How to Take Hops for Health
Hops are the female flower of Humulus lupulus (also known as the common hop) which is native to temperate climates. The shoots grow rapidly in the early spring and climb up whatever they can reach. The shoots die in winter, leaving the cold-resistant rhizome. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.
1
Read about the historical use of hops. The Greeks and Romans used it for indigestion and the Chinese treated leprosy and tuberculosis with it. When it was cultivated in Europe beginning in the eighth century, hops began to be used as a sedative.
2
Look at the results from modern scientific testing of hops. The light-yellow scales next to the fruit have a high methylbutenol content that evaporates quickly. Hops have been approved in Germany for insomnia but the concentration of methylbutenol provides a mild sedative effect at best.
3
Consider that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits advertisers to claim that hops has a calming effect.
4
Study the side effects of hops. Hops is be believed to be nontoxic, but some people may be allergic to it. Hops should not be combined with other sedatives without a physician's approval.
5
Take no more than the recommended dosage. The dosage range is 100 to 150 mg of a standardized extract one to three times per day.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2068081_take-hops-health.html
Hops are the female flower of Humulus lupulus (also known as the common hop) which is native to temperate climates. The shoots grow rapidly in the early spring and climb up whatever they can reach. The shoots die in winter, leaving the cold-resistant rhizome. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.
1
Read about the historical use of hops. The Greeks and Romans used it for indigestion and the Chinese treated leprosy and tuberculosis with it. When it was cultivated in Europe beginning in the eighth century, hops began to be used as a sedative.
2
Look at the results from modern scientific testing of hops. The light-yellow scales next to the fruit have a high methylbutenol content that evaporates quickly. Hops have been approved in Germany for insomnia but the concentration of methylbutenol provides a mild sedative effect at best.
3
Consider that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits advertisers to claim that hops has a calming effect.
4
Study the side effects of hops. Hops is be believed to be nontoxic, but some people may be allergic to it. Hops should not be combined with other sedatives without a physician's approval.
5
Take no more than the recommended dosage. The dosage range is 100 to 150 mg of a standardized extract one to three times per day.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2068081_take-hops-health.html
