Hops are one of the most important economic plants due to their relationship to the production of beer.
The bitter substance (lupulin) of the refined hops is important for the shelf life and the spicy flavour of the beer. Wild hops, such as those found here in damp bushes, in river meadows and along fences, have too low a lupulin content to be used in beer production.
However, hops, both cultivated and wild, have been utilised in herbal medicine since time immemorial, especially the flowers and fruit. Young hop shoots are an invigorating soup seasoning. The old herbalists recommended hop shoots for spleen and liver constipation, jaundice and chest catarrh. Leaves and flowers have healing powers against dropsy. They are boiled in wine and a small liqueur glass of this decoction is drunk three times a day. Hop cones, mixed with sage, make an effective tea against kidney and bladder stones, jaundice and dropsy, bedwetting and severe pollutions and as a sedative.
Fresh, crushed hop leaves make effective compresses for bruises and tumours. A pillow stuffed with hop leaves brings good sleep to people for whom other remedies fail.
Flowering time: May;
Collection time: Hop shoots in spring ;
Flowers in May;
Hop cones in autumn
Comments