Hops are a proven home remedy for better sleep. In this guide you will find out everything you need to know about the effectiveness, use and other tips for a healthy night’s sleep.
In addition to being used in beer, hops also have healing properties. As a herbal sleep aid, hop tea has a positive effect on sleep disorders .
In 2007, the perennial, which comes from Central Europe, was voted Medicinal Plant of the Year for its medicinal properties.
This article will teach you how to use hop tea as an aid to a good night’s sleep.
Index
How does hop tea actually work?
There is no dispute that hops are incredibly effective. The combination of the effective ingredients gives the hops or the hop tea a strong healing power.
Hop tea is particularly effective for:
- slight sheep disorders
- nervous conditions
- Anxiety disorders or problems staying asleep
Especially in conjunction with similarly strong herbal remedies such as valerian, lemon balm or passionflower, hops ensures ‘s a sleep-inducing effect.
Studies on the effectiveness of hops
I couldn’t find any studies on the effectiveness of hops as a natural herbal sleep aid.
However, a scientific arbit has looked at the effectiveness of a valerian hop extract.
The study carried out in Switzerland with around 30 patients showed that the evening intake of two tablets with a total of 500 mg valerian extract and 120 mg hops extract lead to faster times to fall asleep and better sleep quality after just two weeks .
You can find more information about this study here .
Hop tea as a herbal sleep aid
Sleep problems are mostly of a temporary nature. However, a little help from the pharmacy cannot harm nature to bring the sleep rhythm back into balance.
After all, good quality sleep and sufficient sleep are the basis for our body’s performance.
To counteract mild or occasional sleep disorders, it doesn’t always have to be medication, because nature has one or the other effective remedy ready for you.
One way to use the healing power of hops for better sleep is to use the hop tea.
Infobox : Herbal sleeping pills usually do not work overnight, so you will only notice a noticeable improvement in sleep quality after 2-4 weeks of regular use.
How is hop tea used?
Hop tea is available in its pure form and as a combination of several medicinal plants, such as valerian, lemon balm or passion flower.
There are two good reasons for combining hops with other plants:
- In its pure form, hop tea tastes slightly bitter
- The combination of the plants increases the effectiveness of the tea
You can get hop tea in its pure form & in high quality here * .
There are also special sleep teas made from hops and various other medicinal herbs, e.g. this sleep cure from sleepful * .
Tip : In order to fully exploit the effects of the hop tea, we recommend taking it about an hour before going to bed.
The preparation of the sleeping tea is very simple:
- Pour 200 ml of boiling water over a bag of hop tea or 1 teaspoon of hop blossoms / hop cones.
- Let it steep for 10 minutes and then enjoy, optionally sweeten with a teaspoon of honey.
Benefits of hop tea as a natural sleep aid
Many chemical sleeping pills have an unpleasant side effect that leaves you completely exhausted from bed the next morning.
Hop tea as a natural sleep aid is an alternative without these side effects.
In fact, if used for several weeks, hop tea can offer you many advantages:
- You fall asleep easier
- You sleep better through the night
- You get up in the morning fit and well rested
Possible side effects of hop tea
The hop tea usually does not cause any side effects. However, hops contain flavonoids that can change hormone production.
The ingestion of hops can theoretically influence the development of the breast, but the small doses contained in the hop tea are not sufficient.
There are times when some people are allergic to hops. Then the intake of the hop tea should of course be stopped.
If you have chronic sleep disorders, it is better to talk to a doctor instead of treating them yourself.
Which hop products are suitable for insomniacs?
Hops can be used in many different forms and, accordingly, can be bought in different forms. The best-known herbal medicine made from hops is hop tea.
In addition to the hop tea, you can also take hops in the following form:
- crushed as a powder in capsule form
- as a powerful extract in tablet form
- Dragee form or capsules
Benefits of coated tablets or capsules with hops extract
The taste of hop tea is not for everyone.
- An alternative to hop tea is to take the hop extract as coated tablets or capsules.
- You can find these products in any well-stocked health food store or online . Plant drugs that promote sleep do not always contain only hops.
