Rest + Dream
 
Calea zacatechichi, also known as “Dream Herb” or “Leaf of God,” is a revered plant in Mesoamerican herbal tradition, traditionally used to enhance dream recall, support restful sleep, and deepen one’s connection to the dream world. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, Calea has long been honored by the Chontal people of Oaxaca for its ability to open the gateway between waking and dreaming, offering symbolic insight, inner guidance, and heightened dream clarity.
 
Mildly calming and distinctly bitter, Calea also carries traditional uses as a digestive stimulant. Like many bitter herbs, it may help support healthy digestion by encouraging bile flow and digestive enzyme production, particularly when taken as a tea before bed.* Though not a sedative in the conventional sense, its effect is more subtle relaxing the body, quieting the mind, and guiding one toward deeper states of rest and introspection.
 
Key Features + Traditional Uses:
Traditionally used to promote vivid dreaming and enhance dream recall
Supports the transition from wakefulness to restful sleep without strong sedation
Revered by the Chontal people as a sacred plant for dreamwork and nighttime visioning
May support digestion due to its bitter properties, especially when taken as a tea
Often combined with calming herbs such as blue lotus, passionflower, or mugwort
Valued by dreamers, herbalists, and inner explorers seeking insight through sleep