Hops (the Latin name Humulus lupulus) - is a perennial climbing plant family Konopleva, reaching a height of about three to six meters and is native to Europe, Asia, the US, New Zealand and Australia. The most beneficial for the growth of hops river valleys, ravines and moist deciduous forests. On the rough located opposite the stem dark green lobed, rough leaves. Male and female inflorescences of hops are on different plants. Male inflorescences form on the stems loose panicle length of seven to fifteen centimeters from the inconspicuous greenish-white small flowers, but of no interest to the pharmaceutical industry.

For therapeutic purposes, only female plants are grown hops. They form dense capitate inflorescences collected from a false spike of flowers, the so-called "bumps." During flowering bump looks slightly elongated bulb at the base of the leaves, yellowish-green color. Cone contains lupulin (yellow pollen) - a bitter substance, which gives him drunk tonic qualities. Lupulin contains up to three percent of the essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? Fifty to seventy percent of the resin composed of bitterness. Apart from a soothing, choleretic and hypnotic action, lupulin has high antibacterial activity. Collect hop cones in late August, just before they are fully ripe, so the collection is not transgressed their glandular scales.

The use of traditional medicine

Dried hop female inflorescences have long been used as a sedative Sedatives - take valerian and be happy?   when excited, insomnia and mild depression. The sedative action of hops is due to content in it metilbutenola, substances which inhibit the activity of the central nervous system. In addition, hops is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties, so the ointment on the basis of the hops are used for the treatment of venous ulcers and nonhealing wounds, and in Chinese medicine hops are used for bites of poisonous snakes and scorpions.

Formulations hops reduce stress smooth muscle in blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract, as well as significantly lower blood pressure and increase the flow of urine. Metilbutenola In addition, the plant also contains a large number of different flavonoids, bitter, volatile oil and other useful substances, of which special mention should be humulone and lupulon that stimulate the production of gastric juices, thereby improving digestion.

According to some, hops helps to prevent the formation of new blood vessels, and is a natural anti-cancer agent, that is, prevents growth and reproduction of cancer cells.

The positive effect of hop preparations on metabolic processes, and especially on the regulation of lipid, mineral and water metabolism. Due to the content of phytoestrogens (plant analogue of the female hormone estrogen), hops has a stimulating effect on the menstrual cycle (this is the use of hops was known in ancient Greece and Rome), and in combination with other herbal remedies helps to increase breast.

Female inflorescences of hops extract is used in the treatment of leprosy, tuberculosis of the lungs and acute bacterial dysentery. Poultice of leaves and hop cones used to eliminate "cold" tumors, and ointment based lupulin helps in the treatment of cancerous ulcers. There is an opinion that hops reduces sexual desire, promotes sweating, is effective as an analgesic and diuretic.

In addition, hops (thanks asparagine - aspartic amino acid amide) is effective in the treatment of abscesses, bruises, gallstones, cystitis, malaise, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fever, convulsions, hysteria, inflammation, jaundice, neuralgia, rheumatism and toothache Toothache - itself does not take place .

Dosage and Administration

The standard dose of hop products (tablets and capsules) of 500 mg. As a sedative and hypnotic agents are advised to take herbal tea hop: two teaspoons of riding with hop cones pour 0, 25 liters of boiling water and aged about fifteen minutes. The infusion of hops received from the calculation: twenty drops to a glass of water three times a day for treatment of nervous disorders or ten drops of water five times a day, to improve digestion. The recommended dose range of commercial preparations of hops, so they should be taken under medical supervision.

Precautions for use of hops

Although hops has a sedative effect, it is not recommended to give infants and children. Also hop is contraindicated for people suffering from depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood   and taking antidepressants and sleeping pills, including carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, alprazolam, diazepam, Ambien, diphenhydramine, doxepin and nortriptyline.

Since hops has diuretic properties which may affect certain liver enzymes, it is not recommended for people taking prescription drugs such as Allegra, Sporanox and Nizoral, etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, lovastatin, and oral contraceptives. The combination of hops with other herbal remedies, has a calming effect (Varian, St. John's wort, kava kava, and others) can cause excessive sedation.

On the safety of hops with prolonged use, little is known. Before applying for hops treatment and prevention of any disease, consult your doctor and discuss the potential risks and benefits.

