Hops is a deciduous, climbing, perennial plant with a natural
distribution throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It requires a certain
latitude for successful growth, however, limiting its range in Europe to
Germany, Great Britain and Poland and Idaho, California, Washington and
Oregon in North America.
For centuries, this herb has been used as a digestive aid and sleep
inducer respectively enjoyed as a bitter tonic or in a fragrant herb
pillow to rest the head upon. The qualities of the herb are due to the
presence of polyphenols, which also lend their bitter principles to the
production of beer.
