The Common Hops (Humulus lupulus) is a hardy, twining climbing vine. When female flowers mature into fruiting heads, the pale green, cone-like female flower clusters (seed cones or strobiles) are harvested. Humulus is from the Latin word for “soil:” humus. This refers to the fact that if it doesn’t climb on anything, it grows on …
For as long as we have dreamed, we have tried to understand the meaning of our dreams. Over the ages, many meanings have been ascribed to various dream elements as is apparent when checking out any dream dictionary. Recently, psychologists in the West have tried to approach dream interpretation by means of the scientific method, …
We all know lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a leaf vegetable used in salads and sandwiches, however other than being a culinary plant, lettuce also has religious and medicinal significance. Lettuce has mild narcotic properties, and was even known as “sleepwort.” The Yazidi people of northern Iraq even are prohibited from eating the plant. Lettuce illegal?! …
Lettuce for Insomnia, Lucid Dreaming, and as an Opium/Cannabis Alternative Read More »
Scutellaria lateriflora (mad-dog skullcap) is a plant of the mint family native to North America. It was used for its healing properties by Native American tribes, and later adopted by European settlers. As a nervine tonic, skullcap has traditionally been used as a remedy for mental disorders. In this article, I will focus on skullcap’s …
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – a Sleep & Dreams Remedy Read More »
In this article I list non-herbs (animal products and minerals) from the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia that can help alleviate sleep and dream problems, such as insomnia, excessive dreaming, nightmares and bad dreams, and so on. They are listed below along with their indications (specific conditions for which the remedy is used) and contraindications (conditions in …
17 non-herbs from Chinese medicine for Sleep and Dream Problems Read More »
In this article I list the major herbs from the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia that can help alleviate dream problems, such as excessive dreaming, nightmares and bad dreams, and so on. They are listed below along with their indications (specific conditions for which the herb is used) and contraindications (conditions in which the herb should not …
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), previously known as “war neurosis,” is a psychiatric condition which develops in approximately 10% of persons who are exposed to severely threatening trauma (a single event or repeated episodes). One of the most distressing symptoms associated with this disorder are PTSD nightmares, insomnia, and other sleep problems. The trauma is usually …
There are quite a few herbs used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners in order to treat sleeplessness (insomnia). Below are some examples along with their indications (specific conditions for which the herb is used) and contraindications (conditions in which the herb should not be used). If you’re interested in purchasing a personalized remedy for any …
The hypothalamus is a part of the brain made of different nuclei that serve a variety of functions, such as to control fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The hypothalamus regulates sleep by a homeostatic mechanism, wherein pressure is built up during waking hours in the form of adenosine accumulation, which is relieved at sleep onset …
There is a structure in our brainstem known as the reticular formation. It includes ascending pathways which lead to the higher brain and descending pathways which lead to the spinal cord. Its functions include sleep and consciousness. The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) in particular is involved in behavioral arousal and consciousness as well as …
