Hops are the flowers (also called seed cones or strobiles) of the hop plant Humulus lupulus.They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though they are also used for various purposes in other beverages.
Hops are also used in herbal medicine in a way similar to valerian, as a treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.A pillow filled with hops is a popular folk remedy for sleeplessness, and animal research has shown a sedative effect.The relaxing effect of hops may be due, in part, to the specific degradation product from alpha acids, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, as demonstrated from nighttime consumption of non-alcoholic beer. Hops tend to be unstable when exposed to light or air and lose their potency after a few months' storage.
Hops are of interest for hormone replacement therapy and are under basic research for potential relief of menstruation-related problems.
In preliminary veterinary research, hops compounds are under study for potential activity against pasture-associated laminitis in horses.
