Herb - Hops

Research shows that hops may naturally improve sleep quality, especially when taken as an herbal tea for sleep. Getting adequate amounts of deep sleep is key for mental and physical health. 

In a study involving non-alcoholic beer, hops content was found to improve sleep quality in 17 healthy female nurses. Along with its sedative effects, the hops was also found to decrease anxiety levels. 

In another study involving 120 individuals, researchers discovered that a herbal compound containing hops, jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) helped to improve sleep quality. After administration, the time spent asleep increased, while sleep onset and nocturnal awakenings decreased. The compound also reduced irritability and fatigue.

In another trial using an herbal compound, 184 participants with mild insomnia were administered hops and valerian tablets for 28 days. Results showed an overall improvement in sleep quality and no recurring symptoms after the tablets were discontinued.

A variety of animal studies have shown that hops and its active constituents have a relaxing effect on the body and will improve sleep quality. The studies also show that hops decreases the time it takes to fall asleep and increases the total time spent asleep. Nighttime awakenings were also reduced. 

Additionally, government health organizations such as the Commission E, British Herbal Compendium, ESCOP, and German Standard License recommend hops (taken internally) for supporting restlessness and sleep disorders.

Summary:
Traditional knowledge, modern research, and herbal authorities indicate that hops and its active constituents have sleeping-inducing and sleep-improving properties. While there are a number of human and animal clinical trials to support this claim, isolated clinical trials on hops would be helpful in understanding its full potential.

Hops, often associated with brewing beer, have sedative properties. Taking hops as a supplement can help reduce anxiety and promote restful sleep.

A 2012 study examined the effects of hops on healthy female nurses working rotating and/or night shifts, assessing their sleep and chronobiological parameters after drinking non-alcoholic beer containing hops with dinner for two weeks.

Sleep latency diminished and anxiety decreased with the addition of the non-alcoholic beer containing hops.

Taking  oral hops extract in combination with valerian root extract seems to be  modestly beneficial in patients with insomnia. However, the effect of  hops extract when used alone is unclear.

In  patients with diagnosed sleep disorders, taking hops extract in  combination with valerian root for at least 28 days seems to be  beneficial. One clinical study in adults with mild insomnia shows that  taking two tablets of a combination product containing a total of 83.8  mg hops extract and 374 mg valerian root extract nightly seems to  modestly improve subjective sleep measures, including sleep latency,  when compared with placebo, after 28 days.                                                            

 Likely Safe  when  consumed in amounts commonly found in foods. Hops extract and hops oil  have Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (4912).                                                             

Possibly Safe   when  hops extract and hops-derived bitter acids are used orally and  appropriately for medicinal purposes, short-term. Hops extract has been  used with apparent safety in doses of up to 300 mg daily for 2-3 months.  Hops-derived bitter acids have been used with apparent safety at a dose  of 35 mg daily for 3 months (12, 55338, 55370, 102899, 105953, 107813).                                                             

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:   Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.