Family Name: Cannabaceae                                                                                      Family Name: Hemp 

Latin Name:   Humulus lupulus L. 

Common Name: Hops Related Species: Cannabis sativa (only relative)

 Sense of the Plant: 

 Vivid Dream Trial by Loni and friends

I created a combination tincture of hops strobiles, their yellow resin, mugwort buds, salvia leaves and ground morning glory seeds using both white and brown Vinegar on October 25^th.  We ingested it around three weeks later on the 18^th and 19^th of November. First night 3 friends and I took 1 tablespoon tincture, a strong dose, with a strong tincture more than 40% plant material. Two of us ingested it in tea, one on salad, and another took it like a shot and drank tea after. We all noticed fluttering stomachs within a half an hour. We didn’t feel down or sleepy but a bit drunk and giddy actually. Vision became hazy, and we all became a little spacey and slow. Two hours latter we retired and dreamed vividly. The second night me and one other brave soul upped the anti and took two tablespoons in shot form. Increased upset stomach at first, then more haziness and a faster effect of drowsiness follows. That night when I turned out the lights I saw white, green, and yellow stroblight and light bright dot effects for what feels like 3 minutes followed by a mellow wave like vision. Each morning after taking the tincture we all expressed an ease of waking after the deep sleep. The second morning I felt a little slow for the first few hours of the day.

Here are other first person experiences with hops: 

Sleepy Hops by Clarknova   DOSE : 2 tsp   oral Hops (extract)I made an extract of hops in white vinegar. What I did was take a small glass jar and fill it with hops and then pour white vinegar over it (now I know that cider vinegar is better for extracts). Then I let it sit in the sun for a few days and store the jar for at least a few months. When the extract was ready, I strained the herb out and was left with an amber-colored, bitter liquid. The first time I tried the extract I took 2 teaspoons. I knew that hops is a relaxant so I took it before bedtime. At the time I took it I was feeling pretty anxious and jumpy, I wanted to sleep but was so full of nervous energy, I couldn't even sit still. Within 10 or 15 minutes, the hops took effect and I felt so relaxed, just absolutely free of tension and a bit sleepy, but mostly relaxed and good. I did get into bed and fall asleep and slept very deeply and easily and remembered having pleasant dreams. Now I use the hops extract occasionally if I have trouble getting to sleep. I only take about 1 teaspoon, and that is sufficient. I always sleep in a very relaxed, dreamy state, and I wake up with pleasant dreams and feeling good, if slightly groggy. I wouldn't recommend excessive use, however. Hops is a diuretic and after taking it a few days it will really flush my system, which is good occasionally. Drink plenty of water! Experience Year: 2003            ID: 25307

 Body System Affiliations:                                                                                                                                                                               1. Nervous System 2. Respiratory System 3. Cardio-vascular System 4. Digestive System 5. Reproductive System 6. First Aid 7. Skin

 Botanical Description:                                                                                                                                                                            Habit: Climbing perennial vine Size: 20-25 feet at least usually longer. Arrangement: Opposite, but singly and alternate sometimes high on vine. Leaves: Resemble grape leaves, some heart-shaped, hairy, some are oval 3- to five-lobed leaves having coarsely-toothed edges. Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate plants. Female flower apetalous used widely and described first as paired blooms on short spikes that mature into strobiles, a green thinly layered cone. The scales contain the yellow fruit and have red hairs and a sticky resin paired with a strong garlic like scent. As they age they brown. Strobiles range in size and density, 1-2 inches long roughly. Fruit: Achenes; very small, yellow hairs, inside strobiles of female plant. Underground Parts: rhizomatous Personal Observation and Description:  The humulus lupulus cascadia on my front porch has a wide variety of leave shapes, size and arrangement. Watching the growth over the summer was amazing. Depending on how sunny it was in a day our hops would grow noticeably longer sometimes 4-5 inches a day. In August hum lup slowed down and began producing strobiles by the hundreds. In October the flowers of our female cascadia hops vine dried and now in November only a few green leaves exist towards the end and middle of vine. Everything is turning brown.

 Ecology:                                                                                                                                                                                                         Habitat: Ranging from Boreal Wet through Subtropical Dry Forest Life Zones Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedgerow; North Wall By; East Wall ByRange: Suitable for temperate climates between latitudes 35–51°N and 34–43°S, with mean summer temperatures of 16–18°C.Native Where: Native to Europe and western Asia; now cultivated in North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia also. Naturalized in many areas.

 Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships: Food:  Hops have been used in English brewing since at least the 11^th century. The dried, female flowers are added to beer because they impart a pleasant taste and aroma. Hops also contain enzymes that coagulate excess unwanted proteins that cause beer to become cloudy. They also contain compounds that have antibiotic properties and help to prevent bacterial action and spoilage of beer. Hops are very important in the beer industry because they help to produce a clear, sparkling brew. Interesting enough hops contain a strong amount of estrogen so males who drink too much beer beware your libido is taking a beating.   Melaine and Bruce Morford, proprietors of the Windflower Farms in Washington harvest hop shoots destined for the kitchen, not the brew kettle. Many American homebrewers also grow hops in their backyards. After the hops become established, it almost becomes a necessity to harvest some spring shoots, as they spread so wildly. The Morfords have taken the harvest one step further, by preserving the harvested shoots in seasoned brine; thus, the hops shoots can be used like any premium pickled vegetable in a composed salad, or as a garnish.  

Hop Giardinara
4 ounces diced hop shoots
4 ounces water
1 ounce capers
4 ounces diced celery
4 ounces diced sweet onion
3 ounces diced red bell pepper
1 ounce chopped sundried tomatoes
1 tablespoon minced thyme
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Olive oil and lemon juice to taste

Method:
1. Steam the hop shoots in water, in a microwave-safe dish, heated on "high" setting for 4 minutes. Drain and let cool.
2. Blend the other ingredients, and stir in the hops. Yields 1 1/2 cups of crunchy relish, perfect for topping deli sandwiches or toasted cheese bruschetta.

Hops are considered a true culinary delicacy in Belgium. The Belgians use hops instead of asparagus in gratinee sauces. In one recipe hops is added to a basic creamy bŽchamel sauce, flavored with caramelized onions for sweetness. This is then poured over the hops shoots in a shallow casserole dish, and baked until tender. Young leaves can be eaten in salads. Use before the end of May. The leaves contain rutin.  Materials/Technology:  http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/cultivation/cultivation_growing-the-hallucinogens.shtml#HOPS [1]