Hops essential oil : properties, uses, contraindications. Benefits and extraction process of hops essential oil.
Hops, botanically known as Humulus lupulus, is a flowering plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family and to the same order as nettles! It is a perennial plant that with its stems can reach a height of 7 meters.
The hop is a real discovery for the world herbalism and alternative medicine: to date in the hops have been identified over 1000 chemicals that are found in different quantities in the extracts such as essential oils and mother tinctures. Among the active substances of hops we mention bitter acids, prenylated flavonoids, flavonolic glycosides such as kempferol, quercetin, quercitrin, rutin and astragaline. It will include appreciable quantities of tannins that can reach or even exceed 4%.
How to use hops and its essential oil
If you have a hop cultivation, just pick a few leaves to make the most of the benefits of this plant: two cups a day of a herbal tea prepared by infusing 10 grams of dry leaves of the plant are enough.
The essential oil of hops is very fragrant and is recommended for aromatherapy in those environments intended for relaxation: even better in the bedroom as it has aphrodisiac properties.
The essential oil of hops is a very versatile natural remedy due to its calming and sedative properties is perfect to cure anxiety! Diluted in sweet almond oil it can create a massage ointment with an emollient effect. Diluted in avocado oil, hops essential oil can make a useful ointment in case of itching.
Side effects are rare but there may be interactions with tranquilizers and antidepressants, so you should consult your doctor before taking it.
Hops essential oil, properties
The essential oil of hops is extracted from the strobili by steam distillation. The color of hops essential oil varies from straw yellow to amber red.
The main properties of hops essential oil are:
- aphrodisiac
- emollient
- diuretic
- soporific
- sedative
- bactericidal
- astringent
- invigorating
- antiseptic
- antimicrobial
The steam distillation uses steam as a temporary vehicle to “extract” the active proncipi of hops, the final product in liquid form is a distillate obtained by the condensation of steam. Alternatively, the active ingredients of the hops are collected with the classic infusion and the use of a solvent, thus the mother tincture of hops is born.
Mother tincture of hops
The essential oil of hops is very rare and hard to find on the market. A valid alternative to essential oil is the non-alcoholic mother tincture. The mother tincture has a milder effect for topical use but it is also true that being less concentrated, it can be used more lightly: a contraindication of essential oils is that these substances are irritating and can never be used as well. Before use, an essential oil must be diluted 0.5 to 3% in another oily substance of a plant nature called carrier oil or carrier oil . With the mother tincture of hops you will not have to perform any precautions before use.
