By Laura Murphy
This weeks Herbal Highlight: HOPS
Owner/ Head herbalist, Laura, wildcrafting hops in Morrison, CO
Common Name: Hops
Latin: Humulus Lupulus
Family: Cannabaceae
Hops, a plant related to cannabis, is known for its sedative properties. It is commonly used in beer as a flavoring and stability agent, providing bitter, zesty, or citric flavors. Additionally, it is used in other beverages and herbal medicine for various purposes.
Farm workers often reported feeling excessively sleepy after handling the plants' catkins, which led to its reputation as a sedative. The golden resin, lupulin, found in hops strobes, is believed to be responsible for this effect. Due to its intense bitter flavor, hops is often combined with other herbs that are relaxing and stimulating, such as Valerian root, to help ease into sleep by quieting the mind from anxious and restless thoughts.
Hops can be consumed via tincture, sipping, or smoking, with you guessed it, smoking being my favorite way to connect with hops. However, it is not recommended to smoke them on their own due to their high-pitched nature, which can send too much energy to your head.
Since marijuana and hops are in the same family of plants, they share similar taste and smell properties due to their terpenes, such as myrcene, beta-pinene, and alpha-humulene. However, it's important to note that hops does not produce psychoactive results. Some people have experimented with vaping hops and describe it as exhaling a pure hoppy flavor with hints of juniper, berry, and pine, which is thick, citrusy, and full.
Safety: Hops is generally regarded as safe; however many hebalist find that because hops is a depressive it is best avoided in depression. The sedative action of hops may potentiate the effects of alcohol or other sedatives.
Recommended Herbal Smoke Recipe:
Marshmallow leaf, mullein, catnip, lavender, California poppy, hops
Recommended Cannabis Strains
you can find at your local dispensary to match:
OG Kush
Headband
Candyland
Interested in blending your own herbal smoke/ or tea?
Loose herbs available on site.