If you have been following your guides to a tee but you’re still not experiencing lucid dreaming, it’s probably the right time to add another component to your routine.
Lucid dreaming herbs.
But, here’s the thing.
There are literally dozens of plants out there that promise to enhance your dream recall and induce lucid dreaming. With so many options, choosing the best one for you can feel like a daunting task.
The good news is that we’re able to round up the best lucid dreaming herbs that can actually work. Add these herbs to your diet and experience their effects on your subconscious.
Calea Zachatechi
Best taken: As tea
Calea Zachatechi is one of the most popular herbs when it comes to lucid dreaming. Dubbed as the Herb of God, this one has the ability to do three things:
- Increase the frequency of your dreams
- Increase your reaction time
- Boost your dream recall
Now, those aren’t just claims. There’s actually a study to back that up.
The herb is best taken as a tea but it can taste really bad. You can either just get used to it or you can find a way to counteract its taste.
One good tip is to suck a sweet while drinking it. You can also try chewing a few mints before drinking it to numb your taste buds.
If that method doesn’t look appealing to you, smoking is another way you can take Calea Zachatechi. It’s legal in most places in the world so you won’t have to worry about any legal repercussions.
In fact, you can actually grow it at home. Doing so will save you not just money but time, too.
Valerian Root
Best taken: As tea or tincture
For centuries, Valerian Root has been used to induce lucid dreaming, trigger more vivid dreams, and make them more intense. It has also been used to promote better sleep and lessen anxiety.
It was first used by Hippocrates, one of the most famous figures in ancient medicine. He used the herb mainly to treat digestive issues, urinary tract infections, and liver problems.
By 1800, this herb became popular for treating hysteria and general mania. Because of such effects, Valerian Root was considered as the Valium of such time.
Apart from the Greeks, Chinese, Indian and the people in Europe also used this herb for a number of purposes.
Its most profound effect, however, is in lucid dreaming and its ability to make dreams more bizarre.
You see, the more bizarre your dreams are, the more you’ll be able to remember them.
If you have been trying out lucid dreaming for quite awhile, you’d know how important dream recall is.
To make a Valerian Root tea is really easy. All you need to do is get 1 teaspoon of dried herb or 3 teaspoons of freshly crushed herb.
Take note that the measurement is only good for 1 cup. If you need to make 2 cups, then you need to double that.
One important thing you have to remember is that you can’t boil Valerian Root. So, when the water is about ⅓ boiled or when you start seeing small bubbles in the water, you can pour it onto the root.
Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes and the tea is good to go.
Peppermint
Best taken: Added to bath water; as tea
Now, this is something you probably already have at home. It tastes nice which is why a lot of people prefer to take it as tea.
However, to get the most out of this herb, it’s’ best if you can add it to your bath water and soak in it before you sleep.
Peppermint has this unique ability to make dreams more vivid and alive. Its smell and taste can also help you feel more calm and relaxed which promote better sleep.
Passionflower
Best Taken: As tea
Passionflower is both a medicine and sedative in South America during the pre-Columbian times. It’s named as such to symbolize Jesus Christ’s passion and mystery.
What makes it great for lucid dreaming?
This herb and most of its species possess MAO-inhibiting properties. MAO or Monoamine oxidase is a type of enzyme that aids in the breakdown of norepinephrine, intracellular dopamine, and serotonin.
By inhibiting MAO and those neurotransmitters, Passion Flower works as a narcotic and sedative.
To prepare this herb, you only need to steep 2.5 grams of its dried leaves in a cup of boiling water for about 5 minutes. You can combine it with other lucid dreaming herbs, like Valerian Root, to get a more potent effect.
Mugwort
Best Used: Under pillow
Mugwort is a type of herb that’s known for its ability to produce vivid dreams. It can also calm and boost one’s dream recall.
For a lot of lucid dreamers, placing a few leaves of Mugwort under their pillows or inside their pillowcases work best. Using it in such way can help you experience a more peaceful sleep.
Now, if you’re a smoker, you can also smoke Mugwort. All you have to do is roll it just like your normal cigarette.
In case that sounds like a lot of work, you can just prepare it as tea. Make sure to brush off the dirt from the roots before placing it into your pot.
A word of caution:
Although Mugwort is one of the best herbs when it comes to lucid dreaming, it isn’t safe for everyone to take. If you are pregnant, for example, you need to avoid using it because of its ability to stimulate menstruation.
You should also avoid taking it if you know you’ll need to complete important tasks the next day. Mugwort can cause fatigue the day after taking it.
Silene Capensis
Best taken: As tea
Silene Capensis isn’t just known for its hypnotizing aroma; it can also induce really vivid dreams.
Some say it can boost prophetic dreams or those dreams that seem to be connected to your future. For example, if you focus on a question, you’ll have a good chance of experiencing the answer in your dreams.
