Tools for Natural Living

What type of dreams do you desire? Soothing, vivid, full of adventures or romance, or do you wish for deep, calm slumber? Simple to prepare, sewing aromatic herbs into small pillows can help bring peaceful sleep, enhance dreams, and encourage dream memory. The practice of placing herbs under one’s pillow dates back centuries, and was originally done to protect against evil, calm bad dreams, foresee the future, bring good dreams, or conjure a lover into one’s life. No matter the reason, herbal pillows are beneficial for adults, children, and pets.

 

To prepare an herbal pillow, first select a piece of fabric, preferably cotton or another natural fiber.  This is the perfect opportunity to use leftover fabric scraps, vintage pillowcases, bandanas, or scarves. Wash and dry the fabric, and cut it into whatever shape you wish. Squares and rectangles are simplest, but you can also sew whimsical animal pillows for children and other fun, inspired forms.  Next create a blend of sleep or dream inducing botanicals from the lists below or craft your own mixture with fragrant herbs that you find especially calming, relaxing, or that evoke nostalgic, pleasant memories.  With the right sides of the fabric together, stitch along the edges, making sure to leave an unsewn space along one side. Once finished stitching, flip the pillow out through the unsewn space, and fill with your herbal blend. Finish the pillow by sewing the open area shut. For a sewing-free option, use cotton muslin bags or scraps of fabric tied tight with twine or yarn.   Sleep and dream pillows can be tucked inside, under, or next to pillows where they will emit their fragrance throughout the night.

 

Sleep Pillows

 

Sleep pillows are great for all ages and for those who have a difficult time falling asleep.  For a blend that encourages deep sleep, blend any of the following organic herbs:

 

Catnip: Relaxing, helps bring deep sleep.
Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, and said to keep bad dreams away.
Hops: Relaxing and brings peacefulness.
Lavender: Soothing, relaxing and eases headaches.
Lemon Balm: Relieves stress, anxious and nervous feelings, insomnia, stress, and headaches.
Rose petals: Brings warmth and love.
Rosemary: Traditionally used to bring deep sleep and keep away bad dreams.
Sweet Marjoram: Calms restlessness and nervousness.

 

Dream Pillows

 

Dream pillows are for those who want to enhance their dreaming or who wish to remember their dreams.  To create a blend that encourages dreaming, blend any of the following organic herbs:

 

Catnip: Relaxing, helps bring deep sleep.
Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, and said to keep bad dreams away.
Cloves: Brings warmth and an exotic feeling to dreams, add only 2-4 per pillow.
Hops: Relaxing and brings peacefulness.
Lavender: Soothing, relaxing and eases headaches.
Lemon Verbena: Uplifting, used to add “lightness” to dream blends.
Mugwort: Greatly enhances lucid dreaming and helps with remembering of dreams.
Peppermint or Spearmint: Enhances clarity and vividness in dreams.
Rose petals: Brings warmth and love, may be used to evoke romantic dreams.
Rosemary: Traditionally used to bring deep sleep and keep away bad dreams.

 

Pet Blends

 

Yes, you can make pillows for your favorite furry friends too!  Not only will the aroma appeal to your pet, but these herbs are also known as natural flea deterrents.

 

Cats:  Catnip, Chamomile, Pennyroyal, Valerian – These herbs have a fragrance that cats enjoy, plus they help deter fleas.

 

Dogs:  Eucalyptus, Lavender, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Thyme, Wormwood – Dogs like the aroma of these herbs and they help keep fleas away.

 

Sweet dreams!