Other Names: Common Hops • Humble Vine • Beer Flower • Lupulin Plant
✨ Energetic & Astrological Profile
Element: Water
Phase of the Moon: Waning Moon
Zodiac Signs: Aligns with Pisces, Cancer, and Virgo. Brings peace to Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo.
Planetary Rulers: Venus, Saturn
Tarot Associations:
🌙 The Moon – calming fear and illusion
🍷 4 of Swords – rest, restoration, sacred pause
🌿 Queen of Cups – intuition, emotional nurturance
💤 The Hermit – introspection, retreat
🌍 Habitat & Sensory Nature
Native To: Europe, Western Asia, and North America; often found growing along hedgerows, forest edges, and wild fields.
Flavour Profile: Bitter, slightly aromatic
Temperature: Cooling
Humidity: Slightly moist
Tissue State Support: Hot, irritated, tense
🧬 Phytochemistry & Herbal Actions
Constituents:
Lupulin (bitter resins) • Humulone • Xanthohumol • Essential oils (myrcene, humulene) • Flavonoids • Tannins
Primary Actions:
Sedative • Nervine • Hypnotic • Antispasmodic • Bitter tonic • Anti-inflammatory • Antibacterial • Estrogenic
💊 Medicinal Benefits
Hops is your herbal lullaby. It’s a classic for soothing frayed nerves, calming an overactive mind, and supporting deep, natural sleep — without the grogginess of synthetic sedatives.
🌿 Nervous System:
- Eases insomnia, especially when paired with Valerian
- Calms anxious, racing thoughts and tension headaches
- Balances mood swings linked to nervous exhaustion
🌿 Digestive Health:
- As a bitter tonic, it stimulates digestion and bile flow
- Supports the gut-brain connection, especially when stress affects digestion
🌿 Hormonal & Menstrual Support:
- Mildly estrogenic — helpful in balancing menstrual irregularities or easing PMS symptoms
- May assist in easing hot flashes and mood fluctuations in menopause
🌿 Topical Use:
- Poultices made from hops have been traditionally used to reduce local inflammation and pain (think swollen joints or tension in the temples)
🧘 Emotional & Energetic Benefits
Energetically, Hops is like that friend who hands you a hot water bottle, dims the lights, and tells you to breathe. It works especially well for folks who can’t "switch off" — the perfectionists, the overthinkers, the always-on folks.
If you're someone who’s tense but exhausted, or emotionally fried but still restless, this plant offers sanctuary.
It teaches the body to let go — to soften, to rest, to trust the stillness.
🌙 Ritual & Spiritual Applications
- Dream pillows: Hops is famous for inducing vivid dreams. Add to a sachet and place under your pillow to journey deeper.
- Baths or smoke blends: for release of tension and emotional clearing
- Moon rituals: especially during the waning moon, when rest and reflection are needed
This is a plant that helps you access your subconscious. It whispers secrets in your sleep and brings clarity through dreams.
Child-Friendly Use
⚠️ Not typically recommended for young children due to its sedative and hormonal effects.
For teens dealing with stress-related insomnia or anxiety, Hops can be used under guidance in mild preparations, such as a tea blend with Chamomile and Lemon Balm.
Contraindications
⚠ Avoid in cases of depression, as its strong sedative effect can deepen low moods.
⚠ May interact with sedative medications — use with care.
⚠ Use caution if experiencing oestrogen-sensitive conditions.
🧪 Dosage & Preparation
Tea: 1–2 tsp dried Hops cone per cup of water. Steep 10–15 mins. Best used in the evening.
Tincture (1:5): 10–30 drops up to 3x daily, or 1 hour before bed
Pillow Sachet: Dried Hops sewn into fabric, used under pillows to support sleep and dreamwork
Infused Oil: For massage on tense shoulders or temples
🛒 Shop This Herb
Coming soon — hand-blended Hops tea infusions and dream sachets to help you melt into your own rhythm of rest. Sign up for the newsletter and be the first to know when it lands.
🔮 Daz’s Diagnosis
When someone tells me they can't sleep — not because they're not tired, but because their mind won't shut up — I reach for Hops. It’s like a hush that wraps around your nervous system. Not forceful, just firm. Like a mum tucking you in and saying, “No more scrolling. Lights out. You’re safe.”
She’s not flashy, but she’s reliable. She knows how to soothe, soften, and slow you down — exactly what so many of us need.
Disclaimer: The information shared in these plant profiles is intended for educational and inspirational purposes only. The uses and properties described are based on traditional knowledge, folk practices, and historical sources. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner or clinical herbalist before using any herbs, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a health condition.
