plant Medicine for NIGHTMARES

Hi I’m 24 an avid reader on Permies but this is my first post! YAY I’m looking for some guidance :/ as of recent I’ve been having extremely vivid and frightening nightmares. I assume they are probably anxiety dreams but I’m looking for any suggestions that directly target scary dreams. I have already started tackling my anxiety with anxiolytics like : passsionflower, skullcap, chamomile, lemon balm, valerian.
Any suggestions? :3

Hi ashley and welcome! Nightmares are no fun. It sounds like you're headed down the right path trying some of the time-honoured herbs that help with sleeping and relaxation. A couple more that I've seen recommended are English lavender and licorice. You could also try some of the poppy family, especially California or Mexican poppies and Corydalis (scrambled eggs, fumeweed), which are supposed to work well together.

I tried agnus castus once and it GAVE me nightmares. I took it for three months hoping it would help and I had a nightmare every single night I took it, then they stopped when the pack ran out.

It might be worth looking to see if there's anything you are taking or doing that is causing the nightmares and then stop/remove that thing.

Hello,
I would recommend blue vervain-tincture or tea.  It combines well with the other herbs you are taking.  

I feel for you! I used to struggle with nightmares too, despite being happy and well-adjusted during the day. I spent years trying different things. The only thing that helped (and also helped instantly) was reducing my exposures to Wireless Radiation.

You could start by turning off the WiFi router at night and turning off your phone, computer, tablets, etc. Airplane Mode no longer fully disables Wireless Radiofrequency Radiation on most cell phones, unless you also turn off the Bluetooth and mobile data. If you need to be reached overnight, you could put your cell phone ~6 feet away and still turn off the WiFi router and other devices.

Those small actions helped a ton, so I kept going. I bought an EMF canopy and have never had another nightmare, except on the nights when I slept elsewhere without one. I now connect to the internet using an Ethernet cord and USB adapter. I keep my devices in Airplane Mode while connected through Ethernet.

This website has some great tips to get started. It's run by the non-profit Environmental Health Trust: http://healthytechhome.org

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you ever want to talk more about it. Reducing Wireless Radiation also made my anxiety go away, and my laundry list of inflammatory health conditions went into remission.

We are electromagnetic mammals, so it makes sense in hindsight. So much stuff is being broadcast wirelessly that is nightmare-ish in nature, so perhaps that influences our dreams.

You could also consider having an in-depth lab workup with an integrative doctor to make sure there aren't any nutrient deficiencies or other things that could be contributing. You're very wise for listening to your body and being proactive. <3

Nightmares can be caused by over-the-counter meds, like allergy and sinus meds, so be aware of that.  You are on a good path if you are looking into calming herbs. One of my favorites is lemonbalm, which I like to put into hot water with honey as a tea. Anxiety can be overwhelming sometimes. In my younger years, I had anxiety very bad. Now that I have gotten older, and my hormones have changed, I no longer have anxiety. Therefore, I think that hormones may have some play in the world of anxiety. Eat clean foods, and do some research on herbs for hormones, that may help anxiety. I am sorry I don't have a perfect answer on this for you.

Valerian root is the plant I would think of.  Looks like you are already taking it.    Maybe you can take more.   You can grow it too.   Sometimes it is more powerful to use medicinal plants you grow yourself.   You can just pick valerian rootlets and eat them raw.  

I would also get up as early as possible,  I have read and experienced that the bad dreams are usually the ones we have at the end of the sleeping cycle.  If you get up super early you may be able to skip that part of the cycle.


Anxiety can be caused or exacerbated by parasites.   I would run myself through some ivermectin and or anti parasite herbs.  Wormwood, clove and black walnut hull is a common mixture.  


I hope you feel better soon!