Hops

Figure 1. The Hop flower of the Humulus lupulus plant.

Hops are the flowers of the hop plant Humulus lupulus, a member of the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants.

Hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine. In beverages, they are used primarily as a bittering, flavouring, and stability agent. As a herbal medicine, compounds such as alpha acids, beta acids, essential oils, and flavonoids.

As a dietary supplement, Hops are commonly used in a way similar to Valerian to help with reducing anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. Hops may also be used for potential relief of menstruation-related problems due to some of its chemicals which seem to act similarly to the hormone estrogen.