If you like beer and know how it is brewed, then you must be aware of the plant “Hop”. Hops are the female flowers of the plant “Hop”. These herbs are used as a flavoring agent in beer and are the choice of every brewer to get the best taste and flavor in his beer. Hops were discovered in the early 11th century and were firstly used as a flavoring agent in beer, but later it was used in herbal medicines. Cultivated in many parts of the world, Hop plant has many different species, which are used differently. It has a strong aroma and a sour taste. But you need not drink beer to get the benefits of this amazing herb! There are other ways to use the goodness of hops for your health and beauty.
As an herb, it has been used to treat various skin related diseases. Some of the skin benefits of hops are:
Hop is a good source of anti-oxidant, which means that it helps the body fight against free radicals, giving the skin a radiant and youthful glow.
It may be a main ingredient in beer, but also used in various cosmetic products for skin treatments. The oils and minerals in the plant provide anti-inflammatory effect to the skin and is used to decrease the surface blood vessels.
As it contains anti-inflammatory properties, hop is used to treat leprosy. Although, it is not clear how hops helps in the treatment of this disease, but it is clear that its herbal properties make it a valuable source of treatment.
You must have heard or even used beer to wash your hair. Yes, beer is good for your hair because it contains hops!
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.
Hops has unlimited health benefits and some of the health benefits of hops are given below:
Hops is also used to treat insomnia. As it is related to the “cannabises” family, it is used as a drug for relaxing muscles and treating people suffering from anxiety.
Hops help in relaxing the aching muscles and body pain. Easily available, it is used in many pain killers.
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 help in the treatment of various ulcer causing bacteria.
Improving the digestive system, hops fasten the metabolism of the body. Person suffering from various digestive disorders can go for this herbal medicine.
The anti-inflammatory property of hops provides relief to 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.
As an herbal medicine, hops contain various essential oils, vitamins and minerals, which make it suitable for different uses. Some of the essential oils derived from hops are:
These oils have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which make them perfect for relaxing the body. Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C have anti-oxidant properties, which makes the immune system more active and less prone to diseases. Some chemicals naturally found in the body are also found in this herb, which help in balancing the functions of the body.
Though its main function remains in the beer industry, hops is slowly gaining ground as a medicinal herb. It is time we look into this wonder drug and all that it has to offer. That mug of beer can always wait!
Did you know about hops and its benefits? Have you ever tried it? Share your experience with us right below in the comments section.