NaturalMedications

Lavender: A favorite sleeping herb is lavender. A few drops of lavender

oil on an eye pillow, or mixed with water and sprayed on the sheets, or

in a dream pillow works wonders.

Lavender bath products are also good for a relaxing soak in the tub.

Softsoap puts out a purple Lavender and Chamomile body wash that you can pick up in grocery stores for around $4.

Chamomile: Chamomile tea is another good way to relax and unwind. It

also works in a dream pillow. The Amish believe that a cup of chamomile tea and a lettuce sandwich before bed will put one right to sleep.

Hot cocoa/milk: A tried and true sleep inducer my granny used.

Celery: Add celery seeds to a dream pillow.

Dandelion: Dandelion tea is another cure for sleeplessness, but should

be used with care given its diuretic properties.

Vervain: Vervain tincture is used to cure insomnia.

Anise: Anise is a sedative. Try a little aniseed tea.

Hawthorne: Also a sedative, but tricky to use and dangerous for people

with heart problems.

Clove: Drink a cup of clove tea before bed.

Valerian: Valerian tea is another sleep-inducer, if you can stand the smell. I'd never put it in a dream pillow for that very reason.

Catnip: Catnip tea is used for nervousness and insomnia (in addition to

driving felines wild).

Salad: Mandarin oranges, lettuce, and cucumbers are all said to have

sleep-inducing properties, so try them a dinner salad. But tradition

says to avoid vinegar in the dressing.

Dill: Dill tea has been recommended to me, but I can't imagine drinking

it.

Elderflower: Makes good tea as well as wine or mead.

Limeflower: Make it into a relaxing tea.

Rose: Rose essential oil is very relaxing.

Passionflower: Passionflower tea induces sleep.

Peppermint: Peppermint tea is relaxing and soothing. It also works

wonders for digestive upsets.

Juniper: Relaxing as an essential oil used on a dream pillow.

Sandalwood: Use sandalwood essential oil in a dream pillow or eye pillow.

Neroli: Inhale neroli essential oil.

Marjoram: Inhale marjoram essential oil or use the herb in a dream pillow.

Native American lore calls for teas made of lady's slipper, yarrow,

mullein, hops, poppy seeds, and/or purslane. Jimsonweed poultices, sage incense, and a raw onion before bed were also seen as sleep aids.

Sleep Tea 1:

2 tsp dried lemon balm

1 tsp dried chamomile

4 tsp dried lemon grass

1 tsp dried spearmint

1 tsp grated orange peel

Use about 1 tsp of the mixture for each cup of tea.

Sleep Tea 2:

1 tsp limeflower

1 tsp elderflower

Dash of grated nutmeg

Honey to taste

Sleep Potpourri 1:

2 cups each dried hop flowers, dried rose petals

1 cup dried chamomile flowers

1/2 cup each dried jasmine, orange blossom, lavender

2 tsp ground orris root

1 tsp frankincense powder

5-6 drops of neroli or melissa essential oil

Mix ingredients, adding oil last. Seal in airtight container and leave

in a warm, dry place for 10 days, shaking daily. Place in a dream

pillow.

Sleep Potpourri 2:

1/2 cup each chamomile flowers, rosemary leaves, pine needles

1 cup lavender flowers

2 tablespoons lemon verbena leaves

1 tablespoon pinhead orris root

1 tsp lavender essential oil

Sleep Potpourri 3:

1/2 cup each mugwort leaves, lavender flowers, spearmint/peppermint

leaves

2 tablespoons each thyme leaves, rosemary leaves

1 tablespoon pinhead orris root