Is it Insomnia or sleep deprivation?
To have a good night sleep
Insomnia is considered to be a precursor to neurocognitive decline, psychiatric problems, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, obesity and pain. Insomnia differs from sleep deprivation as insomnia is lack of sleep even when all the environmental factors are taken care of. Environmental factors such as room temperature, noise, bright light or hunger can disrupt sleep.
Insomnia is the dissatisfaction with rest quality, difficulty falling asleep, frequently waking up during night or waking up before morning time. Nidra (sleep) is one of the important aspects of healthy well-being. Kapha is diminished with imbalanced vata and pitta in people who have insomnia.
Each dosha imbalance has a specific effect on sleep. Vata imbalance makes the mind overactive, and it is harder to go to sleep and a person wakes up in the middle of the night. The mind goes over all the events that happened in the day with associated emotions. This happens because dhi, Dhriti and smriti (learning, retention and recall) become weak. It doesn’t let the person rest well. Even if a person falls asleep, the sleep is very light. Pitta imbalance sleep is moderate but have lot of dreams. It usually happens because of emotional trauma or stress. Kapha imbalance sleeps long and deeply but they don’t feel rested and feeling of tiredness doesn’t go away during the day.
A person with Vata dosha needs a lot of sleep but they sleep very light. They need 7-9 hours of sleep every day. Pitta dosha sleeps moderately and requires 6-8 hours of sleep. Kapha sleeps longer though they don’t need to sleep so much.
A good sleep also increases ojas in the body which is the essence of life supporting force in the body. More ojas means better mental strength and better immunity.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Insomnia
Follow consistent Dincharaya (daily routine). Try sleeping before 10pm and wake up by 6am.
Nidra Yoga once a week
Put two drops of oil in each nostril for 48 days in the morning and evening
Take Ashwagansha and Brahmi to calm the mind
Take warm organic milk with honey at bedtime
Eat yogurt for good digestion. Yogurt should be taken in the morning or afternoon
Shirobasti once a week and massage on head, ears and ears before sleeping
Sleep is given great importance in Ayurveda, alongside diet and yoga, as an essential pillar of physical and mental well-being. It has a profound impact on the body and mind's repair and rejuvenation processes during the night, playing a crucial role in overall health and vitality.