What is hops: description of the plant, growing characteristics, useful properties, application

What is hops? This is a very useful plant used in brewing, medicine and landscape design. Not everyone knows how to use it. In this article, we will talk about how hops are useful for the body, give some useful recipes for its use. We will also learn about how to drop him at home or in the garden, what are the rules for the care, collection and storage.

Hops plant: description

Many people know that this plant is used in brewing. But not everyone knows what hops look like.

There are three types of hops:

• Ordinary.
• Japanese.
• Heart-like.

For production, only one type is suitable - ordinary. Our article is dedicated to him.

1. This is a climbing plant, the stems of which reach a length of 5-7 meters. They are all covered with spikes resembling hooks.
2. Hop leaves are large, five-lobed, with strong petioles.
3. He has two types of flowers - female and male. The second is like panicles. Each flower has several stamens on long stamens. They are needed for the production and distribution of pollen. It is very light, spreads to a distance of three kilometers. Female flowers form those healthy buds that make hops so appreciated. Their scales are underdeveloped leaves. In the bosom of each is 4-6 flowers, consisting of their pestle and sepals.
4. What is hops? This is a long-lived plant that reaches the age of 20 years or more.

Hops are widespread. It is found in the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Eastern Siberia, as well as in the CIS countries located in the European part.

Planting hops and growing them is possible in any field. This plant is not afraid of either frost or heat, tolerates drought and rain, indifferent to the dustiness and pollution of the environment. You can plant hops both on the garden bed and on the balcony in the apartment. We will tell about how to grow a hops plant further.

The benefits of hops

The rich chemical composition of common hop makes it an extremely useful plant for the body. Use it for the preparation of medicines, decoctions for various diseases. They also make drugs that are good for the skin and hair from hops.

We offer a detailed review of the benefits of this plant:

1. Phytoestrogen is a very valuable plant hormone found in hops. They use drugs from this plant for women, since they affect the stabilization of their hormonal levels. Hops are useful to use during menstrual irregularities (to normalize), during painful cycles, after childbirth, when hair loss and skin problems begin due to hormonal imbalance, and menopause - to normalize the condition.
2. If you suffer from insomnia, it will be hop that will help return a good sleep, as it is endowed with soothing properties.
3. Hop - a sedative natural remedy. It is used to relieve stress and anxiety in the treatment of mental disorders.
4. This plant is used to increase appetite, to normalize digestion, and for inflammatory processes in the digestive tract.
5. What is hops? This is a natural antispasmodic. It is able to reduce any kind of pain, as it not only relieves the spasm itself, but also blocks the sensitivity of nerve endings.
6. The plant is also useful for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Hop extracts are available in many formulations designed to prevent a heart attack, as well as to relieve it.
7. The plant benefits the kidneys and the entire genitourinary system. Hops are used for urolithiasis, for the prevention of stone formation, as well as for pyelonephritis, cystitis, nephritis.
8. Hop benefits hair, awakens and stimulates the bulbs, strengthening them. The plant has a strengthening effect on the hair structure.
9. In cosmetology, hops are used due to the presence of antioxidants and other skin-friendly components. Hop-based products accelerate the regeneration of skin cells, help in the fight against facial and age wrinkles.

Contraindications

Everyone needs to know that hops are not only very useful, but also a poisonous plant. Even a small overdose can lead to the most undesirable consequences, such as headache, nausea, an allergic reaction. There are a number of conditions in which the use of hops is completely contraindicated:

1. Individual intolerance. Hops should not be started immediately. First you need to do a test. If there is intolerance to any substance contained in the hop, it can manifest itself as a banal urticaria and anaphylactic shock.
2. Impaired renal function.
3. Pregnancy. In no case should you use hops to ladies in an interesting position. The fact is that during pregnancy, the hormonal background is reconstructed, and hops normalize it, which can lead to both uterine bleeding and the death of the baby in utero.
4. You should also not use hops during breastfeeding, because toxic substances can enter the baby’s body with milk. If you have postpartum problems with hormones, hair loss and more serious consequences, when the use of hops can really help, then give up breastfeeding for the time of treatment.

Next, let's talk about how to grow a hops plant on your site or on the balcony. In apartment conditions, many plant this plant as a decorative decoration, because hops are very beautiful.

Balcony conditions

If you want to grow hops on your loggia, you will need to purchase large pots (volume of more than 15 liters). The roots of the plant are large, they need space. If there is not enough space for the roots, then the hops will grow stunted, will not be as decorative as we would like.

How many stems, how many supports there should be, for which the plant will cling in the future. Some install figures made of wood or aluminum wire. Wrapping around them, the plant creates real masterpieces.

Water the hops in pots once every two to three weeks, more often it is not required.

Care for hops in the fall on the balcony is simple. You need to remove the cones, cut the plant, removing all dry shoots, and wrap the pots in a dense cloth, leave them on the balcony or put them in the pantry, after watering. The light should not fall into the pots, it will be necessary to water the earth once a month and a half. As soon as the snow melts, you can open the pots and water. From the balcony at night it will be possible not to remove them, since the plant tolerates frosts well.

