The Elusive Lucid Dream: Herbal Allies for The Dreamer’s Toolkit
Journey Beyond The Veil: Discover wild asparagus root, valerian, and mugwort — ancient allies for dreamers and seekers alike.
How many of us remember our dreams? How many of us can control them?
Lucid dreaming takes dreams beyond passive witness to engaged participant. To put it more succinctly: people who have lucid dreams know when they are dreaming. Better yet, they have the ability to control their dreams.
While nearly 25% of people don’t remembering dreaming at all, a majority do. A 2025 study published in Communications Psychology revealed that participants who put more faith in the meaning of dreams were more likely to remember them.
But how do you go that next step into lucid dreaming, into controlling and experiencing your dreams?
According to Nick Polizzi of The Sacred Science:
"The lucid dreamers I know are able to navigate their dreamscape with an awakened mind, asking characters they come across pretty insightful questions about their spirit path. They can run, jump, and fly at will, gaining profound inner wisdom from the experience."
If you want to dream more at night and maybe even experience the elusive lucid dream, three herbs may help. These herbs have been used for centuries as both medicines and dream enhancers.
Caution: Although these herbs are completely legal, one should practice caution when taking them. On top of producing better dreams, these herbs also have medicinal properties. Take this into consideration when using them and perform proper research first.
These 3 Foods Promote Lucid Dreams
Wild Asparagus Root - Asparagus Racemosus
Asparagus root is called Tian Men Dong in Chinese. Literally, of course, this refers to the root or tuber of the Asparagus plant variety found in southeast Asia. However, this root is traditionally viewed as the “Heavenly Gate Root.” Shamans, monk, and yogis have cherished this herb for millennia because of it’s heart-opening properties.
It also known as “The Flying Herb” because it is believed that it helps a person to fly through the night, achieving magnificent dreams. This was important because wisdom schools of ancient China place much value on lucid dream work.
According to Chinese folk medicine, asparagus root has a direct and positive effect on heart energy and dissolving our physical incarnation dualities. On the other hand, recent research on compounds in asparagus extract reveal its influence on REM and nREM sleep and melatonin production. Perhaps it’s this combination that makes asparagus root a good sleep companion.
Preparation
Brewing a tea of either the fresh or dried root is the best way to use wild asparagus. However, fresh asparagus root will be much more potent and efficient.
Valerian Root - Valeriana Officinalis
Commonly used in folk medicine as a calming aid, muscle relaxant, and to promote deep sleep for centuries, valerian root also tends to induce lucid dreaming. That is because it causes a heightened state of slumber.
Valerian also appears to help people remember their dreams. Unfortunately, most of us simply don’t remember our dreams. Valerian may help with that.
A 2020 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrated Medicine found that the side effects of using valerian for anxiety-induced insomnia included both vivid dreaming and remembering those dreams.
Valerian root may be just the thing you need to remember your dreams and even navigate them successfully.
Warning: There is not enough information on the effect of valerian root on pregnant women to determine whether it is safe or not. If you are expecting, it’s best to avoid it.
Keep in Mind: Valerian root will intensify any nocturnal adventure be it a good dream or a nightmare. Keep that into account when using it to enhance a dream state.
Preparation
More often than not, valerian is brewed in a tea. However, be sure to use hot, not boiling, water. Boiling water will destroy the delicate oils in the root. It is also possible to get a tincture from dried or fresh valerian root. These can generally be found in health food or online herb stores.
Mugwort - Artemisia Vulgaris
Mugwort has a rich medicinal and metaphysical history throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It appears in Celtic and Norse mythology as a magical plant that can ward off evil. In fact, mugwort was hung in doorways and burnt as incense to remove stagnant air and prevent illness.
This herb in the artemisia family, mugwort is naturally linked to Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the Moon. One prominent compound, thujone, may hold the key to the vibrant dreams. Not only are the dreams more vibrant and memorable, but they also may be more engaging for the dreamer.
Mugwort is known as “Molush” by the Chumash Indians of California, and its Paiute name translates literally to “Dream Plant”. It’s often smoked in indigenous ceremonies, and interestingly, is also hailed by various tribes for its power to ward off evil, bad spirits, and disease. ~ The Sacred Science
Mugwort can be found almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Take a look around the next time you go for a walk, and you are sure to find some.
Preparation
Mugwort can be brewed as tea or smoked in a pipe. It smokes well with organic tobacco and other smoking herbs such as mullein or bits of white sage. The leaves of the plant are what contain the active chemical compounds used enhance dreams.
With careful preparation and planning, you can quickly learn to navigate your dreams with the use of natural herbs. Use your resting time to learn all that you can from the dream realms.
For more tips on how to remember your dreams, take a look at the video below!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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