What is Hops used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses Hops have been used for centuries to flavor and preserve beer. The bitter, aromatic taste of beer mostly is due to the hops content. Hops extracts also are used for other flavoring purposes in the food industry. Hops pickers have reported sedation during harvest, and hops flowers have been added to pillows for relief of nervous conditions. Sedative Hops often is included in combination with valerian in sleep aids. Observation that hops pickers experienced sedation has prompted investigation. There are no clinical studies to validate this use. Phytoestrogenic Estrogenic effects also were observed in evaluation of hops extract for the treatment of menstrual symptoms. There are no clinical studies to validate this use. Other uses Hops bitter acids have substantial effects on metabolic enzymes. A comprehensive evaluation of components of hops as a cancer chemoprentative found that it warranted clinical investigation because it had distinct activities at the
