Choosing a pillow for a good sleep: buy or sew yourself? How to make a do-it-yourself herbal pillow for yourself and your child Fragrant pillows for good sleep

When choosing the height and firmness of the pillow important role plays the position in which you usually sleep. If you are in doubt as to what this pose is, take a few nights to explore.

When you feel that you are falling asleep, lie down for a few minutes on your back, then on your side and on your stomach. Assess which position is most comfortable for you. For example, if you lay on your stomach for half an hour, but did not fall asleep, this is hardly your usual position. Pay attention to the position in which you wake up in the morning. Write down all your observations so you don't get confused.

If you like to sleep on the back, choose a pillow of medium height (8-10 cm), medium firmness and possibly with a recess for the head.
If you are sleeping on the side, choose a pillow that is high enough and firm, as it should fill the space between the shoulder and the ear and support the neck well. The height of the pillow should be equal to the width of your shoulder - a segment from the base of the neck to the shoulder point.

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If you are sleeping on the stomach, you need a soft and thin, almost flat pillow 6–8 cm high. If you can do without one, put a pillow under your stomach so that there is no pain in.
If you constantly turning over choose a pillow of medium height. It should be soft enough so that it can somehow be adjusted to the current sleeping position.

How to choose a pillow filler

There are a lot of fillers out there. Manufacturers give them their names, combine different kinds materials, complicate the internal structure of the pillows.

A modern pillow is not just a bag stuffed with down.

Inside there may be springs, several chambers filled with filler, several layers of different fillers, hidden rollers under the neck and other inventions of the pillow industry.

Therefore, we will talk about fairly popular materials and outline the questions that need to be answered before heading to the store so that you can explain to the consultant what exactly you are looking for.

1. What kind of pillow firmness do you need?

Of the common fillers, the softest will be fluff (natural and artificial), holofiber, bamboo, cotton, silk.

Wool, memory materials, gel are considered medium soft fillers.

The hard filler is latex, buckwheat husk.

2. Do you sweat a lot at night? Do you feel hot on your pillow?

If in the morning you wake up on a damp pillow, your head is hot and stuffy, it means that the filler and / or the pillow cover do not pass air well, do not breathe.

Pillows made of fluff, bamboo, silk have good breathability. However, synthetic fillers are not inferior to natural ones: the fibers in them are intertwined in such a way that a space filled with air remains between them.

If the pillow breathes, it is elastic to the touch and quickly recovers its shape after compression.

The breathability of latex and memory foam pillows is ensured by the porosity of the materials and ventilation holes.

3. Do you care how long it takes to take care of your pillow?

It is easy for someone to take pillows to the dry cleaner several times a year, and someone does not have enough time to even throw them in the washing machine.

The most demanding in care are pillows made of natural feathers and down: they must be dried regularly, fluffed before going to bed to evenly distribute the filler, and periodically taken to the dry cleaner, since they cannot be cleaned on their own. Pillows made of wool will also have to be given to specialists.

Pillows filled with buckwheat husks are recommended to be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Once a year, you will have to pour out the husk, sift and fall asleep in an already washed cover.

Bamboo, silk and synthetic pillows can be machine washed. And on pillows made of latex or material with a memory effect, it is enough to simply replace the pillowcase.

4. How durable do you need your pillow?

The most short-lived pillows are made of bamboo, holofiber, artificial down. After three years or even earlier, the filler may clump, and the pillow will become unsuitable for proper sleep.

memory foam pillows, natural down and pen, high-quality synthetics will last up to five years.

The most durable are latex pillows. Their service life is 10 years and even more with proper operation.

5. Do you have allergies? If yes, for what exactly?

Everything is clear here: you should not choose the filler to which you are allergic. by the most strong allergen considered down and feather. But it can also cause unpleasant symptoms. bamboo pillow containing many microorganisms.

How to choose a pillow shape

Let's go back to your sleeping position. If you sleep on your back, choose a rectangular pillow. It can be with a roller or notch under the neck, if you feel comfortable.

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For sleeping on your side, a rectangular pillow is suitable. Here, too, a cushion under the neck and a notch under the shoulder are appropriate.

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To sleep on your stomach, choose a low rectangular or star-shaped pillow.

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Pillow Buyer Checklist

Stock up on theory, now you need to understand what to do if there are a lot of pillows in the store, and a zealous consultant is already inviting you to buy. Here is a checklist of your actions:

Tell the consultant what kind of pillow you are looking for (stiffness, materials, cost). Ask if you have sleep problems.
Do not hesitate to find out from consultants the properties of pillows, fillers, covers. Moreover, it is desirable that they explain to you what features of the materials allow the pillow to breathe, remove moisture, and so on.
Try to lie down on the offered pillows. Rate your feelings. With the correct height and shape of the pillow, you should feel relaxed, there should be no clamps or kinks anywhere.
Remember, or rather write down the characteristics of the pillows offered to you. At home, read about the properties of specific fillers. Read reviews of pillows of selected brands.
No matter how carefully you choose a pillow in the store, in order to appreciate it, you need to sleep on it for a week. Because the comfort of the pillow will even depend on yours (the softer it is, the thinner the pillow should be). Therefore, find out if it will be possible to test the pillow at home and return it if it does not fit. The Consumer Rights Protection Law allows a return if the product has not been used, stored appearance, consumer properties, seals, factory labels. But some shops go towards buyers. So, IKEA offers to sleep on a new pillow for 14 days and exchange it if it turns out to be uncomfortable.

bad dream often accompanies us in modern life. There can be a great many reasons for this - these are stress, and malnutrition, and a sedentary lifestyle. Many people are forced to take expensive drugs, in addition to many side effects also addictive. But there is a completely safe and nice way improve your sleep. Make yourself a pillow filled with aromatic herbs. It will help you sleep better and put you in a good mood for the whole day.

