. Hops essential oil is used extensively in aromatherapy, and seems to perform most effectively when diffused throughout a room. However, as this essential oil is quite powerful, it is important to monitor your reactions to it, as it can also cause irritation in large quantities. Although native to China, hops essential oil is now extensively available throughout the world. The color of the oil itself is pale yellow and the aroma is rich, dry, and slightly spicy, with hints of floral notes as well. Aside from the essential oil itself, hops can also be used in powdered form, steeped for tea, and a variety of other preparations to get their health benefits.
| Name | Hops Essential Oil |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Humulus lupulus |
| Native | Hungary |
| Plant Growth Habit | Vigorous, climbing, herbaceous perennial |
| Plant Size | 26 feet tall |
| Leaf | Green leaves |
| Flower | Light-green flowers |
| Oil Consistency | Thin |
| Oil Color | Light yellow to greenish-yellow |
| Flavor/Aroma | Rich, dry, and slightly spicy, with hints of floral notes |
| Plant Parts Used | Hops flowers known as cones or strobiles |
| Method of Extraction | Steam-distillation |
| Commonly Blended With |
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| Health benefits |
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| Precautions |
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| Other Facts |
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Health Benefits of Hops Essential Oil
Hop essential oil is known to help ease sleeping problems by way of steam inhalation, baths, or aromatherapy techniques. Hop oil is often combined with valerian root oil in order to treat insomnia and anxiety. In fact, researchers have proven the efficacy of the hops-valerian combination as a remedy for sleep disturbances. Listed below are some of the popular health benefits of hops essential oil
Respiratory Issues
Inflammation and irritation are the most common reasons for respiratory distress, using aromatherapy with hops essential oil can help to soothe those irritated parts of your respiratory tract and reduce inflammation, thereby reducing coughing and congestion.(1)
Pain Relief
Hops essential oil can provide general sedative qualities, which is why people who suffer from chronic pain of all varieties have turned to hops essential oil in the past. This general sedative quality of hops essential oil is famous and is commonly used by people suffering from anxiety and mood swings, as it can help to settle stormy minds and calm the body. (2)
Menstrual Cramping and Pain
For females, hops essential oil has been linked to a reduction in menstrual pain and cramping, which can be quite severe. Again, the sedative qualities that loosen the muscles and reduce pain are the main reason for this useful application of the essential oil.(3)Again, the sedative qualities that loosen the muscles and reduce pain are the main reason for this useful application of the essential oil. [6]
Improves Sexual Performance
For generations, hops essential oil has been used by men to enhance their sexual performance, and more particularly, to extend it. This is a common treatment for premature ejaculation, as it soothes the body and makes certain vital elements less sensitive to sexual stimulation. [5]
Reduces Respiratory Issues
While inflammation and irritation are the most common reasons for respiratory distress, using aromatherapy with hops essential oil can help to soothe those irritated parts of your respiratory tract and reduce inflammation, thereby reducing coughing and congestion. [7]
Skin Health
Hops essential oil is known as a natural remedy for psoriasis and skin irritation. The calming nature of hops essential oil functions as an anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent to protect your skin from any possible infections or irritants.(4)
Sleep and Insomnia
Those same sedative qualities make hops essential oil the perfect addition to treatment for insomnia or sleeplessness. Hops essential oil can be diffused while sleeping and enhance the depth and quality of your slumber so you wake to feel refreshed and energized.(5)
Hair Health
When used in combination with other natural oils on the hair, hops essential oil can improve the sheen and strength of the hair because of its strong volatile components that interact with hair follicles and natural oils to improve the appearance and health of your hair.(6)
Headache Relief
Hops essential oil is quite important and effective for tension and headaches. The relaxing effects of this essential oil can loosen even the tightest muscles in your shoulders and neck, while also easing your anxiety and calming your mind, allowing for peaceful, headache-free days following a night of aromatic diffusion.(7)
Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is quite a troublesome issue and can be a real pain if you have it. Hops essential oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. It has an impressive track record for alleviating pain related to arthritis and inflammation in the lungs.
Wounds
The oil acts as an antiseptic that protects your wounds, cuts, and scrapes from being infected by bacteria and becoming septic. This can save your life because a septic wound will spread bacteria throughout the body, which could cause convulsions and damage vital organs. Apply the oil on the surrounding skin of the wound for this purpose. Never put oil directly on the wound as it may irritate and cause further pain.
Eczema and Psoriasis
Eczema and psoriasis are categorized as inflammatory skin disorders. Hops essential oil’s anti-inflammatory substances will help treat these skin problems. The oil also has nourishing compounds that will soothe the skin, easing itchiness and other discomforts.
