Hops & better sleep

Humulus Lupulus belongs together with hemp to the small plant family Cannabaceae. These two genera are not only botanically related, but also share the same sedative properties.

The medicinal use of hops is described as far back as the Middle Ages, but the special use of hop cones (Lupuli strobulus) and the glandular hairs on the scales (Glandulae Lupuli) as a sedative and a soporific are more recent.

Humulus Lupulus contains numerous health-promoting chemical compounds that are naturally potent antioxidants. They destabilise the action of harmful free radicals and protect against the dangerous effects of oxidative stress on the body. Humulus Lupulus can thus protect the body against various oxidative stress-induced diseases and disorders.

Hop scientific research
In 1999, the research group of Prof Dr Denis De Keukeleire of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, published for the first time that hops contain the strongest phytoestrogen in nature, namely 8-prenylnaringenin, also called hopein, belonging to the class of polyphenols, more specifically to the subclass of prenylflavonoids. This revelatory and intriguing finding has now been confirmed by 5 independent research groups from Germany, England and Japan. 

Hops & insomnia
Humulus Lupulus has traditionally been used as a sleep aid. It is a sedative plant that fights insomnia and induces sleep. Humulus Lupulus increases the activity of GABA, which in turn helps a person relax. This sedative plant affects serotonin, a hormone involved in sleep regulation. Serotonin further activates melatonin, a natural sleep hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle (when you wake up and when you fall asleep). Humulus Lupulus thus promotes sleep induction.

Hops & Valerian
While hops by themselves have shown promise for relieving anxiety and sleep disorders, it could be even more effective when combined with an herb called valerian. This herb has a lot in common with hops. It also has a long history of use as an herbal treatment for insomnia. According to a review article published in Australian Family Physician, some scientific evidence suggests that valerian may help improve sleep quality when taken alone or in combination with hops.