Dream pillows have been used for centuries. By using a blend of specific herbs and flowers one is said to be able to experience vivid and meaningful dreams as well as receive relief from nightmares. Today we acknowledge the research that proves the smell of herbs, flowers and essential oils can have a positive effect on our ability to relax, mental health, and our dreams.
Historically, babies were often given small pillows filled with herbs to help calm them or to ease crying during the bedtime hours. They have also been called sleep or comfort pillows, and they were filled with relaxing herbs.
The scent of the herbs in these dream pillows will not be as strong as a potpourri, it will definitely be more subtle. The hope is that they will promote a more restful sleep and ward off bad dreams. If you, or someone you know, has trouble sleeping when traveling, bring a dream pillow with you to as a sleep aid.
Variety of Herbs Useful for Dream Pillows
- Anise – Repels nightmares, but be sure to use sparingly.
- Calendula – Used to induce restful sleep.
- Catnip – Increases restful sleep. Especially good for babies and children.
- Cedar – Repels bad dreams.
- Chamomile – Used for relaxation and pleasant dreams.
- Hops – Aids in restful sleep and healing.
- Jasmine – The dried flowers are useful for romantic and erotic dreams, especially for women.
- Lavender – These flowers have the ability to ease stress, soothe, and relax. A simple pillow made only with lavender can be simply perfect.
- Lemon Balm – A known for it’s ability to reduce anxiety and insomnia. Also valuable for relieving headaches and stress.
- Mugwort – Protection.
- Mullein – Guards against nightmares.
- Rose petals – Adds loving and peaceful thoughts to dreams.
- Rosemary – Repels bad dreams, but use sparingly due to the strong scent.
Creating Small Pillows
If you are handy with a sewing machine you can easily make small pillows or sachets from various fabrics or you could even make animal shapes that are stuffed with your own herb mixture to give as gifts for children. You could also sew these easily by hand with a simple stitch.
To make a dream pillow, I prefer to use muslin. Begin by cutting 2 identical sizes of fabric. I like these pieces of muslin to be 5″ by 5″ (Although any size will do. It’s a matter of preference). With the wrong sides of the material (if there are any) together, stitch down 3 of the sides to the depth of 3/4″. Turn the little sachet inside out so that the seams are now on the inside. Begin filling your sachet with your own herbal mixture or fill it with my favorite recipe below. Once filled to your liking, complete the pillow by stitching the fourth side by hand.
Dream Pillow Recipe – For Peaceful Sleep
– 1 part lavender flowers
– 1 part rose petals
– 1 part chamomile
– 1 part mugwort
– 1 part hop flowers
– 1 part cedar tops
– a small amount of rosemary
Directions: Combine all herbs in wooden or glass bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Fill small, hand-sewn pillows with enough of this herbal mixture. Note: Be sure not to overfill. The sachet should go unnoticed slipped inside the pillow case.
Tips:
-Dream pillows help you drift off to sleep naturally. Simply insert a dream pillow inside of your pillow case.
-If using dream pillow with babies, you should place the pillow under the crib sheet to avoid a choking hazard.
-The herbs in the pillow will maintain their scent for years. You may want to store them in plastic bags when you are not using them to maintain the scent longer.
-Organically grown flowers and herbs are preferred for dream pillows.
-A few herbs you may want to avoid, secondary to their ability to cause frightening dreams and/or headaches, include: artemisia, bay laurel leaves, Russian tarragon, sage leaves, tansy, and vetiver root.
I’m planning to give these as Christmas gifts this year! What homemade gift projects do you have going on?
I purchased all of the dried herbs used in this recipe at a little local bulk herb store. However, I usually order from Mountain Rose Herbs. I trust their quality and appreciate their customer service!
Sources:
-http://www.witchs-brew.org/dreams/pillows.html
-http://www.klru.org/ctg/resource/Article/Dream_Pillows/
Holiday Travel Solutions: Rosemary & Lavender Calming Spray
I love this idea. I always put a little lavender EO on my pillow at night, but this would be a great idea.
Very interesting! Thank you. 🙂 I'm just now delving into natural healing and your website is most helpful.
Those look lovely! I think I might make these for my yoga class…and of course, one for myself!! 🙂
What a wonderful idea. I am actually just starting to get into all these natural and frugal products and am wondering where you might buy your herbs from? I plan on growing mine next year, but would like to know where I could buy them until them. I live in Ontario and am not really sure where to start.
Thanks!!
Mountain Rose Herbs has a good store for herbs.
I never knew that before. I wonder if you could have something like that for a baby to snuggle with when they're all worked up, even if not just for their bed.
Thanks so much for sharing:)
Your site is so wonderful! Seriously, everytime I come here there are more things added to my 'to do' list. I would love it if you would link this up to Spa{ahhh} Sundaze ( http://www.projectpossessed.com/2011/11/27/spaahhh-sundaze-yoga-for-digestion-part-2/ ). 🙂
Thank you for your personal invite to the party. Now I am going to have a snoop around. It looks like there are some great ideas here. Cheers
Oops lol That comment before was for the linky party. This is for you. This is a wonderful idea. We were just talking about how they used to make pillows stuffed with hops. I think I may make one for my hubby. Could help him with his insomnia. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. I just had to pin this!
I so need one of these!! great idea!! pinning!!
Would love it if you could share this on my link party at http://www.serenityyou.blogspot.com
Natasha xxx
Hi, Andrea,
I love this post! It appeals to me on many levels. I have a link-up on Wednesday, and I would like to invite you to join in. It is called 'Encourage One Another'. I like your blog and think it would be a practical encouragement to others. I'm at Deeprootsathome.com starting at MN tonight (hopefully)! Thank you for considering this 🙂
What an interesting idea! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for linking your great post to FAT TUESDAY. This was very interesting! Hope to see you next week!
Be sure to visit RealFoodForager.com on Sunday for Sunday Snippets – your post from Fat Tuesday may be featured there!
http://realfoodforager.com/2011/11/fat-tuesday-november-29-2011/
Another great post! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Wildcrafting Wednesday! 🙂
~ Kathy @ Mind Body and Sole
Question? Why use anise sparingly? What is the problem with using too much ==> just in case I do . . . 😉
@Jen Great question! Because it has such a strong smell. To much would be to stimulating:)
How gorgeous! I envy the recipients of these beautiful pillows.
This is such a good idea. Of all the things I think of making, never thought of this. My daughter had a lavender lamb pillow when sh was young, I used to love to nap with it. i am gonna give this a try.
Thanks!
Just a question- you recommend mugwort but then say at the end to avoid the use of artemisia due to its possibility of causing bad dreams and headaches in some. I was taught that mugwort is a species in the artemisia genus (artemisia vulgaris). Are you referring to a different species of artemisia (wormwood, sagebrush)? Thanks!
I was reading that Mugwort and Artemisia are the same thing. Could you comment on that? I am confused because you have Mugwort in the recipe but you have Artemisia as one of the Herbs NOT to use? Thanks so much!
Cool idea. I’m going to do this since I have a 40 foot by 40 foot herb garden I planted a few years back. One thing that confused me was you didn’t recommend using Artemesia but have mugwort in the recipe. The most common form of mugwort is Artemisia vulgaris. Did you realize this?
Sure wish I had known about this in late ’03-early ’04 when my daughter was dealing with horrible colic for 12 weeks! Crying, non-stop, from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, every.single.night.for.3.months. I still have nightmares about that…maybe I should make one for myself! LOL