Phytotherapy · Menopause & Sleep Support · Cannabaceae

Hops

Humulus lupulus (Cannabaceae) — a perennial climbing herb cultivated for beer since the 8th century, whose female cones are used in phytotherapy for menopausal symptoms, nervous tension, and sleep. Its prenylated flavanone 8-prenylnaringenin is among the most potent plant-derived estrogens described, which defines both its promise and its precautions.

13 Primary Refs
6 Properties
Cones Parts Used
✦ Researched
Last Updated October 23, 2026
Primary Source Wikiphyto · NCBI PubMed · Maturitas Trial
Family Cannabaceae
Perennial Climbing Herb · Dioecious

Botanical Overview

Hops is a perennial, dioecious climbing herb with lobed, opposite leaves. The female flowers form greenish-yellow clusters (cones) of membranous bracts, which carry the orange-red lupulin glands that hold much of the plant's bitter and aromatic chemistry.

Life CyclePerennial
HabitClimbing, dioecious
Medicinal OrganFemale cone
Lupulin GlandsOrange-red
Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomy & Identification

Latin Name
Humulus lupulus L.
Family
Cannabaceae
Common Names
Hops, Common Hop, Houblon (French)
Parts Used
Dried female inflorescence (cone, or strobile)
Habitat
Temperate climates, including Alsace and across Europe
Regulatory Status
French Pharmacopoeia, list A
Ethnobotany & Traditional Use

History & Tradition

Hops has been cultivated for beer-making since the 8th century in Germany, and is grown today across temperate regions including Alsace and much of Europe.

In phytotherapy, the dried female cone is prepared as an infusion, mother tincture, or dry extract, and is listed in the French Pharmacopoeia (list A) as cône de houblon. A classic galactagogue herbal tea combines angelica, green anise, fennel, caraway and hop cones.

Modern research has centered on 8-prenylnaringenin and the estrogenic activity of hop compounds, and on clinical trials of hop extract for menopausal discomfort. 21211

⚠ Hormone-Dependent Conditions

Hops is strongly estrogenic and is contraindicated in mastopathy, a history of breast cancer, and hormone-dependent cancers. See Safety & Interactions.

Timeline

Brewing Cultivation

8th Century

Hops is cultivated for beer-making in Germany.

Phytotherapy & Pharmacopoeia

Traditional & Regulatory

Used for nervous tension, sleep, and appetite; the cone is listed in the French Pharmacopoeia (list A).

Estrogen & Menopause Research

2000s–2010s

Studies characterized 8-prenylnaringenin's estrogenic activity and tested hop extract in menopausal discomfort. 4512

The Key Compound

8-Prenylnaringenin — Deep Dive

The prenylated flavanone behind hops' strongly estrogenic activity, and the reason for its menopause research and its precautions.

🧬

Prenylated Flavanone (Hopeine)

8-Prenylnaringenin, also called hopeine, is one of several prenylated flavanones in hops and is described as strongly estrogenic. 245

🎯

Estrogen Receptor Alpha & Beta

8-Prenylnaringenin acts on both estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta. 24

🦠

Gut Microbiota Conversion

Gut microbiota can convert isoxanthohumol into 8-prenylnaringenin, and individuals differ in how much they produce. 86

🩸

Anti-Angiogenic Activity

In laboratory studies, 8-prenylnaringenin inhibits angiogenesis. 9

Pharmaceutical Preparations

Parts Used & Available Forms

The dried female inflorescence (cone) is the part used, prepared in three documented forms.

Herbal Infusion

Dried hop cones infused as a tea, alone or in a traditional blend.

Dried Cone

Mother Tincture

Liquid alcoholic extract of the hop cone.

Liquid Extract

Dry Extract (EPS)

Standardized dry plant extract, taken as capsules or tablets.

Dry Extract

Clinical Dosimetry

Dosages

No standardized usual dosage has been established for hops; dosing should be guided by a qualified practitioner. The traditional infusion is documented below.

Form Dose Frequency Context Notes
Infusion of Hop Cones 1 teaspoon per cup 2–3 cups daily Traditional herbal tea Boil 2–3 minutes, then infuse 10 minutes. Also used in a classic galactagogue blend with angelica, green anise, fennel and caraway, containing 20 g of hop cones.
Phytochemistry

Composition

Whole-plant composition and essential-oil profile; no gemmotherapy (bud) fraction is documented for hops.

