In modern Western culture, people often disregard dreams as mere fluff that our brains discard as we slumber. But throughout history and cultures, humans have valued dreaming in different ways. Dreams are seen as a door or bridge to the spirit world or the subconscious. They are often full of symbology from our lives, become outlets for our deepest concerns and fears, or offer us tools for self-reflection and a map to our current state of mind and heart. Although we can dream at any stage of sleep, our most vivid dreams occur during our REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle, so depending on how well we sleep, we may spend more than two hours each night in some form of dream state. Sleep researchers tell us that deep non-REM sleep rests our bodies and refills our tanks to start another day and REM sleep is crucial for dreaming, memory consolidation, emotional processing, and healthy brain development.
Sleep comes in two categories: REM and non-REM, and we often cycle between them throughout the time we are sleeping, starting with non-REM and then a period of REM, and then back to non-REM, etc. During the REM cycles, our brain activity and heart rate increase to a more wakeful state, our eyes move from side to side, and our breathing becomes faster and more irregular. This cycle is when we have the most vivid dreams and is also when our amygdala—the part of our brain that processes emotions—is activated. During REM sleep, our brains process emotions as well as new things we’ve learned and also sort through what to do with that information: commit it to memory, set it aside for later, delete it entirely, etc. Additionally, there is a link between REM sleep and brain development, which explains why babies spend so much more time in REM sleep than adults.
In so many ways, it behooves us to support a healthy, full sleep, complete with the vivid REM dreams that help our minds sort through emotions and memories (and discard fluff along the way). Happily we know from centuries of use that our herbal allies can help.
The herb that is perhaps best known for supporting healthy dreaming is mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Among its many uses, Mugwort has been used traditionally in formulations meant to address situational stress and to promote sleep, but is particularly celebrated for its impact on dreaming. It is classified as an herbal oneirogen (from the Greek ὄνειρος óneiros meaning "dream" and gen "to create”), which is a plant that produces or enhances dreamlike states of consciousness. It is said to support lucid dreaming and increase clarity and awareness when we wake so we remember our dreams better. People use mugwort leaves for this purpose in tea, tinctures, and smoking blends and hang bundles of mugwort above the bed or put the herb under their pillows to stimulate vivid dreams and access the unconscious psyche.
The following tea blend recipe blends mugwort with other balancing herbal allies that support healthful rest, openness, cerebral activity, and memory to enliven your dreamscape and emotional processing.
Tea Recipe for Lucid Dreaming
Makes one 8 oz. cup.
Ingredients
- 3 parts organic mugwort
- 2 parts organic chamomile flowers
- 2 parts organic butterfly pea flowers (optional, but adds lovely color)
- 1 part organic lemon balm
- 1 part organic rose petals
- 1 part organic rosemary leaf
- 1 part organic spearmint leaf
Directions
- Combine herbs in a bowl and gently toss together.
- Store in an airtight container away from sunlight and heat until ready to use.
To Make Tea
- Bring 1 cup water to a near boil, about 180- 200° F. (A full boil is also fine.)
- Fill a reusable tea infuser, cotton tea net, or a disposable tea filter with about 1 Tbsp. herb blend. Alternatively, put the herb blend directly into a cup and plan to strain herbs out after.
- Pour water over tea blend and steep 3-5 minutes, or until desired strength.
- Remove infuser or strain out herbs and enjoy!
Precautions: Mugwort may induce uterine contractions, so avoid ingesting if pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Also, we do not have enough information to know if mugwort is safe for babies, so avoid ingesting when breastfeeding. Finally, mugwort contains thujone, which can be harmful if taken in large quantities. Speak with your doctor before taking mugwort, especially if you have epilepsy or are taking anti-seizure medication.
Want Another DIY Project to Encourage Lucid Dreaming?
Learn How to Make Herbal Dream Pillows!
You may also enjoy:
- DIY Extract Blend for Sleep
- 3 Magic Moon Milk Recipes for Restful Sleep
- The Folk Method of Measuring in Parts
FAQs
When Do Lucid Dreams Happen? Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity.
Can you lucid dream in a deep sleep? ›
When Do Lucid Dreams Happen? Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a period of very deep sleep marked by eye motion, faster breathing, and more brain activity.
What stimulates lucid dreaming? ›
External stimulation: This technique involves flashing lights and other stimuli that are activated while the subject is in REM sleep. The rationale behind this method is that the sleeper will incorporate this stimuli into their dreams, triggering lucidity in the process.
