Hops

This is a member of the hemp family, and the female flowers are used in beer making. It also stimulates some hormonal activity; can suppress breast, colon, and ovarian cancer in test tube studies; and has been reported to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. It also is associated with antibiotic and anti-fungal activity. It has a long history of being used as a mild sedative for anxiety and insomnia. A study using 120 mg of hops combined with 500 mg of valerian showed an improvement in insomnia with effectiveness similar to Valium® family medications. It is considered to be very safe.³⁵

References

³⁵"Humulus Lupus," Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review, 8(2)2003.190 – 192.