Irritated Skin
The oil’s nourishing compounds will comfort the itchiness and pain that comes with sunburn and slight burns. It is also helpful for skin rashes and skin irritations due to insect bites and other causes.
Hot Flashes
The flavonoid 8-prenylnaringenin found in hops is classified as a phytoestrogen—a plant-based compound that mimics the activity of the female hormone estrogen. It is believed by some that 8-prenylnaringenin can help increase estrogenic activity in the body, overcoming symptoms of hypoestrogenism (estrogen deficiency). Since hot flashes and night sweats that typically accompany menopause are due to drops in estrogen that occur, hops may help alleviate them.1
According to a 2010 study from Finland, menopausal women provided an eight-week course of a hops extract experienced a reduction of hot flashes, night sweats, and even low libido compared to those provided a placebo.6
Moreover, the extract appeared to do so without some of the adverse effects of traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), such as bloating, leg cramps, indigestion, headaches.
Cardiovascular Disease
Atherosclerosis, often referred to as the hardening of the arteries, is a condition in which the accumulation of plaque inside an artery can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The compound xanthohumol in hops is believed to have anti-restenotic effects, meaning that it can help relax blood vessels and improve blood circulation.
A 2012 study from Japan found that mice fed a hops xanthohumol extract had significant increases in “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, corresponding to a decreased risk of atherosclerosis. Moreover, the increases were seen in a type of HDL rich in apolipoprotein E, a protein central to the metabolism of fat and the prevention of cardiovascular disease. These same effects may benefit people with obesity by promoting weight loss, reducing abdominal fat, lowering blood pressure, and increasing insulin sensitivity, according to research from Oregon State University.8
Cancer
There is little evidence that hops can directly prevent cancer. However, the compound xanthohumol appears to exert anti-cancer effects that may one day lead to the development of novel cancer therapies.
According to a 2018 review of studies from China, xanthohumol was able to kill certain types of cancer in test tube studies, including breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and non-small cell lung cancer.9
The flavonoid appears to do it in several ways. In some cases, xanthohumol was cytotoxic, meaning that it directly “poisons” and kills cancer cells (and, presumably, other cells around it). In other cases, it triggers apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death
Cancer occurs when cells mutate and no longer undergo the natural process of apoptosis, allowing them to multiply without end. If scientists are able to identify how xanthohumol activates apoptosis in cancer cells, there may one day be a hops-derived drug able to reverse certain cancers.1
Depression
Hops are also being studied as a potential treatment for depression and other mood disorders. A 2017 study published in the journal Hormones found daily supplementation with hops can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.10
For the placebo-controlled clinical trial, 36 young adults with mild depression were given either 400 milligrams (mg) of Melcalin hops or a placebo for four weeks. At the end of the study, those taking hops showed significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression levels compared to the placebo group.
Researchers also measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the study but did not find any correlation between cortisol levels and hops usage.10
Traditional uses and benefits of Hops Essential oil
- People who have difficulty sleeping can use three drops of herbal oil in a diffuser.
- When mixed with other herbs, hop oil can be used in the reduction of fever and pain.
- It can also stimulate the appetite of those who are anorexic or are recovering from certain diseases.
- It can also be blended with a base cream or lotion to help treat areas of rough skin.
- 3-4 drops on a tissue next to the pillow can help you drift off to sleep.
- When blended in a carrier oil or added to a hot bath it can calm the pain and cramps associated with menstruation.
Health Benefits Of Hops Excracted and Raw Herb
As a herb, it has been used to treat various skin-related diseases. Some of the skin benefits of hops are:
1. Keeps Skin Young
Hop is a good source of antioxidants, which means that it helps the body fight against free radicals, giving the skin a radiant and youthful glow.
2. Treats Skin Inflammation
It may be the main ingredient in beer but is also used in various cosmetic products for skin treatments. The oils and minerals in the plant provide an anti-inflammatory effect to the skin and are used to decrease the surface blood vessels.
3. Treats Leprosy
As it contains anti-inflammatory properties, hop is used to treat leprosy. Although it is not clear how hop helps in the treatment of this disease, it is clear that its herbal properties make it a valuable source of treatment.
4. Reduces Hair Fall And Dandruff
Beer gives a natural shine and helps to reduce dandruff. Beer is also used to rinse the hair because it contains antioxidants and mainly hops, which help to reduce hair fall. The hop extract can also be directly used to wash your hair. First, rinse the hair with a mild shampoo, then use hop extract on the scalp. It is quite helpful in the treatment of scalp and dandruff. The essential vitamins and oils present in the hops help to open the tiny pores of the scalp and reduce the hair loss. The oils in this herb help to cure the dead skin on the scalp and remove dandruff, which blocks the pores of the scalp. It is easily available in the market, but can also be used directly from beer, which has high contents of hops.
