StoninStanley
07-19-2006, 09:44 AM
It appears that hops were used in Babylon before 200 AD. Hops Latin name appears in records of Jews’ captivity in Babylon (hmmm religious people using cannabis herbs? NO WAY!). They mention sicera (strong drink) ex luplis confectam (made from hops).
Hops spread into Europe from Asia through Eastern Europe. The most consistent fact about the spread of hops is that in almost every country, the use of hops was resisted.
Hops are a distant relative of stinging nettle and cannabis. This is a major reason for the relaxing effect of hops. They have been used for insomnia since their earliest mention in literature.
Here is a Family Tree of the Familia Cannabinacea Family
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5072&d=1153321805
It is interesting to note the similarity in effects here. I like to think of hops as "cannabis light" haha. It's really not though and should be thought of as a useful herb in it's own right, but is an accurate description of its effects.
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5073&d=1153322357
Here is a picture of hops plant. Similarly to cannabis hops has male and female plants. As is usually the case with cannabis, only the female is used in brewing and medicinal use.
The most available source of hops is in beer. Domesticated brews of beer, such as every beer made by Anheuser-Busch and Coors and whatever else kind of beer that tastes more grainy than bitter.
Hops is added twice during the brewing process. I'm no brew expert but I know that it is used to control bitterness, flavor and aroma. Now on to medicinal use...
Hops is used for a variety of things and is viewed as a panacea of herbs among some herb enthusiasts. A very common use is as a sedative, a muscle relaxer. It also has hypnotic qualities apparently in high does. Use hops for your nerves - much better than benzos and much much safer. It's great as a sedative.
If you are going to use hops medicinally its best to use the fresh herb of course, but it is more likely you'll be able to obtain the elixir in which it is present. If you are going to use a beer, the beer with the most hops in it that you will find is Samuel Adams, the boston lager. Supposedly a whole pound of hops is used in each barrel of beer, as opposed to the normal American 1.6 ounces (see watching TV does teach you something! lol). It is VERY evident that this beer is full of hops flavor when you taste it. The problem with this method of ingestion is that the alcohol is unavoidable. However you should be able to achieve the desired hops effect with as little as 1 or 2 beers with this beer.
If you happen to get the fresh herb then a tea might be made, but it would be bitter as hell....I mean really bitter. Total nastieness. You can smoke the herb, it too would be somewhat unbearable. The best way is to extract the essential oils (much like hashish) and use them. I have no idea how to do this but if I learn how I'll be sure to post it.
The best way to see the difference between alcohol effects and hops is to drink 1 (or maybe 2) budwiesers or coors or something, then drink 1 or 2 sam adams the next night. I did this and on the sam adams I seriously felt tired as hell - not really buzzed from the alcohol but just a hell of a lot more relaxed. Smoked a couple of joints with it and my eyes were redder than hell and sticking to each other lol
Be safe though, everyone has a different body and hops will effect everyone differently. Alcohol is a deadly addictive drug so stay away from it if you can and don't take hops habitually to achieve its full potential. :sodrunk: :alky:
Peace out.
:trust:
:cheers:
:share:
Hops spread into Europe from Asia through Eastern Europe. The most consistent fact about the spread of hops is that in almost every country, the use of hops was resisted.
Hops are a distant relative of stinging nettle and cannabis. This is a major reason for the relaxing effect of hops. They have been used for insomnia since their earliest mention in literature.
Here is a Family Tree of the Familia Cannabinacea Family
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5072&d=1153321805
It is interesting to note the similarity in effects here. I like to think of hops as "cannabis light" haha. It's really not though and should be thought of as a useful herb in it's own right, but is an accurate description of its effects.
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5073&d=1153322357
Here is a picture of hops plant. Similarly to cannabis hops has male and female plants. As is usually the case with cannabis, only the female is used in brewing and medicinal use.
The most available source of hops is in beer. Domesticated brews of beer, such as every beer made by Anheuser-Busch and Coors and whatever else kind of beer that tastes more grainy than bitter.
Hops is added twice during the brewing process. I'm no brew expert but I know that it is used to control bitterness, flavor and aroma. Now on to medicinal use...
Hops is used for a variety of things and is viewed as a panacea of herbs among some herb enthusiasts. A very common use is as a sedative, a muscle relaxer. It also has hypnotic qualities apparently in high does. Use hops for your nerves - much better than benzos and much much safer. It's great as a sedative.
If you are going to use hops medicinally its best to use the fresh herb of course, but it is more likely you'll be able to obtain the elixir in which it is present. If you are going to use a beer, the beer with the most hops in it that you will find is Samuel Adams, the boston lager. Supposedly a whole pound of hops is used in each barrel of beer, as opposed to the normal American 1.6 ounces (see watching TV does teach you something! lol). It is VERY evident that this beer is full of hops flavor when you taste it. The problem with this method of ingestion is that the alcohol is unavoidable. However you should be able to achieve the desired hops effect with as little as 1 or 2 beers with this beer.
If you happen to get the fresh herb then a tea might be made, but it would be bitter as hell....I mean really bitter. Total nastieness. You can smoke the herb, it too would be somewhat unbearable. The best way is to extract the essential oils (much like hashish) and use them. I have no idea how to do this but if I learn how I'll be sure to post it.
The best way to see the difference between alcohol effects and hops is to drink 1 (or maybe 2) budwiesers or coors or something, then drink 1 or 2 sam adams the next night. I did this and on the sam adams I seriously felt tired as hell - not really buzzed from the alcohol but just a hell of a lot more relaxed. Smoked a couple of joints with it and my eyes were redder than hell and sticking to each other lol
Be safe though, everyone has a different body and hops will effect everyone differently. Alcohol is a deadly addictive drug so stay away from it if you can and don't take hops habitually to achieve its full potential. :sodrunk: :alky:
Peace out.
:trust:
:cheers:
:share: