Herbal Sleeping Pillow

(pt 1)

For centuries, the fragrance of herbs have been captured in pillows 

and sweet bags to purify and scent the home. These aromatic pillows 

were used by Old World mothers to lull their babes into tranquil sleep, 

by those seeking relief from headache or depression, and by the lonely-

hearted who yearned to find true love.

Mothers frequently fashioned small pillows of dill to encourage their 

children to enter sleep. The word dilla, from which the herb eventually 

took its name, is from a Norse word meaning "to lull." Agrimony was 

also a popular herb to use in pillows since it was believed to be 

soporific, or sleep inducing. An old English writing tells us that, 

"If it is leyed under a manns head, he shal sleepyn as he were dead; 

He shal never drede me wakyn till fro under his head it be taken."

Making Herbal Pillows

Fragrant herbs were sewn into pillows and placed at the head of the bed or

between the linens. During medieval times, herbal pillows and sachets were

more of a necessity than decoration, designed to mask the poor sanitary

conditons of the time when fresh air was considered potentially dangerous. 

Sometimes entire matresses were stuffed with aromatic herbs both to induce

a restful sleep and to repel pests that would otherwise feed on mattress 

materials.

Good sleep is essential to our health and well-being. The aromas in 

these little pillows can lull you to sleep on those nights when you 

are tossing and turning, when you want to promote dreams. They can 

help you wake up rested and refreshed. The small, cloth-covered 

packages containing dried herbs and other ingredients are meant to be 

tucked between your bed pillow and the pillowcase or between your sheets.

Remember that sleep blends are very different from potpourri. Do not 

expect a sleep blend to have the noticeably strong scents of a potpourri blend. Sleep blends are subtle. Their fragrances are released as you 

move about on the pillow during the night.

Before creating the sleep pillow, decide what you will be using it 

for: to repel bad dreams, strengthen your prophetic abilities, rest, 

healing, etc. Choose your herbs and oils according to the pillow's 

use. They are very easy to make, even if you have few sewing skills.

by Chandra Moira Beal

from Llewellyn's 2006 Herbal Almanac

to be continued........

 

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