How To Make Herbal Pillows - A couple recipes

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Making an Herb Pillow

 

In olden days, entire mattresses were composed of aromatic herbs both to induce a restful sleep as well as to repel pest which would otherwise feed on mattress materials. Nowadays, I think we would be harder pressed to find a full herbal stuffed mattress, but herbal pillows are growing in popularity. Their main function to the sleep process is relaxation, using the principles of aromatherapy to help relax the sleeper and would be dreamer. However, those I know who have used herbal pillows say that a combination of hops and lavender in their herb pillows also makes for intriguing dreams. Basic Materials You Will Need

A cotton pillowslip, plain muslin or bleached cotton work best as herbs may stain and you can easily wash these. A fancier pillowslip which will cover the pillow decoratively, again should be easily washable. Loose herbs of your choice. Orris root powder as a binder. Essential oil of your choice .Basically, you just want to take the herbal mixture you've chosen (I give one of my favorite recipes below) into the pillowslip and knot off the edge, or sew it if you want to be fancier. Then cover the plain pillowslip with the decorative cover and place the herbal pillow either next to your regular pillow or beneath it. Most people choose not to sleep directly on the herbal pillow, and some even place it beneath their blankets during the day so that when they turn back the bed at night the fragrant herbal aroma greets them and surrounds their slumber One of my favorite herbal pillow mixtures can be made by combining the following ingredients

1 cup lavender flowers 1 cup white rose petals 1 cup hops 1 cup lemon balm 2 teaspoons orris root powder 2 drops oil of lavender

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/science_of_dreams/64946

 

Another Sleepy herbal pillow:

A small pillow filled with calming herbs and flowers can help you to get to sleep at night. You will continue to benefit from its sedative effects all night, waking refreshed from untroubled sleep.

The delightful herb pillow has been used for centuries as a type of aromatherapy.

They are usually made as a small pillow or sachet of herbs to be put in the pillowcase with the regular sleeping pillow, or placed under it.

It can be used for medicinal purposes, or you can have it near you for its beautiful sleep inducing fragrances.

They are very handy on long car journeys, as they are soothing and freshens the air.

Any scented or aromatic plant can be used for a fragrant herb pillow, but the types chosen are usually those which are known to have a calming or sedative effect on the body and mind.

The base herb for sleeping herb pillows is Hops used for calming nerves and inducing sleep, (the key herb used in brewing Beer) the other herbs to be added, depend on whether you suffer from asthma.

The herbs that are best for asthmatics are Betony (Betona Officianalis) Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Lemon Verbena (Verbena Officianalis),

The following herbs are suggested for a sedative effect when added to your hops; Lavender (Lavendula vera) Lemon Thyme (Thymus citrodunus) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Chamomile (Matricaria camomilla).

Add a few cloves, pine needles, peppermint, sage, or any herb you desire to vary the fragrance.

Simply mix the dry herbs or flowers, place into a loose woven material pillow (approximately 5†x 8â€) and stitch closed.

Sleep potpourri herb pillow recipe:

All the ingredients for this are available from health food suppliers and herbalists.

/ 2 cups dried hop flowers2 cups dried rose petals1 cup dried chamomile flowers ½ cup each dried Jasmine, orange blossom & lavender, 2 teaspoons incense powder or Orris Root powder (Used as a “fixative†for the aromas so that the scent doesn’t evaporate away in only a few days.) 5-6 drops Neroli essential oil.

Prepare the potpourri first. Mix all the ingredients together.

Place in an airtight container and leave in a warm, dry place for about ten days.

When the scents have combined and the potpourri is ready, make up a muslin / cheesecloth bag and loosely fill it with the mixture.

You can slip this bag into your ordinary pillowcase, or stitch a special small pillow and slip the herbal bag inside it.

Tuck the pillow under your neck to enjoy it’s aroma as you go to sleep

http://www.sleep-aid-tips.com/sleep-aid-herbal-sleep-remedy.html

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