As early as the middle ages hops were used for the aromatization of beer, being mentioned in literature since the 8. century.1) For medicinal purposes hops and their glands have been used only in more recent times. The medicinal use of lupulin was first suggested in 1820 by Ives,2) a New York physician.

Apparently the volatile oil of hops was first distilled from the glands in 1821 by Payen and Chevallier.3)