Ayurvedic Remedies To Control Sleep Disorder

Introduction

A perfect sleep is everyone's dream and very essential for staying healthy. Proper sleep has various health benefits.
Sleep disorder is a common condition where the regular sleeping pattern is interrupted. Such a condition leads to fatigue, anxiety, depression, and various other health issues. Sleep disorder is included in the category of Insomnia.

Sleep disorder is known as 'Anidra' in Ayurveda which means lack of sufficient sleep. Ayurveda says imbalance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas cause sleep disorders. Doshas can influence the quality of sleep. Ayurveda believes that all body functions are determined by the ratios of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and obviously, sleep disorder too.

People with a Vata dominant body get affected by the poor quality of sleep.

People with a Pitta dominant body get a moderate sleep with interrupted dreams in between.

People with a Kapha dominant body suffer from waking up once fall in deep sleep.

A perfect sleep is everyone's dream and very essential for staying healthy. Proper sleep has various health benefits.

Symptoms Of Sleep Disorders

Regular sound sleep offers good mental as well as physical health. By looking into the symptoms, we can easily identify that a person is suffering from sleep disorders.

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Increasing body weight.
• Fatigue.
• Inability in performing daily routines.
• Frequently waking up while sleeping.
• Irritability during the day time.
• Failure in concentrating.
• Always an urge to sleep.
• Irregular breathing patterns.

Everyday activity of people may get affected if they don’t get a night of proper sleep during the night. Such a condition leads to various physical and mental troubles. Sleep disorders can be easily identified by looking into the symptoms like anxiety, depression, irregular breathing patterns, inactivity, fatigue, waking up frequently while sleeping, there is always an urge to sleep but cannot sleep properly, etc.

When you find some of these symptoms, remember, the time came to take the right treatment. Ayurveda explains various home remedies as well as authentic treatments to cure Anidra.

Causes Of Anidra

There are several reasons if we are not able to sleep properly. There might be physical factors, mental factors, and environmental factors also. Some general causes of Anidra are:

• Following irregular sleeping time.
• Late-night exercises.
• Following an unhealthy diet or consuming food very lately during nights.
• Mental stress and anxiety.
• Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Depression.
• Chronic pain due to some diseases.
• Respiratory problems.
• Changes in the environment.
• Effect of certain medications.

Ayurveda says that a night of sound sleep can rejuvenate your mind and body. General causes of Anidra are alcohol consumption, smoking, not following regular time for sleep, respiratory problems, the effect of certain medications, changes in the surroundings, chronic pain due to some diseases, stress, anxiety, etc. Ayurveda has effective methods to cure sleep disorders.

Herbal Remedies To Treat Sleep Disorders

There are some easy tips that everyone can follow to get a sound sleep. A night of sound sleep makes your day so fresh and keeps you active.

• Chamomile

  Chamomile tea is considered a sleep inducer. The plant extract of chamomile contains a chemical compound called apigenin which offers fine sleep.

• Valerian root

  Valerian is a flowering plant and the root of the plant is found very effective in treating sleep disorders. Valerian root is rich in antioxidants and various compounds like valerenic acid, isovaleric acid which promotes regular sleep and decreases anxiety.

• Lavender

  Lavender is one of the best herbs in curing sleep disorders and anxiety. Lavender oil contains chemicals like linalyl acetate and linalool, which are directly absorbed into the bloodstream and works as a sedative. Hence we get sound sleep.

• Brahmi

  Brahmi is a fine remedy in curing sleep disorders from ancient times onwards. Brahmi is rich in antioxidants and renowned for its stress-relieving properties.

• Ashwagandha

  Ashwagandha is rich in triethylene glycol compound which offers sound sleep and effective in reducing stress and anxiety of people.

• Magnolia Bark

  Magnolia Bark is very effective in treating sleep disorders. Magnolia Bark contains compounds like honokiol and magnolol which ensures sound sleep.

• Jatamansi

  According to Ayurveda, imbalances of these doshas cause sleep disorders. Jatamansi is beneficial in making the balance of Vata, pitta, and Kapha dosha. Hence Jatamansi can offer sound sleep and boosts the nervous system.

• Vacha

  Vacha is a fine stress-relieving herb that can improve the quality of sleep. Vacha helps in relaxing the nerves and in turn inducing sound sleep.

• Gotu Kola

  From ancient times onwards, Gotu Kola has been used as a stress and anxiety-relieving herb. Gotu Kola contains anti-anxiety compounds that offer a peaceful sleep.

• Sarpagandha

  Sarpagandha is rich in several alkaloids that lessen hypertension and offers good sleep.

Some of the effective herbs that can offer regular sleep and make you healthy are Gotu Kola, Sarpagandha, Vacha, Brahmi, Jatamansi, Ashwagandha, Magnolia Bark, Valerian root, Lavender, Chamomile, etc.

Ayurvedic Methods To Cure Sleep Disorders

According to Ayurveda, by proper management of Ahar (diet), Vihar (Lifestyle changes), and Oushadhi (Medications/ treatments), Anidra can be regulated effectively.

Ahar (Diet)

• Avoid too much sugar during the night.
• Add more fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber.
• Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed offers sound sleep.
• Include foods with Vitamin B, because vitamin B is rich in melatonin hormone which regulates your sleep cycle.
• Avoid deep-fried, spicy, and high-fat meals during the night.
• Favor foods that will digest easily and try to have food in the early night.

(Vihara)Lifestyle Changes

• Desist smoking and drinking.
• Follow a routine time for your sleep. Ayurveda suggests 10.00 pm and 2.00 am is the best time to sleep.
• Get a peaceful place for sleep.
• Do regular exercises and avoid exercising just before bed.
• Practicing yoga and meditation regularly relaxes your mind and offers sound sleep. Popular yoga postures that offer regular sleep are Hastapadasana, Shishuasana, Marjariasana, Baddhakonasana, and Viparita Karani.
• Taking a bath after a whole body oil massage assures good sleep throughout the night.

Oushadhi (Medication / Treatments)

• Nasya

  Administering medicated oil through the nasal passage.

• Shiro-abhyanga

  Massaging the head with herbal oil is an effective remedy in treating sleep disorders.

• Shiropichu

  Here a sterile cotton pad is dipped in herbal oils and placed on the crown of the head and tightened by a band-aid.

• Shiriseka (Shiro Dhara)

  Shiro Dhara is the process of pouring medicine on the head. During the Shiro Dhara process, medicine is pouring in a continuous and rhythmic stream over the center of the forehead.

• Shiro Basti for Mana (mental status)

  Here warm, medicated oil is poured into the head which is effective in improving mental health.

Ayurveda has a deep history of favorably treating various diseases. Similarly, Ayurveda has efficient techniques to cure sleep disorders, and popular among them are Nasya, Shiro Basti, Shiro Dhara, Shiriseka, Shiropichu, and Shiro Abhyanga. The body nature of each person is different; hence all the treatments are based on individual body type.

Conclusion

The information specified in the report is obtained based on the treatment history of Ayurveda from various Ayurvedic resources. Always consult your Ayurvedic practitioner and get advice before self-treating.

References

• Sushruta Samhita.
• Charaka Samhita.
• Vagbhata, circa