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©2006-2011 Deborah Wiig
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Here's a natural and pleasant way to help you relax or fall asleep…without a morning-after hangover.

A dream pillow uses the time-tested power of aromatherapy to help you drift off to sleep and stay there until morning. You can buy a dream pillow in shops and online, but it's easy to make your own.

Begin with soft or silky fabric to make a four inch or larger round, square or rectangular pillow. Stitch on three sides and turn inside out. Stuff with fragrant herbs and oils and stitch closed. A flat shape tucked into your pillowcase is most effective for restful sleep, but you may make a plump dream pillow to place near you as you sleep. You can also make a long, narrow shape to lay across your eyes to relax you as you rest.

Certain herbs and flowers have properties to relieve insomnia and anxiety. Sleep-inducing oils also enhance the fragrance of the herbs. As you lie on the pillow, your warmth and weight will release their aroma. Your dream pillow won't shift if you pin it inside your pillowcase.

You can also hang a small herb-filled pouch in your car to help calm and soothe when traffic is frustrating.

Some call these dream pillows because they believe the pillows not only help you sleep better, they also enhance your dreams. Herbs and oils can be purchased in many health food stores, shops where you find incense and candles or online.

Your herbs and flowers
can include:

• Chamomile flowers
• Hops (It's relaxing, but sprinkle with alcohol or essential oil to improve its scent)
• Lavender flowers (the most popular ingredient for its aroma and restful properties)
• Lemon balm leaves
• Marjoram
• Rose petals
• Mugwort
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Valerian

Use small amounts of the most strongly scented.

Essential oils

• Basil
• Hyacinth
• Jasmine
• Peppermint
• Rose
• Sandalwood

Fixative
To enhance your fragrances and make them last longer.

• Angelica root
• Amyris
• Calamus root
• Orris root
  
  

Suggested formula (depending upon the size of your pillow)

• Equal parts of the most fragrant herbs and flowers; a little less of those less so
  
• Five to 10 drops of one essential oil
  
• One to two teaspoons of fixative

Note: Heavy smokers will not benefit from the aromatherapy of a dream pillow. Another reason to quit.

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Page updated January 1, 2011