WHAT IS INSOMNIA/SLEEP ISSUES
Insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or both”. Insomnia may therefore be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep. Episodes may come and go (episodic insomnia), last up to 3 weeks (short-term), or be long-lasting (chronic insomnia).
Although most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel and perform after one or more sleepless nights, few seek medical advice. Many people remain unaware of the Ayurvedic herbal options available to treat insomnia, as compared to the quick fix modern medication which comes with its pack of side effects and may also lead to addiction of those sleeping drugs.
People suffering from insomnia often get tensed about getting enough sleep. Thus the more they try to sleep, the more frustrated and upset they get, and it gets harder to sleep.
Causes of Insomina/Sleep Issues
Modern scientific studies prove that brain activities are stimulated even while people are sleeping. Hormonal activity is at its most active pace while we are sleep. Thus, if we do not have sound and deep sleep with frequent disruptions (and symptoms mentioned above), hormonal production can fall. As a result can lead to major issues like hypothyroidism etc. and definitely there would not be a complete healing of worn out muscles.
That’s why people with insufficient or disrupted sleep wake up feeling tired, stressed, and want to sleep more. Thus Failure to rest and recover from mental and physical stresses adds more tension to your entire physiological, mental, emotional, physical functions. This can lead to higher pain sensitivity, muscle/ joint pain, major sleep disorders, depression, fatigue, anxiety, poor memory etc.
- Going to bed at different times each night
- Daytime napping
- Personal or work stress
- Poor sleeping environment, such as too much noise or light
- Spending too much time in bed while awake
- Working evening or night shifts
- Not getting enough exercise
- Anxiety and depression disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders
Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia
If you suffer from what the classical yogic texts term as the ‘monkey mind’, where your thoughts jump around from one topic to another topic, keeping you in a constant state of stress, or not allowing you to concentrate at all, you could be suffering or are most likable to suffer from various patterns of insomnia as mentioned above. The Monkey Mind is like a constant chatter box which could be mostly based with negative thoughts of fear, worry, insecurity, superiority/inferiority complex etc. leading to insomnia, anxiety, depression, decrease in libido, mood disorders, anger, irritation and thus could also lead to other major psychosomatic disorders.
- Trouble falling asleep on few or most nights
- Feeling tired during the day or falling asleep during the day
- Not feeling refreshed when you wake up
- Waking up several times during sleep
- Dreaming mostly through sleep
- Increased mood fluctuations
- Irritability
- Anger
- Lack of concentration
- Fatigue
- Increased confusion or difficulty to make decisions
Ayurveda Plus treatment plan
Herbal remedies:
Depending on your individual body constitution, nature of the insomnia, climatic conditions, diet and lifestyle habits, and other health issues a permutation and combination of Jatamamsi – Nordostychis jatamansi, Bramhi – Bacopa moniera, shankhpushpi – Crotalaria verrucosa, etc is helpful to detoxify the physiological system, also helping at the same time to produce optimum body tissues. Thus steadily diminishing all the symptoms of Insomnia.
Diet & lifestyle recommendations:
Food articles like chick peas, chick peas flour etc. can play a major role in disturbing your sleep, thus our experienced and qualified Ayurvedic Physicians at Ayurveda Body Cure will suggest you a customized diet and lifestyle recommendation plan depending on your body constitution, climatic changes and other health issues involved.
Panchakarma/ Detox therapies:
Medicated Purgation, Nasal medications are very effective detox therapies for solving the issue from its root, followed by a dose of herbal remedies from 3-6 months.
Ayurvedic Body treatments:
Shirodhara(third eye therapy), Abhyanga(full body massage),, Mardana(deep tissue massage), Pindsweda(hot poultice massage), Shiroabhyanga(head massage) etc. are very effective if taken in a series of 7 -21 therapies continuously.
Yoga postures and Breathing techniques:
Postures like Sarvangasana, VipreetKarni Mudra, Childs relaxation pose, Yoga nidra etc. are effective. Breathing techniques of Brahmri and opposite nostril breathing are also very much helpful for inducing deep sleep.