What are the benefits of sleeping pillows? Various fragrant herbs contained in it, under the influence of heat human body secrete essential oils that have a beneficial effect on sleep. The benefit of such a pillow is also that the phytoncides contained in many plants kill pathogenic bacteria, providing invaluable help to the body.

To make a fragrant pillow, you need to take vegetable raw materials in the ratios you need and grind them well with your hands or in a mortar, otherwise the sharp branches will prick you. Most useful herbs can be bought at the pharmacy, but some of them you can collect yourself. It must be remembered that most herbs are collected at the very beginning of flowering in dry weather.

The collected plant material is hung in the shade, and carefully protected from moisture. When the plants become brittle and start to break easily, it's time to remove them. You can not grind such plants in a mortar, but simply remove the leaves from them and knead them in your hands - the fewer hard stems you put, the softer the pillow will be.

Prepared herbs are sewn into linen or cotton fabric. It is desirable to provide a pillowcase for such a pillow, from which it will be easier to remove dirt. Small pillows can be placed in a wardrobe for scenting linen, and if you make them curly, decorate with embroidery or appliqué, then they will make a wonderful gift.

If you sleep on fragrant pillow you are not very comfortable, put it on the radiator before going to bed and then the room will be filled with a light aroma of a summer meadow.

If you do not use the pillow for a long time, put it in plastic bag to avoid weathering the smell. And always keep it dry.

What plants are suitable for a fragrant pillow?

Lavender, tansy, sweet clover, laurel hops, mint, valerian will calm the nerves and set the body for a sound sleep.

Spruce, pine, lilac, reduce pressure.

Eucalyptus, birch, linden, heather, hyssop will help with lung problems.

Calendula, oregano will help with headaches and depression.

Melissa, citrus peel improves eyesight and relieves pain.

Yarrow, sage strengthen the immune system.

Thyme, rose, linden, chamomile have a pronounced antibacterial effect.

When making a fragrant pillow, it is better to combine components from 3-4 plants, since a pillow made from one lavender or thyme will have too strong a scent, and this may have a bad effect on well-being. Experiment, but do not use plants you do not know, as they can be poisonous and cause headache.

Useful properties and rules for using herbal pillows. Making and decorating products for sleep.

The content of the article:

Herbal sleep pillows are a great help for insomnia and many health problems. The era of rapid technological progress is forced to overstrain our brain huge number information. And modern man intuitively wants peace and relaxation. All this can be achieved by using herbal pillows in everyday life.

Description and purpose of herbal pads

Our ancestors knew how to use the gifts of nature, such as medicinal herbs and plants, to good use. Herbal pillows - interesting option their use. It's new to us, but really just well forgotten old way sleep improvement.

What are they? In fact, it is a bag made of natural fabrics and stuffed with herbs, beautifully decorated with a removable pillowcase. The shape of the pillow depends on the imagination, preferences of the user and the purpose of the product.

Aromas of plants have a beneficial effect on nervous system a sleeping person, exerting their inherent healing effect, or even acting in a complex way in the case of a mixture of herbs. In addition to the healing effect, herbal pads also have aromatic and antibacterial properties. Their smell during the night is absorbed into the hair of the sleeping person, and also saturates the room, cleansing it from adverse microorganisms.

Pillow traditional form can be used for normal sleep at home, putting it under the head, and in the form of a roller - in order to unload the cervical spine. Such orthopedic pads are very good for long trips for relaxation and unloading of the neck muscles.

Useful properties of herbal pillows for sleeping

A herbal sleep pillow is deservedly considered a wonderful remedy for getting rid of many problems, because most medicinal plants act in a complex way.

Here are the most common health problems treated with herbal pads:

Insomnia and sleep disorders. Sleeping effect is the main property of herbal pillows. Depending on the plants used, they can simply induce sleep, or they can calm the nervous system, eliminating nightmares.
Fatigue and restlessness. It happens that after sleep you do not feel rested. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common condition for a modern person. On a fragrant pillow, sleep will be strong, and the morning will be kind and cheerful, because the smells of healing herbs, gently acting on the human body, will relax and soothe.
The work of the heart. The smells of herbs can speed up or slow down heart contractions. Skillfully using this property in the preparation of herbal preparations for pillows, you can resist hypertension and heart attack.
The work of the bronchi and lungs. Even traditional medicine recognizes the benefits of inhalation with plant extracts. The impact of sleeping pillows is akin to this. Aromas of herbs with an antibacterial effect purify the air in the room and make it easier for the sleeper to breathe. Immunity improves, and recovery from flu and colds comes faster.
Snore. The smell of hop cones is quite capable of defeating this pressing problem for many, to which official medicine not yet capable.

Please note! Even a single-ingredient herbal pillow (not to mention a herbal-filled one) can help heal several ailments.

Contraindications to the use of herbal pillows

Prolonged inhalation of the smells of medicinal plants while sleeping on a herbal pillow is a real aromatherapy. Naturally, any therapeutic effect has its contraindications.

Given the fact that the reaction to plants is individual for many, before making such a product for yourself or your loved ones, make sure that its future owner does not have any allergies and the prohibition of the attending physician. Pregnant and lactating women, as well as children, should be especially careful.

And even if the use of herbs is allowed, be careful when putting the kids to bed. Inquisitive babies are quite capable of ripping through the fabric to get to the rustling contents and taste it. And this can lead to at least nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Another important point: be sure to listen to your feelings, and if you do not like the smell of the plant, do not use it, no matter how incredibly useful the medicinal properties it may have. You should get pleasure and positive sensations from sleeping on a herbal pillow!

The shelf life of such herbal joy is one year. Then it should be changed, because the aroma of herbs does not last forever. And if your pillow is damp, do not regret it and throw it away immediately, because the mold and fungus that will probably start in it in this case are very dangerous for health.

Important! On any herbal pillow, you can sleep no more than seven days in a row.

How to make an herbal sleep pillow

The healing properties of herbal pillows are due to what kind of plants they are filled with. Therefore, you need to carefully approach the selection and collection of herbs for their manufacture. Let's talk about everything in more detail.

Selection of herbs for filling the pillow

By filling your grass pad with certain plants, you are shaping it. medicinal properties. But, again, in an effort to make it the most useful, do not forget that the smells should be pleasant for you. If the aroma of any herb is annoying, it is better to replace it with another with similar properties.

The choice of herbs for pads is huge:

Anise. It will save you from nightmares by dulling your emotions, and also contribute to rejuvenation during sleep.
Altey. It tends to ease breathing and coughing, so a herbal pillow stuffed with it is recommended for patients in the off-season.
Orange. It has a tonic effect on the human body. Brings pleasant dreams about relatives and loved ones.
Birch. The smell of its leaves strengthens the immune system, has antibacterial properties, and helps with headaches. Contraindicated in pregnant women.
black elderberry. The smell of its inflorescences has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, helps relieve pain, ease breathing and cure colds. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women and those who have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Valerian. Able to relieve stress and make sleep deep.
Basil. In addition to helping to remember dreams, it also protects against mosquitoes, which are repelled by the aroma of this plant.
Heather. It is very effective for combating insomnia and relieving increased nervous excitability.
Carnation. This plant, like basil, helps to remember dreams and repels mosquitoes with its aroma. And also can restore the forgotten in your memory. Has quite strong smell so it should be used in small quantities.
Geranium meadow. Do not confuse this plant with room pelargonium! It will help to calm down, relieve headaches and immerse you in a restful sleep. Strengthens the immune system, has an antibacterial and antiviral effect. Not recommended for children under six years of age and pregnant women.
Angelica. Dreams inspired by this plant are considered prophetic.
Oregano. This plant has a tonic effect. After sleeping peacefully all night on a herbal pillow from it, waking up, you will be cheerful and ready for great things. But be careful, the smell of oregano also reduces libido and has abortive properties.
St. John's wort. Relieves depression, improves immunity, has bactericidal properties, can ease breathing, soothe and give healthy sleep. Pregnant and lactating, hypertensive patients, as well as children under 12 years of age, the use of this plant is contraindicated.
Hyssop. Feel free to use this plant if you do not like the smell of oregano, they have similar tonic properties.
Clover. Able to moderately reduce blood pressure, relieve headaches, has an antiviral and antibacterial effect. May ease breathing when coughing. Not recommended for pregnant women.
lavender angustifolia. Helps with insomnia. Calms and relieves stress, improves the functioning of the heart and brain, relieves headaches, strengthens the immune system. Its smell is also able to drive away mosquitoes and moths from your bed, it is pleasant and unobtrusive, and it lasts for a very long time - from a sealed incense urn in the tomb of Tutankhamen, it was felt even after three thousand years! This plant is not contraindicated for children and allergy sufferers, but it is better not to use it for pregnant and lactating women.
laurel. The dreams brought by him are pleasant and can become prophetic.
Marjoram. It calms, relieves stress and relieves depression and longing.
Melissa or lemon mint. In addition to sound sleep, this plant is able to bestow freshness and tranquility, relieve headache, toothache and heartache. Avicenna and Paracelsus considered it "the delight of the heart", equating it in value with pure gold. But for those who have low blood pressure, it is contraindicated.
Peppermint. Calms the nervous system, improves the functioning of the brain and heart (working on the prevention of heart attack). It invigorates, relieves fatigue and headache, however, it is not in her power to relieve stress. Pregnant, lactating and children under seven years of age are not recommended for use.
Wormwood or Chernobyl. It has anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties. It will help to cope with fatigue and depression, speed up the metabolism, unobtrusively soothe, bringing vivid (and sometimes prophetic!) dreams. Facilitate breathing, restore efficiency, relieve convulsions. It will protect against blood-sucking insects and mice, scaring them away with its aroma. But do not overdo it with the dosage, the overly strong smell of this herb can cause a headache. Contraindicated in children under seven years of age and pregnant women.
motherwort heart. This plant has been known as a medicinal plant for over 2000 years in Tibetan and Chinese medicine. It has an antibacterial, sedative, anticonvulsant and hemostatic effect. Improves heart activity, strengthens the immune system and stimulates the central nervous system, helping to overcome insomnia. In Russia, motherwort buds and stems were sewn into pillows for restless children. This medicinal herb is contraindicated for those who have low blood pressure and bradycardia.
Rose. It will restore your strength during sleep and make dreams soothing and calm, prophetic or romantic.
pharmaceutical camomile. Hypoallergenic, recommended for children. restful sleep everything is provided on such a herbal pillow, because this ancient medicinal plant is able to cure depression, neuroses, ease breathing, relieve headaches and heartaches. But be careful when dosing! An excess can cause depression of the central nervous system, cause coughing and headaches. Contraindicated in pregnant women, people with mental disorders.
Rosemary. The smell of this plant awakens memory and clarifies the mind, tones up, can relieve headaches and help avoid nightmares. Do not overdo it with the dosage, as the aroma of rosemary is very strong.
yarrow. The smell of this herb stimulates the immune system, saves from flu and respiratory diseases, and has bactericidal properties. Contraindicated in those with high blood pressure.
Conifers. Aromas of needles of plants such as pine, cedar, fir or juniper have antiseptic properties, can relieve heart pain, alleviate mood swings, get rid of obsessive thoughts. Fir, for example, relaxes and brings peace, while cedar saves you from unpleasant dreams.
Common hop (cones). This plant is able to relieve headaches with its aroma, soothe and inspire sleep even with prolonged and persistent insomnia. Hops have such a calming effect that they can even reduce potency, so men should use them with caution.
Citrus. The smells of orange, lemon, grapefruit or tangerine not only tone and refresh, but also act as an aphrodisiac.
Thyme or thyme. It has a powerful antiseptic and analgesic effect, has a slight hypnotic effect, bringing calm and sweet dreams. Strengthens the immune system, relieves depression. With a cold, the smell of this herb will help ease breathing. Contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, ulcers and those who have problems with the kidneys and liver.
Sage. The smell of this plant also has a tonic and healing effect, strengthens the immune system, relieves inflammation, and prevents viral and respiratory diseases. It can calm, give strength, make you think rationally. Pregnant, lactating and epileptics should not use this plant.