Soil quality and site selection

Under natural conditions, hops like shade. He chooses ravines for growth, hides behind tall plants and bushes. However, on the site you will need to choose a sunny place for it. The plant loves the soil fertile, rich in humus. Here are some rules for planting a seedling:

1. To land, choose a site on the south side of the house. Between plants it will be necessary to put support, provide good drainage.
2. PH requirements: 6.5 to 8.
3. You need to dig holes at a distance of a meter from each other. They should be 30-40 cm deep. First you need to pour sand into the planting pits, then compost and fertile soil.
4. Rhizome is the underground part of the creeping stalk. It needs to be deepened by 6-10 centimeters. The roots should look down, and the rhizome itself is laid out horizontally.
5. Tamp the ground, water, sprinkle with mulch (hay or straw).
6. The first shoots appear after 2 weeks, but they should be cut so that the plant forms strong new shoots. Once the stems reach a length of 40 cm, they need to be tied to a support.
7. Hops grow quickly, so they need nitrogen-based fertilizers. It is not necessary to feed the plant, but it is desirable. If you notice that the leaves of your hop have started to fade, you need to make fertilizers.
8. The plant is watered, without waiting until the soil dries. Do not allow stagnation of water, water only under the root, without falling on the foliage.

The root system of hops can tolerate even the most severe winters. Pruning can be omitted in autumn. The aboveground part will die, and you can remove it in the spring. Rhizome will continue to develop underground. If you are afraid that the roots will freeze, cover the plantings with hay, and in winter throw snow.

Hop collection and storage

Harvesting is a simple matter. It is very important to create the correct storage conditions. If this is not done, the plant will lose its beneficial properties. How to dry hops at home? Consider the basic rules:

1. Only female inflorescences, that is, cones, can be collected and used.
2. Some recommend waiting until they turn yellow, but in this case, the raw materials will not be so useful. The collection is made at the peak of flowering. You need to collect this light green cones. At that time, they had already gained useful substances.
3. Harvesting usually occurs in mid-August. To do this, choose a dry and sunny day. Raw materials are collected after dinner, when dew has already dried on the hops.

How to dry hops at home? Spread cloth or paper in a dry, warm, well-ventilated area. In one layer, you need to place the cones on the canvas and leave them for a period of 7 to 10 days. Next, pour the cones into fabric bags and store them in a dry, warm room. Shelf life is 2 to 3 years.

Consider how to use hops.

Insomnia control

Everyone knows that it is better to use natural raw materials than synthetic drugs. If you have trouble sleeping, hops will help. How to use? There are two ways:

1. Choose from the collected cones yellow and yellowish. They are not suitable for preparing decoctions (you can specially leave the buds overripe on the plants). Fill the pillow with such cones, but mixed with fluff, or other soft material, since it is impossible to sleep on cones alone. You will breathe in essential oils and nutrients, and in the morning wake up awake. You can also make sachets and fill them with hop cones.
2. Brew a teaspoon of cones in a glass of boiling water, cool, drink half an hour before the end. Such an infusion will help you fall asleep quickly, you will not wake up at night.

Hair loss, dandruff

If the problem of hair loss is very acute, hops will help. Rinsing the hair with a decoction from this plant will strengthen the roots, prevent hair loss, accelerate their growth, and relieve dandruff. This plant is so useful. The use of hops for hair is as follows:

A liter of boiling water will require a tablespoon of cones, all this is placed for 4 hours you are a thermos. Next, strain the infusion and use it for its intended purpose. They should rinse their hair after each shampoo. In three weeks, the state of hair will be much better.

Gastritis, colitis

In case of gastric diseases, it will be necessary to drink 50 ml of hop infusion for two weeks before each meal. How to make an infusion?

1. In 250 ml of boiling water, brew a tablespoon of raw materials.
2. Allow to infuse for at least 3 hours, then strain.

Reception is not recommended beyond the indicated period, as there is a threat of intoxication.

Cystitis

Hops will also help relieve inflammation and reduce pain in this disease. But it is worth remembering that the use of a plant-based drug provides benefits only in complex treatment with medications. You can’t refuse the doctor’s prescriptions, as this is fraught with complications.

1. In a quarter liter of boiling water, brew a tablespoon of cones, cook in a water bath for 10 minutes. Then strain and cool, take the entire course of treatment at 50 ml 4 times a day.
2. Take a teaspoon of hops, chamomile and bearberry, brew a glass of boiling water, soak under the lid for two hours. 50 ml should be drunk three times a day.

Liver, gall bladder

For treatment and restoration of organs take 30 ml of infusion three times a day. There is only one condition: for half an hour after taking the infusion, you can not even drink water. Not observing the condition, you will not achieve a positive result.

1. For 500 ml of boiling water, you need a tablespoon of hop cones.
2. Brew in a thermos or in a jar, but wrap it tightly with a blanket.
3. Infuse the remedy for 4 hours.
4. Strain.

For skin

Acne is tormenting, often boils, urticaria, allergic redness, redness after deep cleansing? Hop can handle it all!

1. Brew a tablespoon of cones in half a glass of boiling water.
2. With a strong infusion, you can wash your face or wipe it with your skin by moistening a cotton pad in it.
3. To eliminate bags under the eyes and fight wrinkles, you can use face wash or wipe the skin with ice cubes from such an infusion.

Conclusion

What is hops? It is a gift of nature itself for our health. But you need to approach it carefully, because excessive consumption of any product is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Observe the recommended proportions and dosage.