Herbal Pillows

The concept of herbal pillows existed since the olden days as the fragrance of herbs was captured in pillows and sweet bags for the purpose of purifying and scenting the home. For many ages, herbal pillows are known as the best aids for good health, as dream makers, beauty treatments, and as just about anything that you can think of.

Herbal pillows were renowned by European mothers who are concerned to entice their babies into a restful sleep, and by those who are looking for some relief from the onset of depression and headache, and by those loners who longed to find true love. The aromatic herbs were then sewn into pillows and placed at the head of the bed or even between the linens. Their smell would then be carried from where there is an open doorway or windows where they were usually hung.

In the medieval era, herbal pillows as well as some sachets were basically more than fanciful decorations. They are considered as somewhat a necessity that herbal pillows are developed to prevent the consequences brought by the poor sanitary conditions of that time.

Herbal pillows are greatly prepared by the lady of the house. There were times that they designed small pillows of fragrant herbs to scent their linen and fine article of clothing. They even placed it near their heads upon sleeping to protect from nightmares and assure a good night sleep. But today, herbal pillows are just but neglected as sleeping aids.

There are so many effective herbs to use in pillows. One of those is agrimony. This is in fact a well known herb since it was though to be soporific or sleep inducing. The dew collected from the leaves of the mantle (alchemilla vulgarus) is also known as one of the great sleeping aids, and so it was administered by means of sprinkling on the bed linens.

Essentially, herbal pillows are designed by means of sewing the dried herbs into a square of bag or cloth. However, it should be sewed with a fixative since without it, their fragrance is short lived. Fixatives in the herbal pillows are essential for preserving and enhancing the fragrant combination of herbs that is applied in making potpourri, which is the base stuff for designing herbal pillows.

And speaking of fixatives used for herbal pillows, the orris root and benzoin are among the suitable plant fixatives that are widely available anywhere in the world. In particular, the orris root is derived by means of sun-drying as well as by peeling the fresh root of an herb known as Iris florentina. Once the root is dried, it is then stored for two years to produce a delectable violet scent.

Herbal Pillow

For thousands and thousands of years, herbs have been used by man for a variety of purposes. Herbs were pounded, ground, pressed, boiled for their extracts, and saturated in order to use them for medicine. Some aromatic herbs were especially valued because of their relaxing effects. The scent of these herbs were “captured” in pieces of cloth and sweet bags, later called “herbal pillows” in order to improve sleep and generally purify the home with their fragrance.

Herbal Pillows – Early History

Perhaps the earliest known civilization who made great use of herbs was the ancient Egyptians. These people were very ingenious and they found many plants that have therapeutic effects and health benefits. Pharoahs and priests used herbal pillows to add tranquility to the night and make them sleep better. Linen cloths filled with fragrant seeds and soaked in perfumes sewn together were the first herbal pillows ever used by man.

Later in the Middle Ages, anxious mothers used herbal pillows to lure their active offspring into tranquil sleep. They placed dill (Anthuem graveolens) in small pillows which they fashioned themselves in order to promote sleep in their children. Incidentally, the name “dill” comes from the Norse word “dilla”, which means “to lull.”

Another popular herb used in herbal pillows was agrimony. It is believed to be soporific, inducing sleep with its relaxing scent. This effect of the agrimony is immortalized in an old English text saying that “if it is layed under a man’s head, he shall sleep as he was dead; He shall never drede ne waken till fro under his head it be taken.”

Herbal pillows were also used to relieve headaches or as treatment for depression. During these times, flowers of therapeutic herbs were crushed or sewn into pillows and placed at the head of the bed. Sometimes, they were also placed between the linens to spread the scent more generously in the bedroom. Herbal pillows were especially used not as mere fanciful decorations but as a necessity. Their scent masked the consequences of poor sanitary conditions and made the surrounding air fresher.

How to make herbal pillows

You can create your own herbal pillow by sewing dried herbs into a square of cloth of bag. To make sure that the aroma would last, use a fixative. Fixatives help dried herbs retain their fragrance. Examples of fixatives are ambergris, civet, and musk.

The herbs used in many herbal pillows are those used in making potpourri. You can also make your own addition to make the scent more interesting. Spices, such as cinnamon, can make your herbal pillow more interesting; plus, it acts as a fixative also.

Herbal Vitamins

Herbs and vitamins are closely associated. Most herbs contain certain kinds of vitamins, and vitamins are naturally derived from living things, and that includes plants. From this close association, the concept for herbal vitamins emerged.