Whole Plant (Cone) — Primary Constituents

FlavonoidsRutoside and quercitroside
Present
Prenylated Flavanones8-Prenylnaringenin (hopeine) and related compounds
Present
Prenylated ChalconesXanthohumol and isoxanthohumol
Present
Bitter AcidsHumulone (15–30%) and lupulone
Present
Essential Oil0.3–1% of the cone
Present

Essential Oil — Principal Components

β-MyrceneAbout 50% of the essential oil
Major
Sesquiterpenesβ-Caryophyllene, α-cadinene and humulene
Present

Plant Properties — Pharmacodynamics

Six pharmacodynamic properties are documented for hops, led by its sedative and strongly estrogenic activity.

6 Properties Sedative Estrogenic Clinical + Preclinical
😴

Sedative

Documented sedative activity, underlying the traditional use of hops for nervous tension and sleep.

🧫

Antibacterial

Documented antibacterial activity.

💊

Analgesic

Reported analgesic activity, described as opioid-mediated in mice. 1

🌸

Strongly Estrogenic

Via 8-prenylnaringenin, which acts on estrogen receptors alpha and beta; hop and red clover compounds have both been studied for estrogenic activity. 2457

🌡️

Hot-Flush Modulation

8-Prenylnaringenin influenced skin temperature in an ovariectomy model of hot flushes. 10

🩸

Anti-Angiogenic

8-Prenylnaringenin inhibits angiogenesis in laboratory studies. 9

Clinical Applications

Clinical Indications

Hops' primary use is menopausal symptom relief, with a long traditional role in nervous tension and sleep.

🌸
Menopausal Symptoms
Primary Indication
  • Hot Flushes: a core indication, supported by an ovariectomy-model study and clinical trials of hop extract. 101112
  • Sleep Difficulties of Menopause: documented alongside vasomotor symptoms. 13
😴
Sleep & Nervous System
Traditional Indication
  • Nervous Hyperexcitability & Stress: a documented traditional indication.
  • Nervous Insomnia: and symptomatic treatment of minor sleep disorders.
🍃
Digestive & Lactation Uses
Traditional Indication
  • Appetite Stimulation: a documented traditional indication.
  • Galactagogue Tea: hop cones form part of a classic herbal tea with angelica, green anise, fennel and caraway.
❓
Female Hirsutism
Explicitly Uncertain
  • Female Hirsutism (?): flagged with a question mark in the source literature, so this use is considered uncertain.
Pharmacodynamics

Mode of Action

Hops' effects combine estrogen-receptor activity from 8-prenylnaringenin with a suggested sedative principle derived from its bitter acids.

🌸

Estrogen-Receptor Activation

8-Prenylnaringenin is strongly estrogenic and acts on both estrogen receptor alpha and beta, with uterine-weight increases documented in rat studies. 45

😴

Methylbutenol as Sedative Principle

Methylbutenol, formed from humulone and lupulone, is suggested as an active principle behind hops’ sedative effect.

💊

Opioid-Mediated Analgesia

The analgesic effect of hops has been reported as opioid-mediated in mice. 1

🦠

Microbiota-Dependent Activation

Gut microbiota convert isoxanthohumol to 8-prenylnaringenin, so exposure to the more potent estrogenic form depends in part on an individual’s microbiome. 86

Clinical Safety

Safety & Interactions

Hops is strongly estrogenic and is contraindicated in mastopathy and in breast or other hormone-dependent cancers.

⚠️

Adverse Effects & Precautions

  • Strong Estrogenic Activity: 8-prenylnaringenin acts on estrogen receptors alpha and beta and increased uterine weight in rat studies. 45
  • Individual Variability: conversion of isoxanthohumol to 8-prenylnaringenin by gut microbiota differs between people. 8
  • Sedative Activity: given its documented sedative properties, practitioner guidance is reasonable when combining hops with other sedatives.
🚫