During your research you will therefore surely find some products that combine many active ingredients.
An alternative: the hop pillow
Hop pillows are also suitable to increase the quality of sleep and make it easier to fall asleep.
The pillows are filled with hop cones. The essential oils of the hops are then absorbed by the body when inhaled at night.
The cozy sleep aid can be used for 4-6 weeks. Then the hop cones should be replaced.
Can I grow hops myself?
Real hops belong to the Cannabaceeae (hemp family) and can be safely planted in your own garden.
Hops thrive best in a sunny spot. You should also pay attention to a nutrient-rich soil.
For example, pots with a fertilized substrate or nutrient-rich soil are suitable. The plant forms underground rhizomes (shoots) in the soil, from which new shoots emerge every year.
Info box : The cones of the hops are mainly used for the hop tea. These cones grow on the female plants, while much smaller cones grow on the male plants.
95% of the hops grown in Germany are used for the production of the well-known hop drink – beer – and around 80% of the hops produced in Germany come from Bavaria.
The cultivation of the hop plant
The hop plant has a daily gain of up to 10 cm.
In order to thrive optimally, the hops need a constantly moist soil (no waterlogging) and a lot of nutrients. Simply observe the following tips when growing:
- Fertilize the plant in the pot weekly from early summer until flowering
- Water the plant sufficiently daily
- Prevent waterlogging
Caring for the hop plant
The hop plant can reach heights of four to eight meters. With a climbing aid you also support the growth of the hops. Because the young shoots hold on to the climbing aid with the help of their climbing hair.
The hops are winding to the right, so if you want to help your hop plant climb, you should tie it loosely around the climbing aid in a clockwise direction.
Tip : To increase the yield, it is best to tie up four vines per plant and cut out all other shoots. This increases the yield of cones.
At the beginning of winter, the above-ground parts of the plant die and do not have to be cut back. In the next year, new young shoots will sprout – even after longer periods of frost, by the way.
Fight aphids properly
If the hop plants are affected by aphids, we recommend that you do not use chemical means to control the unpleasant pests.
After all, you want to use the different parts of the plant (leaves and cones) to prepare the tea. Chemical residues on the plant are more likely to damage your health.
Tip : The best way to control aphids and other pests is to pour stinging nettle liquid over the plant. Nettle liquid manure does not leave any harmful residues.
The harvest of the hops
The hops are harvested at the end of August or September. You can recognize ready-to-harvest hops by the following characteristics:
- the aromatic scent of the plant.
- When you try to open a fruit, the yellow powder (lupulin) should be visible.
It is best to harvest hops on a day that is as dry as possible. Carefully cut off the hops’ cones and dry them in the sun or in the oven. The dried parts of the plant can be frozen or kept airtight.
You can of course use the freshly harvested cones for a fresh hop tea.
The different flavors of hops
Hops come in many different flavors. Of course, you have to find out for yourself which variety tastes best for you. You can choose between:
- Bitter hop varieties
- Aromahopfen varieties
- Special varieties
Other uses of the hop plant
Little is known about the use of the young hop shoots that sprout in spring.
The hop sprouts are tasty spring vegetables with a spicy, nutty note.
The sprouts are processed in a similar way to asparagus and are suitable for preparing a delicate hop soup, hop salad or hop vegetables.
Practical tips for a good night’s sleep
If you find it difficult to fall asleep in the evening and you want a more restful sleep, then consider the following tips:
- Use hop tea before going to sleep. It’s a great way to help your body fall asleep in the evening.
- Learn relaxation techniques that you can use during the day and counteract your sleep problems in the evening.
- Keep a sleep diary. There you can record your sleep rhythm, sleep problems and possible causes for several weeks and then evaluate them.
- Be careful not to drink coffee in the late afternoon.
- Don’t watch TV until just before you go to bed, switch off the TV programs in good time and allow yourself time to relax.
- Often the dinner that is still heavy in the stomach keeps us from falling asleep .
- Instead, enjoy a hop tea or prepare hop cones as a light salad and relax while reading an entertaining book.
Tip: Click here for the best sleep aids .
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.