Herbal pillows can be both mono- and polycomponent, contain a set of medicinal plants. The healing effect depends on how skillfully the components of the collection are selected.

Collection of raw materials for filling the pillow

Where to get herbs to fill the pillow, everyone decides for himself. You can go the easy way and buy everything at the nearest pharmacy (don't forget about expiration dates!). And you can prepare herbs yourself, however, for this you will have to read additional literature, because each herb has its own collection time and harvesting features (where and how to dry), spend a lot of time and effort. But on the other hand, you will be sure of the environmental friendliness and effectiveness of raw materials.

What your herbal pillow will be stuffed with can be divided into two groups: odorous healing fee and unscented plant parts to add volume. Herbal collection should not be much, because it is unnecessary strong aroma can harm the sleeper. Herbs should be fresh (so that they smell) and well dried (so that they do not rot).

So that the pillow is not microscopic and one could really sleep on it, it is stuffed with parts of “neutral” plants (straw, sedge, willow-herb fluff, heather, bracken-fern), which are shaped. A pillow measuring 20x20 cm will need about half a kilogram of dry filler.

Compose herbal collection you can do it yourself, not focusing on those proposed here, but following your preferences and tastes. Such a set of herbs will be truly unique! But ready-made recipes are still very convenient, because they make it easier to choose and save time.

Here are some of them:

For mental fatigue: a mixture in equal amounts of sprigs of tansy, chamomile, blackcurrant and yarrow.
For morning vivacity: rose petals, hop cones, sprigs of lavender and marjoram.
To relax the muscles: equally leaves of laurel, sweet clover and wormwood.
To improve bronchial function: rosemary, eucalyptus and birch leaves.
To raise the tone: equally - lemon balm leaves, dried orange and lemon peel, 2 drops of lemon aroma oil, 1 drop of orange and tangerine.
To find harmony: rose petals, leaves and stems of lavender and lemon balm, 4 drops essential oil roses, 1 drop of lavender oil.
For restless toddlers (ages 1 year and older): no a large number of chamomile and thyme and 1-2 drops of lavender oil.
From excessive sweating: chamomile flowers, calendula flowers and sage leaves.
Royal Herbal Sleep Pillow: Peppermint, Valerian, Heather, St. John's Wort, Buckthorn, Chamomile, Shamrock, Hops, Primrose, and Lavender. The English king George III liked to sleep, inhaling the aroma of such plants.

To solve such a common problem as insomnia, there are many herbal options:

Hops, lavender and verbena - in equal amounts, violet root, ground into powder - 1/10 of the amount of hops;
Laurel and fern;
Fern, laurel and hop cones;
Hop cones, fern, laurel and mint;
Immortelle, pine needles, hop cones, mint, geranium, oregano, rose petals, bay leaf;
Hop cones, ferns, geraniums;
pine needles, mint and hazel leaves, oregano;
Thyme, mint and sage leaves, lavender sprigs;
Sprigs of wormwood, mint leaves, meadowsweet and lemon balm, chamomile flowers;
Tansy, sweet clover and lavender sprigs;
Chamomile officinalis, rosemary and yarrow;
Nettle, hops, oregano, calendula flowers and birch leaves;
rosemary and chamomile;
Hop cones, mint leaves, lemon balm, yarrow, laurel, sprigs of lavender, meadowsweet, sweet clover, wormwood, chamomile and tansy flowers;
Sweet clover, lavender and tansy;
Melissa, mint, wormwood, meadowsweet and medicinal chamomile;
Melissa, thyme and valerian (in smaller amounts).

Remember! If you add oregano, mimosa, strawberry or jasmine to any collection, then their presence will enhance the effect of all other herbs. And be careful with the use of jasmine, as its overdose can provoke nightmares.

Fabric and decorative elements for making pillows

Do herbal pillow quite easy. From the tools you will need scissors, a ruler, a crayon for marking, threads and a needle, a paper funnel, a sewing machine (you can do without it, in the old days everything was done by hand).

There are also few materials: fabric for a pillowcase and a cover, a “padding”, which by analogy can be called a “natravnik”, parts of plants to add volume and a healing fragrant collection, decor elements.