Interesting, right?
One important thing to remember when using this herb is to choose its roots. It’s where its psychoactive components are concentrated.
You can buy the roots in a lot of stores, particularly since it’s legal everywhere. If you do buy the roots, you have to make sure to prime it first before storing and steeping them.
If you’re the busy type, you can just go ahead and buy powdered Silene Capensis roots. You’ll just have to steep the powder overnight in cold water.
In the morning, give your container a good shake until there’s white froth. Drink it straight up and wait for the effects to kick in after a few hours.
Celastrus paniculatus
Best Taken: Chewed
Celastrus Paniculatus can sound like it came straight from a Harry Potter book but its effects are surely not fictional. In fact, it’s called the Elixir of Life.
This herb is packed with properties that can promote longevity, sharpen the memory, and boost concentration. These are the exact reasons why it’s a good help to anyone experiencing seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, and ADD-type disorders.
The herb is also often prescribed to address cases of mental fatigue, forgetfulness and even memory loss.
As for lucid dreaming, Celastrus can make your memory and brain sharper. In essence, this means recalling dreams and attaining awareness while you’re dreaming would be easier.
There are a handful of ways to prepare Celastrus. You can extract its oil or chew the seeds without any elaborate preparation.
Take note that the seeds aren’t the best tasting seeds so you’ll have to sweeten it with agave nectar or honey after soaking in a few teaspoons of boiling water.
As to how many seeds you need to consume, eat about 5 to 10 seeds an hour before your bedtime. Do it for 3 to 5 days or until you experience lucid dreaming.
Blue Lotus
Best Taken: Wine or tea
Blue Lotus is a really pretty flower. It has this intoxicating scent that’s known for its aphrodisiac qualities.
In reality, however, this flower can trigger a subtle sense of tranquility with an altered sense of awareness, making it great for anyone trying to experience lucid dreaming.
But, there’s a catch.
This dream won’t really induce lucidity in dreams. What it does is aid in the transition so you can get into your lucid dream state faster and easier.
Now, how can you experience that?
There are actually tons of ways you can use or take Blue Lotus but the most traditional and favored by a lot of lucid dreamers is its wine form.
For that, you’ll need to soak a few flowers or buds in any wine or liquor. If you’re not into bitter flavors, it’s a good idea if you can choose sweet wines to mask any bitterness.
You can also take it as a tea. You can soak the flowers in hot water or buy Blue Lotus tea bags to save time.
Warning:
Blue Lotus isn’t legal in all countries. Russia, for example, bans Nelumbo nucifera.
In the US, this herb isn’t legal for human consumption. You’ll be able to get it only in massage oil or incense form.
Mexican Tarragon
Best Taken: As tea; smoked
The Mexican Tarragon is a powerful psychoactive specie of marigold. It was used by the Aztecs before as a ritual incense. Now, in some parts of the world, it’s being used as an offering to the deceased.
Mexican Tarragon can make you really sleepy. This is why it’s strongly recommended that you take it before you go to bed.
You can take it as tea or you can smoke it with other lucid dreaming herbs, like Calea Zacatechichi.
Wild Asparagus Root
Best Taken: As tea; smoked
Wild Asparagus Root has boot spiritual and physical benefits. It can improve your skin, lungs, and sexual health.
As a dream-inducing herb, this root can reduce stress and relax the mind. A lot of people experience flying or soaring through the sky after taking the herb.
Because of such effect, the herb is dubbed as the “Flying Herb” or “Fly by Night”.
Now, to experience the same thing, you can make it as a tea. It has a sweet and bitter taste so you won’t have a hard time consuming it.
Heimia Salicifolia
Best Taken: Fermented
Heimia Salicifolia is a pretty impressive herb. It’s called the “Sun Opener” for its ability to deepen the consciousness, awaken the mind, and aid in enlightenment.
By taking it or adding it to your routine, you’ll be able to jump and fly in magical ways when you dream. That’s certainly nothing average for lucid dreamers.
In addition to that, this herb is also believed to be capable of triggering astral travel. It’s when your “astral body” separates from your physical body and travel outside of it.
Heimia Salicifolia isn’t hard to find but it’s mostly found in hot and tropical regions, like Mexico, Central America, and southwest of United States.
Take note that if you are new to lucid dreaming, this herb can make you experience a lot of new and exciting things. Be prepared for them.
It can trigger mild auditory hallucinations, euphoria, and increased perspiration. You can also experience a heightened state of euphoria.
Burdock Root
Best Taken: As tea
If you can’t seem to get away from nightmares, consider adding burdock to your night routine. It’s a really big help when it comes to triggering positive dreams and avoiding anger, negativity, and sadness in your dreams.
