Insomnia, dream pillows.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Sleep Problems: HELP !!!
From: bojangles.teaminfinity.com (Chris Webber)
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 94 20:14:00 -0500

I am having great difficulties getting to sleep, and as a consequence, wake up very late. I know this conference is about herbs but I thought I would ask as there might be some sleep experts frequenting here. I feel like something is bothering my subconscious and this is why I cannot sleep. Any suggestions ?

From: mildew.math.toronto.edu (Andrew Schwartz)

>I am having great difficulties getting to sleep, and as a consequence,

My favourite serious herb for insomnia is hops. I used it while writing my thesis (when life seemed to be falling apart and it seemed reasonable to expect such horror). Best to steep it in a closed container for about 30 minutes, then drink warm. Tastes horrible (also good for the liver). The smell itself (sort of nice I think) is claimed to help also- can stuff pillows with it.

For less serious relaxants, try chamomile tea, or warmed up catnip infusion (steep catnip tea in a sealed jar for 6-8 hours). (I'm very fond of the catnip, but must needs be careful to keep it from felines).

If however you feel your problem is emotional and you have time to deal with it now (one can't always be emotionally sound), might be preferable to try a pre-sleep relaxation exercise instead. Eg., lie in bed, and mentally go over the nerves/muscles from feet up, feeling the tension and trying to release it by breathing/relaxing. As one does so, should also feel emotional aspects, and try to do same there too. This perhaps vaguer, but if one can pinpoint one's problems, then they're neither subconscious nor so hard to deal with. (rosemary by the way a nice herb to take (warm from well sealed container (the aroma is very pleasant but fragile)) to give a sense of security and emotional well-being).

happiness
mildew

From: erik_ramberg.smtp.esl.com (Leigh Allen)

> My favourite serious herb for insomnia is hops.
> For less serious relaxants, try chamomile tea, or warmed up catnip infusion
> If however you feel your problem is emotional and you have time to deal with it now (one can't always be emotionally sound), might be preferable to try a pre-sleep relaxation exercise instead.

I also prefer chamomile and hops - valerian, skullcap and passionflower all make me feel "drugged" in the morning (they are quite strong).

The problem with using any drug (including herbs) to help you get to sleep, is that you won't be dreaming much, and if you are going through something "subconciously," that you need to figure out, dreams are a great place to start. A pre-sleep relaxation, as suggested, may also make you more open, subconciously, to start dealing with possible anxieties, problems, etc., that your conscious mind doesn't want to, or know how to, deal with.

Good luck!
Leigh Allen

From: ZEINEJOHNSONDS%DFYC.dfmail.usafa.af.mil (Satin Zeine-Johnson)

>The problem with using any drug (including herbs) to help you get to sleep

Ah, but consider this - a Dream Pillow can stimulate dreams as well as helping you sleep. Put in Anise seeds to get rid of nightmares, specifically. The last set I made had orange blossoms, anise seed, mugwort, eucalyptus leaves, patchouli, chamomile and sage. They smell wonderful and have their uses - if anyone cares, I can post a couple of Sleep/Dream pillow recipes tomorrow.

Satin

From: kjb.efn.org (Kevin Baurer)

From personal experience I find Valerian Root to be my favorite sleep aid. Its effects are very quick and very effective, and I feel pretty good when I wake up. To help mellow out the valerian root, try adding some skullcap to the mixture. This is what I do.

Mix a teaspoon of fresh val. root or fresh ground root with equal or more skullcap, put in boiling water and steep for 15 minutes or more, depending on how tired you are. : )

You can use a teaball or what not, but letting the stuff circulate freely of course improves diffusion.

I don't mind the taste of val. root. The smell is MUCH worse than the actual taste. It isn't what you'd call pleasant, though. If you want to remove the taste, my personal remedy is to add a sufficient amount (as much as I figure I'll need) of FRESH SPEARMINT leaves into the mixture. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. Tastes like candy!

From: ZEINEJOHNSONDS%DFYC.dfmail.usafa.af.mil (Satin Zeine-Johnson)

As promised, here is some information from _The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews_ by Scott Cunningham

To have vivid dreams:

Pillow, Dream:

2 parts Rose Petals
2 parts Lemon Balm
1 part Costmary
1 part Mint
1 part Clove

Sew into a small (5" x5" for example) pillow and sleep on it.

The following herbs can be used individually, or can be mixed with each other - I have done both, but find the mixtures better. The mixtures all seem to have a pleasant smell, regardless of the combinations!

Pillows, Magic

Of course, I make no claims on what may work for you, and am not responsible for whatever you may do to yourself <grin>. I also add orange blossoms for the scent, patchouli and rosebuds for the same reason. Remember to use a fabric light enough to let the scent through, but heavy enough not to let the herbs through! <G> I use cotton, sewn into pillows about 5in x 5in, which seems to work. YMMV Enjoy!

This may sound silly, but this has actually been asked of me - these are NOT TO BE EATEN OR INGESTED ORALLY! <sigh> These are used for the SCENT only. Place on your pillow at night.

Satin