Biochemical Allies: A reflection on dreaming supplements and household magic

One of the top questions among dream enthusiasts revolves around those legendary pills said to increase vividness and guarantee lucidity. At least once a week, someone either asks for recommendations for dream supplements or inquires directly about a specific concoction they found in a store or the internet. Vitamin companies seem to have noticed this pattern, too, as they have developed a whole portfolio of products with catchy names like "dream enhancer" or "lucidity pills" to lure those looking for a quick fix. Although I strongly believe that supplements are optional when it comes to developing our dreaming abilities, I would be a complete hypocrite if I did not confess to using with certain consistency vitamin B6 and my own recipe for a sleepy time herbal tea that helps with both the restfulness of my sleep and the quality of my dreams. Furthermore, as I consider dreamwork an act of holistic healing, and therefore, a ritual of a spiritual nature, I have developed a very special attitude towards my aids and allies that I would like to discuss in this article.

Shamanism and the animistic perspective

We all have chuckled with the image of Marie Kondo asking in her lovely accent "does it spark joy?", but what many people ignore is that the Konmari Method, rather than yet another organization fad, is actually rooted in Shinto, the Japanese animistic religion. Kondo does not kneel to greet a house just because she is extremely well-mannered; she does so because she is convinced a house not only serves as dueling for a multitude of spirits but is a spirit in itself. According to her, even inanimate objects have a degree of consciousness and they become entangled with us through the experiences we live together. No wonder it is very difficult to part with an object that was center-stage in a key moment of our lives, such as a wedding dress or the belongings of a deceased loved one.

In the case of living entities, such as animals and houseplants, this bond is stronger and it continues to develop throughout time. In the decade I have shared with my cats, they have become a part of my soul rather than simple pets. Karuna, the tortoise-shell that stole my heart is nothing short of a daemon as described by Phillip Pullman in his legendary series His Dark Materials. Unlike a clingy feline, plants are more subtle and require time and patience to befriend. To the untrained eye, a plant may seem rather dull, but when you learn to observe closely, you realize they are perfectly capable of moving and expressing their needs quite clearly. There are a number of peer-reviewed academic studies that show how plants react to their surroundings at a physical level by being exposed to variations in light and sound, but they also show how plants' growth depends on the intention of their caregivers.

Choosing to work with a plant

As a personal rule, whenever I decide to work with a plant at what could be called a "magical level", I establish a relationship with the plant's spirit and invite it into my home. In other words, if I presume to ask a plant for their support with any type of healing or spiritual endeavor, I need to make a commitment to grow it myself in a mutualistic agreement where I must take care of this entity if I want it to take care of me. In my case, I do not presume to track the results in a strict scientific fashion, but rather exercise basic courtesy with other fellow living beings. When I was introduced to the extraordinary mugwort, it was not through an internet article or a mention on a FB group: I discovered mugwort on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park as I chaperoned a middle school field trip. There, the naturalist who served as our guide clearly explained that this was a sacred plant to the original peoples of those lands; next, he allowed those of us who showed an interest to take one single leaf and place it under our pillow to induce dreams that night. Up to this day, I have also experimented with making infusions and using mugwort essential oil, but my attitude and reverence towards the remarkable herb have not changed.

In fact, quite often I come across FB group posts where various people complain about mugwort having an adverse effect or not doing anything at all; to these individuals, I have been tempted to ask: "Have you thought about asking the spirit of mugwort whether it would like to work with you?" For the sake of keeping the peace, I have decided not to make this particular comment, especially in a society where this kind of assertion tends to be disregarded as superstitious and naive. Nonetheless, I cannot deny the influence that growing up in the country where magical realism originated had over the foundations of my personal belief system.

In any case, showing an attitude of respect towards the substances we decide to use to aid our dreaming practice does not need to include incense-filled ceremonies or hugging trees; educating ourselves is the first step towards working with supplements in a responsible and agreeable way. In the case of plants, check out their scientific name, place of origin, and the traditional uses different cultures has given them throughout time. Expand this knowledge by searching what its active compound is and how it interacts with the biochemistry of the human body. As for vitamins, we are lead to believe they are magic particles that make us healthier and stronger, but hardly anyone knows that their role is to promote and optimize chemical reactions across the organism. Something like vitamin B6 is easily demystified when one recognizes its importance as a key element in brain metabolism. In the case of amino acids like L-tryptophan or 5-HTP, it is necessary to remember that they are the building blocks of some key hormones such as serotonin and melatonin, hence its effect on sleep patterns and mood. There is nothing wise nor constructive in creating a cocktail out of as many herbs and supplements to induce lucid dreaming if their real effect is not even being considered. As magical as I may be in my relationship with my mugwort plants, I am hard-core scientific when it comes to doing the necessary research to understand that this herb is considered uterotonic, and since it stimulates the production of the hormone oxytocin, it should never, ever be given to a pregnant woman.

In the end, I do not think the question should be whether using supplements and aids is bad, or a cheap form of cheating, but rather how we decide to incorporate a specific plant or chemical compound into the complex chemistry of our body to achieve a given effect.

What do you think about using supplements to aid dreaming? Is there anything that works particularly well for you?

Share your experiences in the comments!