Mardi: Herbal-Wise

When our family first moved to the frozen North almost twelve years ago my daughters were three and one.  It was over that first winter here that I discovered a disturbing reality about my youngest.  If she caught cold – or something more serious – and developed a fever she would often suffer night terrors.  She would scream at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night and waking her up from her horrifying dreams often took several minutes.  I puzzled over what to do, short of dosing her with too much ibuprofen, and then I hit on a plan.  After stuffing her favorite pillow with a handful of hops, the awful night terrors subsided and – as an added bonus – she began to sleep better when she was well, too.

Hops are an old remedy for nightmares and fitful sleep.  Regardless of what magickal discipline you consult, it is universally believed that a pillow stuffed with hops and slept on nightly will bring sweet dreams and ensure restful sleep.

For moms with young children, a handful of hops in their child’s pillow can also bring a small blessing to Mom: a full night’s sleep.  Don’t forget to make a smaller pillow for travel and/or sleepovers.  The work is worth it for everyone’s well being.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau c 1897