Greetings!
Hops flowers are used as a calmative in many herbal blends for people and for horses. This is because they are very effective! Hops are used to make beer, of course, and in many stables, a bottle of dark beer was added to a warm mash for a horse who was anxious or had worked so hard he needed help relaxing that evening. If added while the wet mash was quite hot (before cooling to feed), the alcohol evaporated!
In herbology, Hops are used to relax the nerves, as an appetite stimulant (beer works this way because of the Hops), as a digestive aid to the gall bladder (horses do not have gallbladders), liver (without alcohol which is detrimental to the liver!) and to relieve gas - for these purposes, the flowers are steeped in water as an infusion, or tea; or are fed soaked in water, a small handful daily for a large horse for no more than 7 days (small amounts in treats and such can be fed longer).
Hops are not used for dogs because the herb can cause depression and the smaller size of canines predisposes them to this effect - hops are more potent for them. And because of this characteristic, Hops are not recommended for children nor for adult people who are depressed or suseptible to depression. If you drink beer and feel more "down" because of it, the hops are most likely the cause.
Hops have Phosphorus, Potassium, Vitamins C and B complex in high amounts. The tea for humans has been used for earaches, headaches, gas, itching, neuralgia, dizziness and insomnia.
I grew a wonderful big Hops vine by my front door on Furnace Street when I had the Zen Center. It started as a tiny twig from a seed catalog and made copious blooms that attracted beneficial insects and made soothing, fresh tea!
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
We wish you good health, good sleep and happiness!
Warmly,