When we deal with herbal vitamins, we are basically dealing with those herbal based vitamins or vitamins that are derived from herbs. Just like the vitamins that are taken from animal sources, herbal vitamins must also be absorbed in the body by means of supplying it in the diet or in the dietary supplements. One of the reasons for that is the fact that the human body cannot manufacture or synthesize the herbal vitamins.

Herbal vitamins are very essential to the proper functioning of the human body. In fact, they are very significant for our growth, vitality, as well as for our general well being. One of the great misconceptions in the world today is the notion that herbal vitamins can replace food. The fact still remains that they cannot replace food. It is in fact considered by some experts that herbal vitamins cannot be incorporated without consuming food. For this reason, the herbal vitamins are greatly taken along with a meal.

For further information, herbal vitamins assist in the regulation of metabolism. Aside from that, they also aid in transforming the fat and carbohydrates into the form of energy. And in turn, herbal vitamins aid in the formation of tissues and bones.

Perhaps one of the best examples of herbal vitamins is the vitamin A or beta-carotene which is greatly needed in the body, especially for growth and repair of body tissues. Many herbs contain this vitamin, especially those that are use specifically for maintaining a smooth and soft disease-free skin. Aside from that, this form of herbal vitamins also counteracts night blindness and weak eyesight. In particular, the herb known as agrimony or what many people call as “plant healing to eyes” is particularly one of the sources of herbal vitamins.

Today, herbal vitamins supplements are now offered in many health food stores, and one of those is the herbal vitamin known as Vitalerbs. This is composed of the alfalfa, dandelion, kelp, purple duce, and some other combinations of useful herbs. From the combination alone, vitamins like ascorbic acid, biotin, calcium, choline, and pantothenic acid, iodine, iron, and others are greatly found. It is noted that this herbal vitamin is easier to digest for the fact that they are whole foods. This form of herbal vitamins is now widely distributed for its proven safety and effectiveness.

Agrimony

What on earth is agrimony? Agrimony is specifically hemp or herb that has different functions. It is know by the names like Sticklewort, Cocklebur, Church Steeples, and Odermenning.

It is believed that the agrimony’s first use dates back to the ancient Egyptians, and the term “agrimony” comes from the Greek word Argemone which means “plants healing to eyes”. In the tradition of the ancient times of agrimony, it is believed that the ancient Greeks usually used agrimony to soothe their eye problems; and the Anglo-Saxons treated their wounds with it.

Agrimony generally involves a certain volatile oil, which maybe taken from the plant itself by means of the process of distillation. It also contains bitter principle, flavonoids, and it yields in addition for about five percent of tannin in order for its function in cottage medicines for the gargles and also for the astringent applicant to lethargic ulcers and wounds. And since it contains tannin for about five percent, many people used agrimony in dressing leather.

For further information, the agrimony is used with its whole herbs for different purposes and it is recommended by some medical experts for the reason that the whole herb produces and agent that ease inflammation and it also produces an agent that contracts organic tissue which then lessen the secretions or the discharges. In line with that claim, the agrimony acts as deobstruant which is an agent that wipes away the obstructions by opening the natural ways or passages of the human body. It is also diuretic, which is an agent that enhances the expulsion of the urine; tonic, which is an agent that revitalizes the organs or the entire organism; and it is vulnerary, that it is applied to heal wounds.

Also included in the major uses of the agrimony are some claims that the herb is a very useful agent for conditioning the blood, especially to those who have anemia, and it is also used for cardiovascular conditions such as enlargement of the heart, stomach and the lungs. It is as well interesting to know that agrimony is also very useful for gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea, digestive trouble, indigestion, mucous colitis, overactive irritable bowel, relaxed bowel, sluggish stomach conditions, ulcers, and it promotes assimilation of food.

Aside from those mentioned conditions, agrimony is used generally for genitourinary conditions, inflammatory conditions, liver conditions, respiratory tract conditions, gargles, skin conditions, and other conditions such as appendicitis, fevers, and much more. However, outside from those multiple benefits that anyone can get from the agrimony, it is still necessary to note that agrimony must not be applied in cases of constipation. And the herb must only be used with the recommendation of the healthcare provider.

Lastly, in taking the agrimony, many experts have mostly recommended that every patient who disorders as mentioned above must take the dried herb at 3g per day and for fluid extract, it should taken 2 to 5 ml every day. And today, agrimony is available in any herbal supplies in the form of agrimony extract, dried herb, and agrimony Bach flower remedy.