Hops Flowers whole (Humulus lupulus)

Long before anyone sold a sleep remedy, country people stuffed their pillows with hops, and it is said English kings slept on them too.

Origin & Traditional Use

Hops are the papery, cone-shaped flowers of Humulus lupulus, a climbing bine of Europe and western Asia. Their main use since the Middle Ages has been to bitter and preserve beer, and they were traditionally used in household herbalism for sleep.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Dream pillow: hops sewn into a small pillow, often with lavender or mugwort, and slept on for restful sleep and clear dreaming.
• Healing work: added to incense and sachets in work for wellbeing.
• Household calm: a bowl or bundle of hops kept in the bedroom to settle a restless house.

A Simple Working

• Set out a handful of hops, a pinch of lavender, a pinch of mugwort and a small muslin bag.
• Mix the herbs in a bowl, thinking of the sleep or dreams you want.
• Fill the muslin bag and tie it shut.
• Breathe on it and say what you want to dream of, or simply ask for rest.
• Tuck it inside your pillowcase.
• Squeeze it gently each night to wake the scent, and refill it monthly.

Pairs Well With

• Lavender for calm and sleep.
• Mugwort for vivid, prophetic dreams.
• Chamomile for peace in the house.
• Valerian root for deep rest.

Lore & History

Hopped beer reached England from the Low Countries in the fifteenth century, and for generations English brewers fought it, defending traditional unhopped ale. In Bavaria the purity law of 1516 named hops, barley and water as the only permitted ingredients of beer.

What You Receive

Whole dried hop flowers, available in 1 oz and 1 lb.