Are you one of the few who is able to fully remember what you dreamed about the night before?
If not, some help may lie in ancient deep sleep promoting herbs.
Dreams help us to process thoughts, feelings, emotions and daily stress. They are there for a reason and though many books have been written on dream interpretation, no one can really interpret a dream for you. Symbols, people, places, actions all hold personal meaning. A lack of sleep, especially REM sleep, leads to a feeling of exhaustion and sometimes can even contribute to depression over time.
What is the difference between regular dreaming and lucid dreaming?
Have you ever been in a dream and realized it was a dream, and were able to consciously guide it? This is what is known as lucid dreaming. Most of the time when we dream we see images hear words, sounds, feel, smell, touch, taste – it may seem very real but we are generally unaware that we are in a dream state or even asleep until we wake up.
Being able to remember and even guide your dreams can be incredibly empowering not to mention fun, but it can also be therapeutic at times.
There are a couple of herbs which are completely legal which can help support your body’s ability to sleep deeply and increase the potential for lucid dreams to take place.
The first is Valerian Root
Valerian has been used in medicine for hundred of years as a calming aid, muscle relaxant, and promoter of deep sleep. Because lucid dreaming usually requires a heightened state of REM Sleep, it has become a commonly reported side effect of Valerian root.
Robert Monroe, a famed specialist in Out Of Body Experiences, once was quoted as saying, “Most of us dream, and those who don’t simply are not remembering them.” Many also report that Valerian greatly improves the ability to remember their dreams.
If you are looking for an herb that not only promotes the desired deep states of sleep that make way for vivid dreams, but also enhances our ability to remember them the next day. Valerian shows strong potential in many people.
Warning: If you are pregnant, very few studies have been done on Valerian’s effects on pregnancy. Best to avoid.
Preparation: Fresh Valerian Root is best and is most commonly brewed in a tea. Take care to use water that is hot, but not boiling as boiling can destroy the oils in the root. In order to preserve the delicate oils in the root.
Another great choice is Wild Asparagus Root
Wild Asparagus Root has been used by monks, shaman and yogis in the Chinese tradition for a very long time. In Chinese it is said Tian Men Dong, meaning Heavenly Spirit Herb. It has also been known as “The Flying Herb”, believed to help one fly through the universe while sleeping, achieving amazing dreams. Chinese schools of wisdom placed high value on lucid dreaming.
In Chinese folk medicine, it is also believed that Wild Asparagus Root has a direct and positive effect on the heart energy, dissolving the dualities that come with our physical incarnation.
Preparation: the best way to use wild asparagus for dream enhancement is to brew a tea of either the fresh or dried root. Keep in mind that a tea from the fresh root will be much more potent.
We wish you pleasant dreams.
Leave us a comment and let us know what your experience is.
Author: Sarah J. Barendse
Originally published: http://drleonardcoldwell.com/2015/10/14/lucid-dreaming/