How do you turn vivid dreams into lucid dreams? ›
Keeping a dream journal, or dream diary, is a popular method for initiating lucid dreaming. When you write down your dreams, you're forced to remember what happens during each dream. It's said to help you recognize dreamsigns and enhance awareness of your dreams.
What herb is used to encourage lucid? ›
Valerian. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root has garnered a fair share of prestige due to its extraordinary comforting attributes. In folk medicine, it is documented as a muscle relaxant, calming aid, and sleep aid. It magnifies the state of slumber to induce lucid dreaming.
How to lucid dream for heavy sleepers? ›
Aim for around four hours after you expect to fall asleep, wake up, set your intention to lucid dream, and go back to bed. You want to come out of sleep into a state of semi-awareness, before consciously following your brain back down the rabbit hole.
Can you get trapped inside a lucid dream? ›
Movies such as Inception or Nightmare on Elm Street have popularized wild notions of what can go wrong with lucid dreaming, but these scenarios are not backed by evidence. For example, it is a myth that a person can become permanently stuck in a lucid dream, or that a lucid dream can last the entire night.
What supplements cause vivid dreams? ›
Melatonin: Some people report experiencing vivid dreams when taking melatonin supplements. Nightmares are a symptom associated with taking too much melatonin.
How to have a guaranteed lucid dream? ›
Take naps. According to Ellis, naps are typically lighter sleep than what we experience at night, so they can help promote lucidity. As you're falling asleep, "try to keep your mind awake and present to the dream world as you start to enter REM sleep," she says.
What not to do in lucid dreams? ›
Let's get started;
- ##1 Don't think about your body while in a lucid dream. ...
- ##2 Do not dream of real-life memories. ...
- ##3 Don't look in mirrors in lucid dreams. ...
- ##4 Do not doubt yourself in lucid dreams.
- ##5 Don't get excited. ...
- ##6 Don't kill people in lucid dreams. ...
- ##7 Don't close your eyes. ...
- ##8 Don't second-guess yourself.
The mantra, “I will lucid dream tonight,” will not only manifest your lucid dreaming, but it will also get that mantra stuck in your head, and you will find yourself repeating it in your dream. Once you fall asleep, you will realize that you are dreaming almost immediately! This method has worked for me every time.
How do you unlock a lucid dream? ›
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)
After waking up from a dream, you repeat a phrase or affirmation to yourself, such as "The next time I dream, I will remember that I am dreaming." This practice helps prime your mind to become aware of the dream state and increases the chances of having a lucid dream.
What is the wild technique for lucid dreaming? ›
The WILD technique is one of the better and most powerful lucid dream induction methods. In this technique, a person is attempting to remain conscious while crossing over from the wake state to the dream state. In fact, this a step further than the contemplation of the hypnagogic state.
What plant medicine is good for lucid dreaming? ›
Artemisia douglasiana or California mugwort, Douglas's sagewort or dream plant, is a western North American species of aromatic herb in the sunflower family that can be used as a scent, tea, or smoke to trigger vivid and lucid dreams.
What two herbs are good for inducing sleep? ›
The most commonly used plant extracts for insomnia are valerian, chamomile, and lavender.
What vitamin helps with lucid dreaming? ›
As alluded to previously, one essential facet of lucid dreaming is the ability to vividly recollect your dreams, and vitamin B6 has exhibited its efficacy in bolstering dream recall. Substantiated research demonstrates that a daily intake of 240 milligrams can significantly enhance the detail of dream recollection.
What stage of sleep do you lucid dream? ›
Lucid dreams happen during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. The first REM sleep stage occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep. This is the last stage of the sleep cycle when your brain is active, triggering dreams.
Can you dream in deep sleep stage? ›
Dreaming: A majority of your dreams take place during REM sleep. However, REM is not the only stage in which dreams occur — that's actually a common myth about sleep. That said, the dreams you experience in REM sleep are usually more vivid than non-REM sleep dreams.
Is lucid dreaming restful sleep? ›
People who aren't successful in their attempts to lucid dream have poorer sleep, according another study, although people who successfully have a lucid dream experience the same sleep quality as the nights when they didn't have lucid dreams.
Is dreaming good deep sleep? ›
View Source , but considerable evidence points to dreams playing a role in facilitating brain functions like memory and emotional processing. Dreams appear to be an important part of normal, healthy sleep. At the same time, though, nightmares can disrupt sleep and even affect a person during their waking hours.
