Dream pillows have been used since medieval Europe to mask bad hygiene and promote relaxation. They contain dried herbs and flowers, and traditional fixatives include animal-derived materials, but plant-based fixatives are also available. Making a dream pillow is a simple project.
Making herbal pillows dates back to medieval Europe. For the most part, they have been used to help mask the unfortunate consequences of bad hygiene. However, European mothers were also aware that the aroma of some herbs might promote a relaxation response, a medicinal property known today as soporific. Then, they would create a dream pillow to help lull an awake child to sleep and ward off nightmares. In fact, a dream pillow is an old-fashioned, natural sleep aid.
One of the traditional herbs used to make a dream pillow is dill. For those interested in botanical genealogy, it is interesting to note that this herb gets its name from the Old Norse dilla, meaning “to cradle.” The lady’s cloak was another popular addition. In fact, lei properties were thought to induce sleep so much that morning dew was often collected from lei flowers to sprinkle on clothes. A dream pillow also usually contained a generous amount of agrimony, for an ancient English script tells us: “If it is placed under a man’s head, he will sleep as if he were dead; He shall never drede ne wakyn until he is taken under his head.”
Making a dream pillow is a simple project that doesn’t require any special skills beyond the ability to sew two squares of fabric together. In general, any dried herb or flower that the dreamer finds pleasant can be used, as well as berries such as rose hips. In fact, the concoction closely resembles potpourri. However, since dried herbs and flowers tend to lose their aroma over time, a fixative is usually introduced as a preservative.
Traditional fixatives include ambergris, musk, and civet. However, keep in mind that these materials are derived from animal sources. The musk is obtained from the Central Asian male musk deer, the civet from the African civet, and the ambergris is extracted from the intestines of the cachalot, or sperm whale. Today these materials are available in synthetic form and work just as well without sacrificing wildlife.
There are also several plant-based fixatives that can be used. Orris root, which is made from the dried and ground root of the iris plant, is one of the best examples. Indeed, if the dried orris root is left to “ripen” for two years before being ground, it develops a violet-like scent. Another common fixative is benzoin, a resin obtained from a shrub and is a component of incense. Spices, such as ground cinnamon, can also be used as a fixative, as can the ground or shaved bark of sandalwood or myrrh.
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