Let's consider some materials in more detail:

Cover fabric. Naturally, it should be only natural, for example, linen is suitable. It is quite thin, but strong (2 times stronger than cotton and 4 times wool), easy to wash, hygroscopic, has a bactericidal effect, and therefore the fungus does not linger on it. Cotton is more common, more practical and cheaper than linen. Wool is the most hygroscopic of all fabrics, its ability to absorb moisture remarkably is undoubtedly a big plus, because dampness is strictly contraindicated for grassy pillow filling.
Fabric for pillowcase. Suitable poplin, calico, cambric, satin, silk. From what type of fabric it is made, decide for yourself. Each of them is good in its own way. It all depends on the purpose of the pillow. For example, calico is inexpensive and has good wear resistance. Poplin is more pleasant to the touch, but its price is relatively low. Such fabrics are suitable for ordinary bed linen for your own needs. Batiste - light, transparent, but not strong enough and wear-resistant. From it you can sew a thing for a gift to special occasion, for example, for a wedding, assuming that they will not use it too often. Satin is a fairly durable and more expensive fabric, it has a pleasant sheen and caresses to the touch, not like silk, but very similar. From such a fabric, as well as from silk, it is good to sew a gift version of the pillow.
Threads. Very strong. Maybe even synthetic. These are not easy to break, and this is very important if the pillow is intended for a child.
Decor. Considering the fact that the herbal pillow is a follow folk traditions, then it is logical to choose something authentic as a decor. For example, to embroider - and then you will need a needle and thread for embroidery. Moreover, the threads must be of high quality, not sticky. If you decide to decorate the product with beads, then choose those that will not harm the sleeper, for example, with some aggressive components of their lacquer coating. Lace, ribbons and braid should also be safe, made from natural materials.

Instructions for making a pillow from herbs

You must start work in good mood while thinking about something nice. All this will enhance the positive energy of the herbal pillow. You can, of course, not believe in such things, but our ancestors acted just like that, starting good deeds with songs and prayers. In any case, a positive attitude will not bring harm.

Instructions for making herbal pillow:

Training. First, decide on the parameters of the product. Based on the amount of fabric you have, you determine the size of the pillow, and the shape based on its future functions. For those who have problems with the neck, for example, osteochondrosis, a pillow in the form of a roller is suitable. And for a gift for Valentine's Day, you can sew in the form of a heart.
cutting. For the pattern, use thick waxed paper or graph paper. Using a pencil and a ruler, draw it, cut it out, put it on the fabric and circle it with chalk. Unfold, leaving 1-2 cm seam allowances.
Sewing. Fold the pieces of the pattern right side in and stitch, leaving about 10 cm unsewn. Turn the cover inside out and use a paper funnel to fill it tightly with herbs, sew up the hole by hand. Sew the pillowcase in the same way, however, one side should be left unsewn, work the edges, think over the fastener option (a zipper is very convenient), and then decorate as you please.

Features of decorating a pillow made of herbs

In order for the pillow to please you not only with its healing properties, but also with its appearance, and also so that it is not a shame to give it to someone, it will not be superfluous to do decor. It doesn't have to be complicated because it's functional and it's very uncomfortable to sleep on bulky embroidery or a bunch of bows.

Consider ways to decorate the pillow:

Embroidery. The filling of the product can be individual, designed for a particular family member. Therefore, it would be appropriate to embroider a beautiful ligature of the owner's initials in one of its upper corners. The same applies to a pillow intended as a gift. An embroidered bouquet of medicinal plants will also look good. You can embroider with threads, beads or ribbons.
Bows, ribbons, lace, braid. Delicate, not prickly, edging the pillow, they will decorate it and will not interfere during sleep. And in one of the corners, you can sew a loop of ribbon or braid so that the pillow can be hung.
Buttons and beads. With their help, you can make very interesting modern decor. For example, by sewing embroidered flowers as the centers. And so that they do not put pressure on the face of the sleeping person, they should be decorated upper part pillows.
Patchwork (patchwork). In the old days, zealous housewives often did such things, because a whole piece of fabric was an expensive pleasure. Now patchwork is rather a way to give a second life to beautiful flaps. Textured fabric is a decor in itself, but it can also be arranged in the form of a plot picture or pick up an abstract pattern in color to match the bedroom interior.

How to use the aroma pad correctly

It is not enough to make a thing, you also need to be able to use it, even if it is simple pillow. And if it’s herbal! .. There are certain rules here:

Keep the smell. Such a pillow is used for a maximum of a week, and then they take a break. At this time, they put it in a bag and tightly tie it so that the aroma does not disappear.
Shake Before Use. And you can even wrinkle and beat the pillow a little to enhance the smell of herbs.
Change periodically. Do not store for more than one year. Change to a new one with a different composition of herbs. You can repeat the previous collection in a couple of years.
Replace with "sleep bag". If it is still unusual for you to sleep on a herbal pillow, but its effect completely suits you, replace it with a small bag with the same herbs, put it at the head of the bed and enjoy! The most important thing is your comfort!

How to make a herbal pillow - look at the video:

DIY herbal pillow - wonderful folk remedy from many health problems. Filled with the healing power of herbs and charged with the positive energy of good thoughts, she will great gift for your family and yourself.

In some hinterlands of Russia, in villages and villages, the traditions of stuffing mattresses and pillows with medicinal herbs have survived to this day. For us, city dwellers, such a bed, of course, is a curiosity. However, its usefulness is not in doubt.

In addition to the healing effect, the smell of herbs helps to distract from the hassle and bustle of everyday life. Inhaling the aroma, we can be carried away in our thoughts to a carefree childhood filled with the smells of freshly cut hay or summer meadow flowers, remember the first love or a recent happy vacation.

Pleasant memories create an appropriate emotional mood, help you fall asleep peaceful, and therefore wake up rested and full of energy.

In the last article, we studied beneficial features and contraindications of herbs most suitable for sleeping pillows, we learned to choose the ones we need, in accordance with our needs: from, for colds, to relieve fatigue, to increase efficiency.

Today we will talk about how to make a pillow from herbs.

If you collect herbs yourself, think about the good, so that your good energy will strengthen healing properties plants. In the old days, it was customary to accompany with prayers and songs any good deeds, especially those aimed at healing.

The pillow may have different sizes: normal to tiny. The more aromatic and active the plant (rosemary, sage, hop cones), the smaller the pad should be. Your imagination will tell you the shape: round, square, oval. If you have cervical osteochondrosis, the form of a roller is preferable, fill it with herbs more tightly.

