Insomnia

Sleep is an essential  phenomenon of giving adequate rest to body and mind. Insomnia is inability to fall asleep during night. Lack of sleep can lead to health problems like diabetes, hypertension, obesity.

In Ayurveda, sleep is one of the factor in trividha upasthambha which plays an important role in maintenance of living organism and sleep is one among the 13 vegas (urges). Suppression of sleep causes confusion, heaviness of head and eyes, dizziness, yawning and body pain. Unhealthy habits and routines causes vitiation of vata that travels through the channels of head causing sleeplessness. Consuming heavy meals and spicy food in bedtime can seriously affect digestive process and generate sleeping problems.

Aetiology

1. Poor sleep routine

2. Unhealthy lifestyle

3. Stress and anxiety

4. Physical and mental health conditions

5. Sleep related disorders like restless legs syndrome (RLS), sleep apnea, snoring

Treatment in ayurveda

1. Avoidance of aetiological factors.

2. All asanas ,pranayama are beneficial for the treatment of ayurveda

3. External procedures like abhyanga, padabhyanga, shiroabhyanga, shirodhara, pichu, takradhara help in regulating brain metabolism and thus regulates the sleep rhythm.

4. Purification procedures like virechana, vamana, vasthi, nasya are indicated here.