Create an herbal pillow to encourage restful sleep and sweet dreams; your own do-it-yourself natural sleep aid! This practice dates back centuries and is a lovely way to enjoy the time-honored sleep and dream inducing power of herbs. They also make charming gifts!
I repurposed vintage lady’s hankies to make these pillows (2 hankies per pillow)
An herbal pillow is easily made from fabric cut into small squares or rectangles. Once finished, it is tucked inside or under your bed pillow so that you can enjoy the dreamy/sleepy fragrance.
Most instructions for creating herbal pillows involve sewing a single pillow case to be filled with an herbal blend. This works well, however, once the herbs lose their scent the pillow can’t easily be refreshed.
Another option is to make an inner muslin bag to fill with herbs. One side is loosely basted closed so that it can easily be opened, refilled with fresh herbs, and re-basted shut as needed. If you have the sewing skills, consider sewing a zipper or velcro strips on one side. A more refined, outer pillow case is then created (similar to a bed pillow) to encase the inner muslin, herb-filled bag.
Fabric Ideas
Consider repurposing vintage pillowcases, lady’s hankies, scarves, leftover fabric, retired clothing, etc. Natural fabrics such as cotton or silk work well; the herbal scents need to breathe through. Consider purchasing organic muslin or other organic fabrics. My favorite source is Organic Cotton Plus.
How to Sew Inner Muslin Bag
Cut a double layer of fabric into the size/shape you desire. Pin the right sides of the fabric together and then sew along the edges of three sides.Turn right side out and fill well until stuffed with your preferred herbal blend; cotton batting can also be added. Baste the last edge closed.
How to Sew Outer Pillow Case
You need to basically repeat what you did in the step above. However, you will be leaving one side open, like a bed pillow. You need to hem the fabric edges of the side that will be left open so it is finished off. This should be done before you sew the other three sides together. The finished dimensions of this outer pillow case should be the same as the inner muslin bag or just slightly larger.
The herbal information below was taken from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Dreamy 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.
Sleepy 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.
Judy DeLorenzo is a holistic health practitioner, garden foodie, and daycare founder. She completed a 3-year course in Transformational Energy Healing, studied homeopathy, earned a certificate from eCornell in Whole Foods, Plant-Based Nutrition, and is currently studying herbalism. Her approach as a holistic health practitioner is to carefully look at the complete picture and suggest solutions that promote the person’s innate ability to self-heal and maintain vibrant health. You can learn more about Judy DeLorenzo and her healing practice at Biofield Healing and find Judy’s blog at A Life Well Planted. Her child care center is called Room To Grow in Litchfield, CT. Read all of her Mother Earth News posts here.
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