For the main pillowcase (cover or pillowcase), only natural (“breathable”) and dense fabrics (cotton, linen, teak) are used so that the fillers do not seep and prick the face and neck.

Sew a pair of removable pillowcases from cambric, poplin, calico, silk. They can be worn over the cover, and changed for washing.

Herbs that give volume to the pillow

A feature and disadvantage of an aromatic pillow is the rapid caking of herbs. To avoid this, herbs are used that keep their shape - sedge, heather, bracken, straw.

The addition of these herbs also helps to avoid an overdose when you want to have a big pillow, and the selected herbs are strong (rosemary, sage, hop cones) and strong-smelling (mint, oregano, elderberry).

heather will not only give volume to our sleeping pillow, but it will also calm the nerves, help recovery from respiratory and viral diseases, facilitate breathing in a dream when coughing. Heather is harvested in August-September (flowering tops).

Sedge considered little studied medicinal plant, however, even our distant ancestors began to use sedge to fill mattresses and pillows, noticing it beneficial effect on health.

Sedge usually grows in damp places, in swamps, and happens both with small and with large leaves. The small-leaved mattress turns out to be softer, but caking faster. Large-leaved sedge will give the mattress or pillow elasticity, and will allow you to maintain volume for a long time.

Knowledgeable people advise making 2 mattresses: one with large leaves (placed down), the second with small ones (placed on top). The same goes for pillows.

Pillows and mattresses stuffed with sedge can reliably serve for at least a year. They need to be shaken up from time to time. If from spring the sedge is constantly mowed in a certain place, then up to late autumn it will give you excellent stuffing raw materials, without admixtures of last year's blades of grass.

bracken fern in many areas it is considered a weed that is very difficult to get rid of. Nevertheless, the plant has long gained popularity as a cheap building (in roofing works), bedding material for livestock, as fertilizer and fuel.

In California, bracken was adapted for weaving baskets, in European countries - for filling pillows and mattresses. The benefits of a fern bed are explained by its bactericidal, stimulating, antipyretic, analgesic properties.

Dry, grind, mix, fill ...

We dry. Before use, dry the plants thoroughly so that mold and fungus do not interfere with our recovery. Usually herbs are dried in the shade, in a ventilated place, spread out thin layer and tedding several times a day. Herbs are ready when they break easily and rustle when touched. If you use roots, then it is better to dry them in the oven.

We grind. We break or cut the plants into pieces of 1 cm. The herbs that give the pillow volume can not be particularly crushed.

We mix. Use the recipes from the previous article or be guided by your intuition. At the same time, be sure to listen to your feelings - you should like the smell of grass. Also, look at the combination of flavors.

We stuff. For a pillow measuring 20 * 20 cm, you will need up to 500 g of dry filler. If you have not used up all the grass, then put the rest in a paper bag or a glass tightly closed jar, it will come in handy for “fresh pillows”, for baths, tea (in the absence of allergies and contraindications).

How to use herbal helper

Herbal pillows are short-lived and serve up to 2-3 months: medicinal plants gradually lose their healing properties.

Day rest pillow can be filled with tonic and restoring herbs: wormwood, lavender, geranium.

Before bedtime shake the sleeping assistant well to enhance the aroma of herbs.

small pillow put next to the head, under the main pillow or put in a pillowcase.

Storage: put the pillow after each use in a plastic bag in a dark place to keep the fragrance of plants longer.

Will last a long time coniferous pillow: its contents are changed during the year 1 or 2 times. ahead New Year, take the opportunity and before you throw away the Christmas tree after the holidays, collect the needles and use it to fill the pillow. Fir needles are more delicate and not so prickly when harvesting as pine needles.

Pine phytoncides have a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, stimulating effect, have a beneficial effect on the nervous, cardiac and vascular system. Coniferous pillow will help with insomnia, hysteria, colds, flu, facilitate breathing during sleep when coughing, improve brain function.

Course duration the use of the pillow has limitations: from one to three weeks. After that, you can change it with a new one, with a different composition. The course is repeated 2 or 3 times a year.

Do not store the herbal pillow for more than a year.

In Russia, the procedure for updating their straw beds was necessarily carried out in mid-October, on the day of St. George. By this time, threshing was over, and there was no shortage of straw.

Last year's straw, which had turned into dust, was shaken out of mattresses and pillows. It was customary to burn it. The bedclothes were washed and dried, then stuffed with fresh straw, fragrant herbs or flowers prepared since summer were added to it.

If, using a scented pillow for sleeping, you feel unwell, headaches - stop using it.

PILLOWS IN VEGETABLE DOWN

Our great-grandmothers knew how to make them from cattail, willow-herb or thistle. This process is quite laborious, but the result was worth it. The pillow turned out to be surprisingly light and could serve for more than one year.

Cut off the cob cattail when they turn dark brown (in September). For drying, they left it in the sun, and in bad weather under a ventilated canopy.

When the tips of the cobs began to bloom, becoming fluffy, they were put in a pillowcase and immediately sewn up, leaving only a small hole. They dried it by hanging the blank of the pillow near the oven.

When the cobs were completely dry, the fluff unfolded and filled the pillowcase. After that, the stems were carefully removed one by one through the hole. The pillow was sewn up. Moreover, the cob spring collection never used, because they probably had insect larvae.

Properly collected and well-dried cattail fluff is not subject to dampness and mold.

If there was no cattail, they took fluff thistle. Preparing it is quite difficult. Flower heads were cut immediately after flowering, when white tassels appeared in place of the flowers.

The work required patience and perseverance: they pulled out the fluff with their hands, filled the pillowcase, sewed it up and dried it on the stove.

Down was collected in some places Ivan tea(Fireweed angustifolia). The seed pods were collected before opening into a bag, which was tied with a knot. A bag of raw materials was dried in the sun or placed on an oven. Dried boxes burst, light fluff filled the bag.

