Hops
Humulus lupulus
1:16 Brandy based Spagyric of organic hop flowers, with plant salts added.
Planetary Ruler: Mars

Physical Properties*:
Hops can be used to balance symptoms of fire within a person who is overstimulated, it can treat nervous tension, insomnia, restlessness, neurodegeneration, indigestion, cramps, cystisis, fever, allergies, rheumatism, worms, pulmonary tuberculosis, coughs, acute bacterial dysentery, and headache. It contains a significant amount of plant estrogens that correct delayed or minimal menstrual flows that are due to estrogen deficiencies, it is also said to treat hardness and swelling of the uterus. Hops also contain 8-prenylnaringenin that can reduce vaginal dryness, and improve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes,  bone loss, and reduced sex drive.The hairs on the flower buds contain lupulin that is hypnotic, sedative and increases the flow of milk for nursing mothers. Hops are a bitter that stimulate and strengthen digestion by increasing gastric juices and other digestive secretions (ever notice why you get really hungry whilst drinking beer) – somewhat ironically certain constituents in hops can protect agains: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, age-created oxidative liver damage, and liver tissue scarring. Xanthohumol is one of these constituents found in hops, it can also improve heart health by relaxing blood vessels, reversing the build-up of triglyceride and cholesterol plaques, and reducing platelet activity. This chemical, along with isohumulones have been shown to reduce insulin resistance and blood sugar levels. The isohumulones have also been shown to aid in reducing pain signalling and inflammation.

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Emotional/Spiritual Properties*:
Hops helps those who strive to much in an individualistic way to come in to partnership, and communal effort with those around them and society at large. Hops can be used to dull or diminish an excess of Mars energy that is inspiring one to think that they must fight for success, and/or that their way is the ‘best’ or ‘only’ way. Hops entrains us in to cycles of giving and receiving that are free from the ego, rather, centred in a deep and tangible heartfelt appreciation of life’s abundance that is only natural. Hops will also enable over-givers to retract some of their over-extension especially when this unnecessary exertion is causing a drain for that persons energy levels. Hops inspires us to dance more gently with lifes natural ebb and flow of giving and receiving – dissolving beliefs of scarcity and lack. Hops can be used as a dream herb to bring peace to the dream realm, so as to wake calm, refreshed and optimistic.

Cautions/Contraindications:
-Alcohol: In combination with hops, alcohol can cause excessive drowsiness.
-Estrogen medications: Hops may interfere with estrogen medications, including (Premarin, ethinyl estradoil, estradiol and others).  
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450, 1A1, 1A2, 1B1 and 3A4 substrates): Hops may decrease how quickly these medications are broken down as well as increase their effects and side-effects: Some of these medications include: theophylline, omeprazole, clozapine, progesterone, lansoprazole, flutamide, oxaliplatin, erlotinib, and caffeine, clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil), chemotherapeutic agents (etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), glucocorticoids, alfentanil (Alfenta), cisapride (Propulsid), fentanyl (Sublimaze), lidocaine (Xylocaine), losartan (Cozaar), fexofenadine (Allegra), midazolam (Versed), and others.