Conventionally, Insomnia means lack of proper sleep, or trouble falling asleep, wake up tired after the sleep. Insomnia is of two different types chronic and acute, acute Insomnia usually last for shorter periods resulted due to work pressure or stress or trauma.
What is insomnia? What Ayurveda Says?
According to Ayurvedic medicine, sleep is one among the three supporting pillers (Upssthambha) of life, disruption leads to disease and balance promotes healthiness of an individual. It been clearly mentioned in Ayurveda that, good sleep at right time helps to build a healthy immune system (Ojus), healthy appetite (AGNI) and supports in the building of healthy tissues (Spata Dhatu vridhi).
The improper or insufficient sleep or sleep deprivation will have exactly opposite effect, which will kill the appetite (AGNI), will cause sluggish or disrupted metabolism, ultimately leads to low immunity.
Main responsible factors for insomnia are Vata aggravation with rajasika Dosha. Involvement of both physical and mental humors, the physical humors are VATA, PITTA and KAPHA and mental humors are RAJAS and TAMAS. Aggravated Rajas filled with vata aggravation internally leads to over activity of the brain, which ultimately is the prime cause lack of proper sleep or disturbed sleep.
Ayurveda describes the causative factors for insomnia are Vata aggravating factors such as, over activity, working in the night times, over utilization of mind, excess physical activity, stress, trauma, fear, anxiety or grief. Diet related VATA aggravating causes such as eating dry and unctuous food, eating with stress, or stressful eating, not enough time to eat, eating excess cold, rough and raw foods. Aggravated Vata disturbs the already disturbed Rajas and cause the sleep disturbances.
Mostly sleep issues arise during the mid night or too early in the morning, which is VATA predominant time. People going through menopause or constitutional change from pitta age to vata age are the most common people suffer from the sleep deprivation or improper sleep.
What Ayurveda recommends for a good sleep?
Lack of sleep for one or two days is not an issue for many, but if it is prolonged then it leads to wide range of problems/ diseases, not just limited to, chronic headaches, lack of digestion, energy, and chronic fatigue etc. so this needs to be addressed at earliest with proper natural, safe and gentle ayurvedic methods.
Ayurveda recommends Vata pacifying diet and lifestyle methods to address the issue. Ayurveda also recommend few rejuvenatory therapies such as gentle head massage and shirodhara with authentic ayurvedic oils such as Bramhi Tailam, Ksheera bala oil. Shirodhara is one among the best nourishing ayurvedic rejuvenative treatment, where the warm oil gently poured on the fore head to balance the vital energies and also to balance the elevated VATA.
Ayurvedic tips of good sleep
- Eat on time, complete your dinner early, allow at least 3 hours after the dinner
- Walk minimum 100 steps after the dinner.
- Dinner should be gentle, war, soothing and easily digestible.
- Start doing gentle physical exercise like YOGA, TAI-CHI etc
- Avoid excess eating at dinner times, do not drink coffee or tea, do not take heavy foods in the evening time.
- Better to have warm shower before going to bed.
- Better to go to bed early by 9 to 10pm as it is Kapha predominant time, will help is getting good sleep.
- Drink a small cup of warm milk just before bed time.
Ayurveda treatments are very safe, natural and gentle, they always nutritive and rejuvenative. Following ayurvedic diet and life style recommendations will results in enjoyable healthy life.
Dr Kumar CRS is an qualified Ayurvedic doctor from India and achieved AYURMEDHA award from Dabur Ayurveda Pharmacy for the outstanding performance at the University level, University also rewards with Gold Medal. He also completed in Masters in Public health and Health Promotion in Australia. He is a principle Ayurvedic Practitioner and Director of Jeeva health pty Ltd based in Melbourne and Canberra.
The information provided in the above article for education purpose only, if symptoms persists please do not hesitate to contact our clinics at 03 99399474 or email us at info@jeevahealth.com.au or contact your local health practitioner for help.