5. Eases Nervousness
Hops are also used to treat insomnia. As they are related to the “cannabis” family, they are used as a drug for relaxing muscles and treating people suffering from anxiety.
6. Relaxes And Soothes Muscles
Hops help in relaxing the aching muscles and body pain. Easily available, it is used in many pain killers.
7. Treats Different Ulcers
Another property of this wonder weed is that it is used in the treatment of various types of ulcers. It has been proved that the dosage of hops mixed with other essential herbs helps in the treatment of various ulcer-causing bacteria.
8. Improves Digestive System
Improving the digestive system, hops fasten the metabolism of the body. People suffering from various digestive disorders can go for this herbal medicine.
9. Provides Relief From Toothaches
The anti-inflammatory property of hops provides relief from toothache and other oral diseases.
These are just a small part of the healing properties of hops. It can be used in several different ways to cure many diseases. The benefits of hops are not just limited to its beer making. It is also used as an active ingredient in flavoring yeast, which is further used in different medicines and baking products.
10. Relieves Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the biggest problems most people face today. And if it is your problem too, then you better start using hops essential oil right away! The sedative quality is what makes hops essential oil useful in combating anxiety and mood swings. It helps calm the mind and body.
11. Analgesic
Hops essential oil is an analgesic that has many sedative qualities. It enjoyed great popularity among earlier generations as a sure-shot remedy for chronic pain. So don’t worry if chronic pain is bothering you. Just start using hops essential oil and enjoy the results!
12. Treats Insomnia
As mentioned above, hops essential oil exhibits sedative and soothing qualities. It is a perfect treatment for sleeplessness or insomnia. You can diffuse some essential oil before going to bed and enjoy a peaceful and deep slumber. When you wake up, you’ll be ready to take on the world!
13. Treats Menstrual Cramps
Hops essential oil’s soothing properties and sedative effect help ease menstrual cramps and pain. The sedative quality helps loosen the muscles and reduces pain. It can help you naturally overcome the discomfort during menstruation!
14. Improves Sexual Performance
Hops essential oil helps men enhance their sexual prowess. Hops essential oil helps extend your performance. It can help you effectively counter the problem of premature ejaculation. As hops essential oil has a soothing effect on the body, it helps desensitize certain vital elements that lead to premature sexual stimulation.
15. Alleviates Cough And Congestion
Usually, inflammation and irritation are responsible for most of the common respiratory disorders. Using aromatherapy with hops essential oil helps reduce inflammation and soothe the irritated parts of your respiratory tract. Thus, it effectively reduces coughing and congestion too.
16. Treats Headache
One of the most popular uses of hops essential oil is to ease tension and the symptoms of headache. The soothing and sedative effects help loosen the muscles of your shoulders and the neck while helping relax the mind and providing relief from mental conditions like paranoia and dementia. The soothing effect allows you to end your headache woes and helps you start your day with renewed energy!
How to Make Hop Oil
Hops essential oil is extracted from the dried buds and flowers of hops by steam distillation. The oil produced has a thin consistency, with colors ranging from pale yellow to amber. Its aroma is described as dry, rich, spicy, and floral.
Dosage of Hops Essential Oil
Due to a lack of clinical data, no standardized dosage has been set. As an essential oil, it is very concentrated and must be diluted in a carrier oil before use. Blend it with the essential oils of nutmeg, pine, spice, copaiba balsam, and orange.
Side Effects of Hops Essential Oil
Use this oil with caution as it is very powerful. It must be used in low, controlled dosage to avoid side effects such as stomach upset, frequent urination, nausea, dizziness, and headaches. It may also cause skin rashes or allergies to people who have sensitive skin.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding your child, avoid using this oil as it may have unknown harmful effects. More research is needed to fully determine the effects of the oil on the fetus and babies.
If you are taking medication, speak with a medical practitioner before use. It may interact with some drugs, which could prove fatal.
This oil must be avoided if you have a serious illness such as cancers of the breast, ovary, and uterine. Do not take this oil if you have a deep depression, as its sedative quality may exacerbate the mood and emotion. Hops essential oil must not be used for extended periods.
Hops essential oil is an inexpensive, yet very effective and natural way to get rid of skin problems. Add it to your daily routine for optimal results. Get a bottle today and begin your exciting journey towards more beautiful skin and hair.
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