Hops Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

As a calming and grounding oil, hops essential oil (Humulus lupulus) benefits include supporting rest, relaxation, and pain relief.

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Basic Hops Facts

Plant family: Cannabaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from from the female flowers (cones) of the hops plant. Also available as a CO2 extract, which may have different properties and safety considerations.

Aroma: Fresh and sweet with a somewhat sharp (bitter), earthy/herbaceous note.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle.

Is hops essential oil safe to use during pregnancy? No, according to The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.

Is hops safe for children? Consult a professional.

Main components: alpha-caryophyllene at about 37% and beta-myrcene at about 25.5%. Other components include beta-caryophyllene, gamma-cadinene, delta-cadinene, and alpha-muurolene.

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed., which notes some older aromatherapy sources state hops essential oil has estrogen-like properties. However, although the plant contains estrogenic substances, no evidence supports either their presence in the essential oil or a hormone-like activity in the oil.

Hops Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

Thriving Aromatherapist notes the following benefits and uses of hops oil:

• Promotes relaxation, eases physical tension, and reduces stress and anxiety. Diffuse the oil or add it to bathwater for a calming effect.
• Promotes deeper and more restful sleep. Diffuse a few drops in the bedroom before going to bed.
• Relieves pain, including headaches, muscle aches, and joint discomfort. Use hops in a massage blend for pain relief.
• Stimulates digestion and reduces symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and gas. Add a few drops to a carrier oil and gently massage the abdomen.
• Helps reduce inflammation and swelling associated with conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. Use in a massage oil or a warm compress.

Painless Dream Blend

• 1 ounce (30 ml) trauma oil
• 5 drops hops essential oil
• 3 drops copaiba essential oil (Copaifera officinalis)
• 3 drops mastic essential oil (Pistacia lentiscus)
• 2 drops coriander essential oil (Coriandrum sativum)
• 2 drops guava leaf essential oil (Psidium guajava)

Add essential oil drops to the bottle of trauma oil. Cap and invert to mix well.
Apply a small amount (nickel to quarter-sized) 30 minutes before bed.

This blend is intended for nighttime use but you can use it during the day if you don't experience drowsiness. Do not operate machinery or do tasks that require sharp thinking and reflexes until you see how the blend affects you.

This list of uses is compiled from The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy and The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition):

• Skin care: bruising, dermatitis, rashes, rough skin, ulcers
• Respiratory system: allergies, asthma, spasmodic coughs
• Digestive system: indigestion, dyspepsia
• Genito-urinary and endocrine systems: lack of periods, menstrual cramps and related problems, menopausal symptoms
• Nervous system: headaches, insomnia, nervous tension, nervousness, neuralgia, stress-related conditions

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Hops

Emotionally and energetically, this essential oil brings comfort during difficult emotional transitions and encourages motivation during times of anxiety, stress, and depression, according to Nature in Bottle. The stimulating and refreshing aroma also uplifts and relaxes, helping reduce fatigue and energize the mind.

Mental Clarity and Focus Blend

Use this blend when you need to feel calm, grounded, and alert. It also helps quiet the mind and supports sleep.

• 4 drops hops essential oil
• 5 drops spearmint essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 1-ounce amber glass bottle with coned cap

Drop the essential oils into the bottle. Add the jojoba. Cap and shake gently to blend. Apply to pulse points or behind the neck.

Source: Aromatics

Other Benefits of Hops

Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: Hops increases all three doshas. The taste is bitter and pungent and the aftertaste is pungent. The oil's energy is cooling and moisturizing. Tissues most affected are nerve, gastrointestinal, and kidney. The oil is indicated for fever, insomnia, and migraines.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Use hops essential oil for attraction spells, especially sexual ones, and also for spells that bind people together. Hops supports divination and element magic. This essential oil grounds energy after ritual and is useful for dreamwork related to healing, especially if you want to bring balance to your life. The oil is also associated with fertility, beauty, and determination.

Hops Essential Oil FAQ

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Photo Credit: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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