Produced by bees propolis - a unique substance that nature gave us. Propolis treat various diseases in ancient times, it was used to strengthen the immune system Strengthening the immune system - help the immune system   and recuperation after a long illness. There are many recipes for its preparation and use both internally and externally.

What is propolis

Propolis or bee glue - it sticky resinous material which is formed in the body of a bee in the processing of adhesives, assembled with its spring unblown buds of trees. Under the action of enzymes in the body of the bee gets a unique product that has found broad applications in medicine. Bees also use propolis for its own purposes: they caulk cracks in their hive, creating there a special microclimate. Essential oils contained in propolis, the inhabitants of the hive protect against pathogens.

The extent of the value of propolis depends on what areas were hives. If there were a lot of trees, the propolis is particularly useful, as it contains beneficial phytochemicals. If the hives are located in, the starting material may bees collect oil paint, industrial resins, etc. - A propolis is much less useful.

Collect the propolis, scraping the walls of his hives. Each hive annually collects up to 100 or more grams of nutrients.

Chemical composition

Propolis is a sticky dough is greenish-yellow and burning taste, which eventually thickens and becomes solid. Useful properties of propolis are stored for a long time, including after heat treatment. Propolis can be dissolved in hot ethanol and, after special processing - in water or oils (plant and animal).

The composition of propolis include:

• waxes, resins, essential oils - have antiviral, antibacterial and wound-healing effect;
• terpenes - hydrocarbons produced from resinous trees and some plants belonging to the essential oils Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? They have pronounced fungicidal properties;
• flavonoids - bioactive substances with antimicrobial and wound-healing effect;
• organic acids (benzoic, cinnamic, etc.) - they also kill bacteria and can reduce pain;
• tannin (tannin) - have astringent and anti-inflammatory effects, promotes tissue repair;
• amino acids (tryptophan, leucine, cysteine, methionine, histidine, arginine, tyrosine, alanine, lilizin et al.) - the basic building element of vegetable and animal proteins;
• vitamins A, E, B group - they actively affect the metabolic processes in the human body;
• minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, silicon, selenium, fluorine, cobalt and others) - are part of the human tissue cells.

Medicinal properties of propolis and its use in medicine

Propolis has many useful properties. It destroys viruses, bacteria, fungi, has anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, analgesic, anti-tumor and atioksidantnymi (prevents aging of cells) properties, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and cartilage of the joints.

Propolis negative characteristics is that it contains a substance capable of actively sensitized body, i.e. increase the sensitivity to a foreign substance causing allergic reactions repeated administration. In addition, it contains irritants can cause the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of various lesions.

Treatment of propolis is a part of apitherapy (treatment bees and bee products). It is taken orally in diseases of the stomach, cardiovascular diseases (eg, myocardial infarction - it promotes the resorption of scarring in the heart muscle), to strengthen the walls of blood vessels in their increased fragility, to normalize blood clotting process (eg, varicose veins Varicose veins - the operation is inevitable?   and thrombophlebitis).

Outwardly propolis used in the treatment of skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, etc.), wounds (including suppurative), burns and frostbite. Propolis rinse the mouth with inflammatory diseases periodontal tissue, buried in the ears when otitis, washed with an aqueous solution of conjunctiva in purulent diseases and burns. When a cataract propolis helps to restore the normal transparent lens of the eye.

Propolis is a part of many drugs, because it increases the permeability of the skin, which enhances the effects of other drugs.

How to cook

Propolis can be prepared in the form of aqueous, alcoholic and oily solutions:

• alcoholic solution of propolis: two tablespoons (crushed solid propolis hammer, wrapped his previously in a napkin) propolis pour 10 tablespoons vodka, insist in a dark place for 10 days, strain and take 15 drops to a quarter cup of milk twice a day for colds and gargle for chronic tonsillitis (at the rate of 15 drops to a quarter cup of water);
• propolis oil solution: a teaspoon of crushed propolis pour 100 ml of vegetable oil is heated in a water bath Sauna and health: the benefits and harms of bath procedures   30 minutes, strain, applied externally.

Propolis - an amazing natural substance has excellent medicinal properties. Nevertheless, it is better to use prescribed by a doctor.

Galina Romanenko