For a better separation of the fluff, the bag was shaken and beaten with wooden sticks, turning it upside down. At the same time, the boxes fell to the knot of the bag, and the fluff rose up. It remained to untie the knot and pour out all unnecessary.

At the end of the article MASTER CLASS:

How to make a decorative pillow from herbs with your own hands

We will need:

So let's get started:

1. Place cardboard heart templates on the fabric, trace them with a pencil and cut them out. We have three hearts.

2. We fix the smallest heart on a large one with pins with heads. We sew a small heart to a large hand or machine seam.

3. We sew two large hearts together, leaving a small hole at the top, through which we will lay the herbs.

4. Insert a paper funnel into the hole and fill the pillow with fragrant grass. Pictured is lavender. Sewing the hole by hand.

5. Sew on a ribbon loop at the top. Now the pillow can be hung up and decorate the interior of the room.

6. We sew a cute bow to a small heart using the same ribbon.

It turned out to be a nice pillow. Hand-stitched, filled healing power herbs and charged with your kind thoughts, it can be a pleasant and useful gift.

Give your loved ones your care and love!

Herbal pillows - a way to improve sleep that has come down to us from time immemorial. Most of these sleeping accessories are represented by a bag made of natural textiles and stuffed with various herbs. As a rule, it is decorated with a beautiful removable pillowcase. Filling and shape can be very diverse. The choice of "insides" and appearance depends on the personal preferences of the person and on what the product is intended for.

The aroma exuded by dried plants has a beneficial, healing effect on the nervous system - gives peace of mind and helps to restore strength in a dream. The herbal pillow also has hypnotic, aromatherapy and antibacterial effects. During the night, a subtle scent is transferred to the hair. In addition, it perfectly aromatizes the bedroom, simultaneously cleaning it from harmful microbes.

Benefits of herbal pillows

stuffed medicinal herbs sleeping accessory is rightfully considered one of the the best means to eliminate insomnia and improve the quality of sleep. However, its useful properties do not end there.

Here are some of the most common problems that can be dealt with with the help of such pads:

Insomnia and sleep disorders. The main property of a pillow made of medicinal plants is the acceleration of falling asleep. Depending on what kind of herbs this item is stuffed with, it can calm frisky nerves and eliminate nightmares.
Fatigue and anxiety. Sometimes even after a long sleep, you can feel overwhelmed. Chronic fatigue is common these days. With a fragrant pillow, sleep will be healthy, and the morning will undoubtedly be cheerful. The smells of medicinal plants inside it have a mild effect on the body and relax well.
Snore. This scourge can be effectively dealt with with hop cones. Their aroma is able to naturally eliminate the problem that is relevant for many.
Bronchitis and lung diseases. The use of extracts of medicinal plants for inhalation is recognized by traditional medicine. The effect of herbal pads bears some resemblance to this procedure. The aromas of antibiotic plants perfectly clean the air in the room, help to ease the breathing of the sleeper and give him a sound sleep. In addition, they increase immunity, as a result of which a person recovers faster.
Malfunctions in the work of the heart. The smell of some plants can speed up or, conversely, slow down the pulse. If you use them to make a sleeping accessory, you can prevent pressure surges and a heart attack.

Note that a pillow filled with even one medicinal plant can help get rid of a number of ailments.

What fillers help with insomnia

By filling your own pad of herbs with plants, you can shape its healing properties. Make several mono-component accessories for different needs: one will eliminate insomnia, another will speed up falling asleep, the third will calm and relieve tension. Or use several components at once to stuff one.

In the process of selecting herbs, you should always remember that their smell should evoke pleasant emotions. If a plant is unpleasant for you, you need to replace it with another with the same properties.

Here is a description of the most popular herbs for pillows.

Hop

Even the most prolonged insomnia recedes before the aroma of this natural doctor. True, you can fall asleep so soundly that you oversleep while getting up for work. As soon as you feel that you are falling into a dream, move the intoxicating pillow away from you, or even better, completely drop it on the floor.

Hops are effective in the complex treatment of neurosis, high blood pressure, angina pectoris. Also well eliminates irritability.

Use extreme caution when using a hop cone pillow to soothe a sleepy child. After all, the rustling of cones can interest the baby so much that he decides to put them in his mouth. Such an acquaintance will end with vivid symptoms of poisoning.

The optimal time for collecting hop cones is autumn.

Oregano

It has a very pleasant aroma, which tidies up the nerves and gives a healthy sleep. It is often used as a filler for herbal pillows.

Harvesting oregano can be done in July and August. You only need to cut the top of the plant. The distance from the root should be at least 20 cm.

Geranium meadow

Do not confuse - by no means pelargonium!

Geranium relieves stress and helps to fall asleep quickly. In addition, it is able to fight viruses, bacteria and increase immunity. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

You need to collect geraniums when it blooms - from June to September. By the way, almost all types of geraniums are healing.

Melissa

This herb is included in pillow stuffing as an anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is desirable to use it to eliminate insomnia, various neuroses, headaches, colds, flu (fights viruses and bacteria) and to facilitate breathing during sleep.

In addition, lemon balm prevents the development of heart diseases and treats existing ones. Harvesting should be done during its flowering period.

pharmaceutical camomile

It is a medicinal plant known since ancient times. Its aroma calms the nerves and disinfects the air in the room.

Chamomile pillow treats insomnia, neurosis, heart disease, eases breathing, relieves depression, prevents respiratory diseases from developing, and relieves headaches.

To make a sleeping accessory, you need to stock up on flowers or the entire aerial part of the plant. This should be done during the flowering period - in May, June or July.

