Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Healing with Hop
Those old brewers may have known what they were doing. Hop contains two chemicals (humulone and lupulone) that can kill bacteria that cause spoiling.
Infection Prevention - The bacteria fighters in hop also may help prevent infection. Hop is not a major herbal antibiotic, but for garden first aid, press some crushed flower tops into cuts and scrapes on the way to washing and bandaging them.
One study shows hop effective against tuberculosis bacteria, lending some credence to one of its traditional Chinese uses.
Sedative - For decades, scientists scoffed at hop’s longtime use as a sedative. Then in 1983, a sedative chemical (2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol) was discovered in the plant. This chemical is present in only trace amounts in the fresh leaves, but as the herb dries and ages, its concentration increases. If you use hop as a possible sedative, use dried, aged herb.
Digestive Aid - Hop may relax the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract. according to French researchers, supporting its traditional use as an antispasmodic digestive herb.
Women’s Health - German researchers claim hop contains chemicals similar to the female sex hormone estrogen, which may help to explain some of the menstrual changes in women hop pickers. Other studies dispute this finding. Currently, the issue remains unresolved.
Rx for Hop
For possible infection prevention and as a digestive aid, use the freshest hop you can find. For insomnia, use dried, aged herb.
To make an infusion, use 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 5 minutes. Hop tastes warm and pleasantly bitter.
Hop should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.