For help in recalling your dreams, try these herbal dream enhancers. This information isn’t intended as medical advice.
Dream baskets. Fill a basket with chammomile, lavender and mugwort and place it beside your bed. Or hang a dream catcher — a Native American tailsman — in your bedroom. Representing the hoop of life, dream cathers are said to catch bad dreams in their webs while inviting in good dreams.
Dream potions. To induce dreams, try kava (Piper methysticum). Note: Kava shouldn’t be mixed with prescription drugs or herbal antidepressants and relaxants such as St. John’s wort and valerian. For help with dream recall, try “dream essences” — Egyptian homeopathic blends.
Dream pillows. These soothing supports are traditionally filled with chamomile (Matricaria recutita) or lavender (Lavandula, spp.) for relaxation, and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) for dream inspiration. Mugwort can be burned as incense before bed to create a dream-inducing atmosphere.
Sources: Planetary Herbology (Lotus Press) by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D.; Herbs of Life (The Crossing Press) by Lesley Tierra, L.Ac.; and Katherine O’Connell, Ph.D.
