Hops is considered to be soothing to the stomach, an appetite stimulant (due to the bitter taste), slightly sedative, a sleep aid, and diuretic. A popular way of using hops as a sleep aid was to stuff a pillow with the fruiting bodies, moistening them slightly before bed to prevent them from rustling and keeping an insomniac awake! A poultice of hops was used to relieve pain of rheumatic Joints and a tea was taken to relieve muscle spasms and soothe the nerves.

By the early twentieth century, it was a mainstay of heart disease treatment. Still widely used in Europe and Asia, it is less frequently recommended in America.

In European phytomedicine, hops preparations are used to relieve mood disturbances, such as unrest and anxiety, and for sleep disturbances. Hops are also prescribed for nervous tension, excitability, restlessness and lack of sleep, and to stimulate appetite. It has been recognized since Medieval times that hops could be used as a sedative. During these times, people observed that hops pickers tired easily, apparently as a result of an accidental transfer of hops resin from their hand to their mouth.

Hops is a strong stimulant for the entire digestive system as it increases gastric and other secretions and relaxes spasms. Its antispasmodic action makes it useful for certain types of asthma and menstrual pain. It has sedative properties but as yet, the way they work is not completely understood. It relaxes smooth muscles and is believed to have an estrogenic effect. As some of hops constituents depress central nervous system activity. The ingredient that is believed to impart this sedative property is alpha and beta bitter acids and 2-methyl-3-butanol. Per The Lawrence Review of Natural Products, the alpha acids contain humulone, cohumulone, and adhumulone.

Per the German Commission E List, hops is used medicinally for mood disturbances such as restlessness, anxiety, as well as sleep disturbances.

Hops is listed in both The Lawrence Review of Natural Products, as well as the Pharmacists Letter natural products database, as possibly effective for restlessness.

Neither The Lawrence Review nor The Pharmacists Letter document any interactions between hops and any drugs, medical conditions, or lab tests.

This herb should NOT be taken by people with a history of or current depression, however mild.