Healthy herbal gift ideas

Herbal Sleep Pillow
By Sandy Maine
Excerpted with permission of the publisher from Clean, Naturally: Recipes for Body, Home and Spirit (Interweave Press, Loveland, CO.) This collection of over 100 recipes is available through bookstores, craft shops, www.interweave.com or by calling 1-800-272-2193. ($25.95 in Canada)

My son, Cody, began sleeping through the night at age one when I put an herbal pillow (a gift from an herbalist friend) in his crib. This can't be, I thought to myself, so I took it out one night and put it back the next. Soon I became convinced that the herbal pillow was the cause of his full night's sleeping.

This is a trick I will not fail to use again. Moreover, it's the best gIft you could ever offer to the sleepy parents of a baby who is restless at night.

NOTE: This pillow is for use with older babies (18 months or older, or check with your family health care provider) and is not intended for use with newborns.

Ingredients
• 1/2 cup dried chamomile
• 1/2 cup dried lavender flowers
• 1/2 cup dried rose petals
• 1/2 cup dried hops (should be light green in color with a yellow dust; anything less than this is too old, rancid, and not effective)
• 4 drops aromatherapy-quality lavender oil

Gently mix all Ingredients together and spoon into a 4- by 6-inch sack made of soft natural fiber that has a tight weave. Fold the open end over and sew securely shut.

Place pillow near baby's head at night to help facilitate peaceful sleep.

Calming Mother and Child
Why not make bath time a special relaxing time at day's end for parent and child? A dim, warm room with soft candlelight and gentle music is the perfect complement to a softly scented herbal bath. Warm the towels too! Your baby will appreciate it!