How to make a collection to improve sleep

You can collect herbs for a personal pillow at your discretion, guided by your own taste. After all, those sets that are published on the Internet are not the ultimate truth. Therefore, it is not necessary to follow them. By choosing plants according to your preferences, you will receive a unique accessory. At the same time, it is very convenient to use ready-made recipes - they significantly save time spent on choosing components.

Where can I get pillow stuffing material? The simplest solution is to buy everything you need at a nearby pharmacy. If you wish, you can independently engage in the preparation of medicinal plants. We note right away that this will be fraught with some difficulties. You will need to spend time reading thematic literature, take into account the time for collecting each herb and understand the nuances of harvesting (where exactly and how to dry). In return, you will get confidence in the environmental friendliness and effectiveness of your own collected raw materials.

Here are some prescription examples of filling a pillow that can help get rid of insomnia and improve sleep. So, her stuffing should consist of:

hop cones, verbena, lavender (in equal proportions) and violet root pounded to a powdery state (a tenth of the hop volume);
laurel, fern and hop cones;
oregano, mint, geranium, immortelle, hop cones, pine needles, laurel and rose petals;
hazel, mint, pine needles and oregano;
chamomile (flowers), mint, lemon balm, meadowsweet and wormwood (twigs);
calendula (flowers), birch (leaves), oregano, hop cones and nettles;
tansy and chamomile (flowers), wormwood, sweet clover, meadowsweet and lavender (twigs), laurel, yarrow, lemon balm and mint (leaves), hop cones;
valerian (in small quantities), thyme and lemon balm.

There is a recipe for the so-called royal herbal pillow. The monarch of Great Britain George III slept on it. He really liked to enjoy the aroma of lavender, primrose, hop cones, shamrock, chamomile, buckthorn, St. John's wort, heather, valerian and peppermint.

It is important to remember: jasmine, strawberry, mimosa or oregano added to any collection significantly enhance the effect of all other components. And jasmine in general must be handled with extreme caution. Its excess can cause nightmares.

Contraindications

Sleeping on a herbal pillow is an element of aromatherapy. Inhaling the smell of medicinal plants is extremely beneficial. But, unfortunately, not all. This method of treating sleep disorders and a number of other diseases has contraindications.

Each person reacts to substances released into the air by medicinal herbs in different ways. Some people like the aroma, some people are indifferent to it, some people feel sick from it, and some people may have a very serious allergic reaction.

Therefore, before you start creating such a product for yourself, a relative or a friend, make sure that its future owner has neither allergies nor medical contraindications. Breastfeeding mothers and young children are advised to consult a doctor before using this sleeping accessory. And it is better for pregnant women not to risk it at all and refuse it.

If the doctor has given the go-ahead for aromatherapy with a herbal pillow, please note that you should not give it to children in their hands. After all, they immediately want to know what is so interesting rustling inside. And, of course, taste the contents. The ingestion of certain plants in the digestive tract of a child threatens with poisoning.

Before sewing a sleeping accessory, you need to smell all the stuffing components you have chosen. If the smell of a plant does not suit you, you can not put it inside. Even if it's super useful. Sleeping on a pillow of herbs should bring only pleasure.

Like any product, herb-filled bedding has an expiration date. You can use it for one year. Then it will have to be replaced - the healing aroma will disappear during this time. If you feel that it has become damp, get rid of it as soon as possible. Damp conditions quickly develop fungi and mold, which pose a health hazard.

Sleeping on any pillow stuffed with herbs is allowed for no longer than a week. After that, you need to take a break.

We make a pillow with our own hands

First of all, we decide on the size. Herbal pillow can be both standard and very tiny. The most powerful and fragrant plants(hop cones, sage or rosemary) it is recommended to put in a small one. The shape of sleeping accessories are square, oval and round. If the future owner of the pillow suffers from cervical osteochondrosis, it is advisable to make it in the form of a roller and stuff it tightly with plant material.

The main pillowcase (cover) must be sewn from natural (which is well breathable) and dense textiles. Linen, cotton or teak are great. The filler should not come out and prick. In addition to the main one, you will need at least 2 removable pillowcases. For their tailoring, you can use silk, coarse calico, poplin or cambric. They are worn over the cover and changed periodically.

Unfortunately, dried medicinal herbs very quickly caking, and the pillow loses its original appearance. In order for the sleeping accessory to keep its shape, you need to add straw, heather, sedge or bracken to the main collection of plants. Dilution of the healing stuffing with them is also necessary in order to prevent an overdose.

The risk of overdoing it with the amount of medicinal herbs appears when a pillow is sewn big size, and selected herbs are potent (for example, the hop cones already mentioned above, sage and rosemary) and overly aromatic (elder, oregano and mint).

You can sew a large grass pillow and replace it with the one on which you slept before. Alternative option- make a small one and keep it under the usual one. In winter, before going to bed, it is good to lay out such a pillow on the heating battery for 10 minutes. The bedroom will be enveloped in a pleasant and healing aroma. Remember that just before use, the accessory must be shaken slightly.

An important point: prolonged aromatherapy can harm health. After all, aromas are a kind of medicine. This means that they must be accepted according to the rules.

And finally

There is a large number various ways fight insomnia and improve sleep. But the most pleasant and useful among them are pillows filled with medicinal herbs. They help to calm down chronic fatigue, get out of a depressive state and improve the quality of night rest.

On some interior accessories and on the corners of summer blankets, you can see dried petals, inflorescences or twigs, tucked under a translucent fabric. Finding them for sale is not easy. Yes, and there is no need. After all, it is not difficult to do the same with your blanket. True, it is best not to redo an already finished thing, but to sew a brand new herbal pillow.

If you find it uncomfortable to sleep on a pillow stuffed with dried plants, sew a “sleeping bag” instead. Fill it with exactly the same herbs and place it at the head of the bed or under the sheet.

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