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.