Hop - This is not only a state of fun and intoxication, but also a plant that brings many benefits.
It is used both for the treatment of diseases and for the decoration of arbors, and also as a material for brewing.
Chemical composition
The plant contains: oil of complex composition (essential) - 3%, beige pigment, wax, organic acids, homulin alkaloid and leucoanthocyanins. Also in the leaves of hop there is ascorbic acid (about 174 mg).
Did you know? In Kievan Rus hops was considered the main symbol of fertility.
What is useful hops?
Useful properties of cones are used in the treatment of many ailments (for example, neurosis, insomnia, stomach ulcers, inflammation of internal organs, etc.). The benefits of hops for the body is the following facts:
- has a diuretic effect;
- rich in vitamins and minerals: vitamin C, B, potassium, magnesium and calcium;
- sedative and slightly hypnotic effect;
- analgesia, anti-inflammatory effect, removal of cramps;
- benefits to the digestive system, increased appetite due to bitterness in pollen;
- normalization of hormonal levels in women and help in the treatment of cystitis.
Rules for the use of cones
Hops are quite effective for the beauty of hair and skin, as well as for the treatment of many diseases. However, it is important to know the technology of brewing cones and how often they should be used. 
For treatment
Hop cones have healing properties that will be very useful for insomnia and headaches. So, the pillowcase of your pillow should be stuffed with dried hops and sleep on a pillow or put it next to it.
In case of joint diseases, hops also come to the rescue. It is necessary to boil a glass of water and add a spoonful of dried cones to it. Boil until the volume of water is halved. The broth should be drained and add 3-4 spoons of vaseline to one spoon of this liquid. This ointment can be used for joint pain and rheumatism.
Professionals also often add bumps to various medications and fees as a sedative in case of cardiovascular problems.
In addition to hops, in the diseases of the cardiovascular system, the following plants are also used: carrots, radishes, calendula, hawthorn (glod), silver fox, basil, eggplants, aconite, filberts, gumi (multi-flowered) and yasenets (burning bush).
Hops also contain elements that help the body metabolism (water, mineral and fat metabolism).
Homeopaths use hop cones with other herbs to cleanse and treat the urinary tract and kidneys.
Did you know? Hops - the closest relative of marijuana, but it is absolutely contraindicated to smoke.
For hair and skin
Hop cones are often used in cosmetology for the beauty of hair and skin. Appearance is extremely important for women, and it is hop that helps to achieve the best result.
For hair, this plant is often used in various shampoos and masks, because hops are struggling with hair loss, dandruff, dullness and many other problems.
Important! You should not put hops on dyed hair, because its use may undesirably affect the hair color.So, for greasy hair The following recipe will do: mix 2 tablespoons of yarrow, dried nettle, hops and horsetail and pour 1 liter of water. This broth should be rinsed hair after washing.
To make hair grow faster and stronger should be filled with boiling water fresh hops (10: 1) and leave for a day. Rinse the hair with this broth.
For face skin hops will also be invaluable. So, from it you can make masks, wipe and infusions. This plant is especially useful for aging skin, because hops have a rejuvenating effect.
For oily skin: Pour 2 tablespoons of dried hop cones per half liter of boiling water, let it rest for a couple of hours and strain. Apply this broth on the face and rinse with cool water after 20 minutes. The skin will become more elastic.
For fading skin You should mix a teaspoon of honey with half a teaspoon of olive oil and add 2 tablespoons of fresh cones to these ingredients. This mass should be applied to the skin for 10 minutes and rinse with broth. 
To nourish the skin It is necessary to mix a tablespoon of sour cream, chicken yolk, a teaspoon of honey and add 2 teaspoons of decoction of cones to this mass. Mix everything and apply on face, neck and decollete for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This mask will make the skin more elastic, supple and taut.
Enotera, dogwood, strawberry, radish, amaranth, watermelon, bird cherry, pineapple, thyme and apricot are also used in cosmetology.
How to collect hops?
For the collection are suitable those cones that have reached a certain maturity. Signs of plant ripeness are:
- smoothness and closeness of cones;
- golden green, instead of the usual green;
- the hops are sticky to the touch, and the scales are adjacent to each other;
- with a slight pressure, the cones immediately restore their former shape.
Important! It is important not to miss the time when the bumps are ready to be harvested, because if they perespeyut, then change their color to brown and lose many useful items. However, in a hurry with the collection is also not worth it.Collecting the harvest, each cone should be torn apart, while maintaining its integrity. For this you need to tear them together with petioles not less than 2 cm long. After the harvest has been gathered, it is necessary to immediately start drying the hops, because it spoils rather quickly.
Contraindications and harm
Hop, despite its beneficial properties, has certain contraindications. The main danger is that it absorbs toxins and heavy metals from soil and water. Thus, it is possible to use only that hop which grew far from the big cities, plants and industrial zones.
It is equally important to use the plant in reasonable doses, because there is a risk of harm to your body. So, using hops as soothing, you need to know the measure, because the consequences can be unpredictable. 
Do not get carried away and the smell of cones - If you inhale it too long, you can earn a headache, drowsiness and dizziness. Other side effects are possible.
To get involved in alcoholic tinctures based on hops is not good. Symptoms with their excessive use will not keep you waiting and will be very unpleasant for you. It is important to strictly adhere to the norm and in no case exceed it.
Important! If you drive a car or your job requires concentration, discard such tinctures altogether.
Often there is also an allergy to hop cones caused by the pollen of a given plant. Symptoms are similar to the usual allergies: runny nose, sneezing, red eyes. 
The medicinal properties of hop cones are often used in gynecology to treat women. However, it is worth noting that there are some contraindications.
The most important contraindication is pregnancy. In no case can take hops girls in an interesting position, because this may entail irreversible consequences. Also hop cones are harmful to nursing moms.
There is an opinion that with the help of this plant you can increase the breast. To some extent this has a scientific explanation, because hops contain phytoestrogens (female hormones) that can promote breast growth. However, they are only a favorable background and do not guarantee any result at all. But harm to the female body can be caused irreparable. Hormones that are in the bumps can lead to many undesirable consequences:
- growth of adipose tissue;
- vaginal dysbacteriosis;
- endometriosis development;
- problems with ovulation;
- irregular menstrual cycle;
- swelling in the body.
Did you know? This plant is instantly ignited due to the alpha-acids that it contains.
In general, hop is a beautiful plant, rich in many vitamins and minerals. It will be useful in the treatment of many diseases, as well as for the health of hair and skin. It is only important to know the measure and attentively to their health. The ideal option would be to consult a doctor before taking hops.