Contraindications & Regulation

  • Mastopathy: hops is contraindicated. 3
  • History of Breast Cancer: hops is contraindicated.
  • Hormone-Dependent Cancers: hops is contraindicated.
  • Regulatory Status: listed in the French Pharmacopoeia (list A) as the female inflorescence, cône de houblon.
Clinical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting hops, particularly if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or a personal or family history of breast cancer.
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hops used for?
Hops (Humulus lupulus) is used for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep difficulties, for nervous hyperexcitability, stress and nervous insomnia, for the symptomatic treatment of minor sleep disorders, and to stimulate appetite. Use in female hirsutism is flagged with a question mark in the source literature and is considered uncertain.
How does hops work?
Hops contains 8-prenylnaringenin, a prenylated flavanone that is strongly estrogenic and acts on both estrogen receptor alpha and beta. Methylbutenol, formed from the bitter acids humulone and lupulone, is suggested as a sedative principle, and analgesic activity has been reported as opioid-mediated in mice.
Is hops estrogenic?
Yes. 8-prenylnaringenin is described as a strongly estrogenic compound, with documented activity on both estrogen receptor alpha and beta and an increase in uterine weight in rats. Isoxanthohumol, another hop compound, can be converted to 8-prenylnaringenin by gut microbiota, and the extent of this conversion varies between individuals.
Can hops help with menopause symptoms?
Menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes and sleep difficulties, are a primary traditional indication. Two randomized trials of hop extract for menopausal discomfort, a pilot trial published in 2010 and a trial of a standardized extract published in 2006, are among the references behind this indication.
Can hops help with sleep and stress?
Hops has documented sedative properties and is traditionally used for nervous hyperexcitability, stress, nervous insomnia and minor sleep disorders. Methylbutenol, formed from humulone and lupulone, is suggested as an active principle.
What is the usual hops dosage?
No standardized usual dosage has been established for hops. A traditional infusion uses one teaspoon of dried cones per cup, boiled for 2 to 3 minutes and infused for 10 minutes, taken 2 to 3 times daily. Dosing of extracts should be guided by a qualified practitioner.
Who should avoid hops?
Hops is contraindicated in mastopathy, in people with a history of breast cancer, and in hormone-dependent cancers, because of the strongly estrogenic activity of 8-prenylnaringenin.
What parts and forms of hops are used?
The dried female inflorescence (the cone) is the part used. It is prepared as a herbal infusion, a mother tincture, or a standardized dry extract (EPS).
What is 8-prenylnaringenin?
8-Prenylnaringenin (also called hopeine) is a prenylated flavanone found in hops and is considered one of its key active compounds. It is strongly estrogenic, acts on estrogen receptors alpha and beta, and inhibits angiogenesis in laboratory studies.
Sources

Bibliography

↑1. Park SH, Sim YB, Kang YJ, et al. Antinociceptive profiles and mechanisms of orally administered hop extract in mice. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012.
PubMed: PMID 22802700 →
↑2. Chadwick LR, Pauli GF, Farnsworth NR. The pharmacognosy of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) with an emphasis on estrogenic properties. Phytomedicine. 2006.
PubMed: PMID 16360942 →
↑3. AFSSA / AFSSAPS. Sécurité et bénéfices des phyto-estrogènes apportés par l'alimentation — Recommandations. 2005.
↑4. Milligan SR, Kalita JC, Pocock V, et al. The endocrine activities of 8-prenylnaringenin and related hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavonoids. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000.
PubMed: PMID 11113416 →
↑5. Milligan S, Kalita J, Pocock V, et al. Identification of a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and beer. Reproduction. 2002.
PubMed: PMID 11866690 →
↑6. Bolca S, et al. Microbial and dietary factors associated with 8-prenylnaringenin producer phenotypes. Br J Nutr. 2007.
↑7. Overk CR, Yao P, Chadwick LR, et al. Comparison of the in vitro estrogenic activities of compounds from hops (Humulus lupulus) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). J Agric Food Chem. 2005.
↑8. Possemiers S, Heyerick A, Robbens V, De Keukeleire D, Verstraete W. Activation of proestrogens from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) by intestinal microbiota; conversion of isoxanthohumol into 8-prenylnaringenin. J Agric Food Chem. 2005.
↑9. Pepper MS, Hazel SJ, Hümpel M, Schleuning WD. 8-Prenylnaringenin, a novel phytoestrogen, inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Physiol. 2004.
↑10. Bowe J, Li XF, Kinsey-Jones J, et al. The hop phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin, reverses the ovariectomy-induced rise in skin temperature in an animal model of menopausal hot flushes. J Endocrinol. 2006.
↑11. Erkkola R, Vervarcke S, Vansteelandt S, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomfort. Phytomedicine. 2010.
PubMed: PMID 20167461 →
↑12. Heyerick A, Vervarcke S, Depypere H, Bracke M, De Keukeleire D. A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts. Maturitas. 2006.
PubMed: PMID 16321485 →
↑13. Goetz P. Le houblon dans le traitement de la ménopause. Phytothérapie. 2007.