Insomnia
is a common sleep disorder. People living with insomnia have trouble falling
asleep, staying asleep, or both. This could result into getting little or
poor-quality sleep. Such persons may not feel refreshed when they wake up.
Insomnia can either be acute (short term) or chronic (long-term). Acute
insomnia is common, and it is brought about by situations such as family
pressures, stress, or a trauma. 
On the
other hand,chronic insomnia lasts longer. Most cases of chronic insomnia are
secondary, meaning they are either symptoms or side effects of some other
problems. Certain conditions such as medicines, and sleep disorders can cause
secondary insomnia.
Insomnia
can be classed as being primary or secondary:
Primary insomnia It’s its own distinct disorder.
Factors such as long lasting stress or emotional upset, travelling, work
schedules that disrupt sleep routine, may trigger primary insomnia.
Secondary insomnia is a side effect of another
problem such as emotional, neurological, or other medical and sleep disorders.
Certain asthma medicines, such as theophylline, and some allergy medicines can
cause insomnia.
Causes:
·
Emotional disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress
disorder.
· Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and
parkinson's disease
·
Arthritis
·
Use of caffeinated beverages
·
Smoking
·
Asthma
·
Heath failure
· Gastro-intestinal disorders, such as heartburn
·
Menopause and hot flashes
·
Restless leg syndrome
Ayurveda treatment for Insomnia:
In Ayurveda, Insomnia is called Anidra /
Nidra nasha, an imbalance in Tarpaka Kapha, Sadhaka
Pitta and Prana Vata, but the ultimate goal of an ayurvedic approach to
Anidra is to fabricate the ojas (a substance produced from the most subtle
level of proper digestion, and it brings energy, clarity of thinking, strong
immunity, happiness, and contentment). It has been proven from research that,
only the deepest and most restful sleep, which is called the Stage Four sleep,
fabricates ojas.
The level
of sleep required to maintain a good state of health, solely depends on the
person's mind-body constitution or prakruti. Ayurveda pinpoints three (3)
different sleeping disorders which are:
Vata
Imbalance, Pitta Imbalance, and Kapha Imbalance:
· Vata
imbalance is often associated with difficulties in falling asleep. It
correlates with hyperactivity, hypersensitivity, anxiety, worry. People with
such imbalance require 6-7hours of sleep.
· Pitta
imbalance is often associated with sporadic awakening (difficulty in
maintaining an unperturbed sleep). It's often correlated with emotional truama,
anger, sadness. People with such imbalance have fragmented sleeps almost every
90minutes. Such people require 7-8 hours of sleep.
· Kapha
imbalance causes an uncurbed sleep associated with waking up un-refreshed.
Persons with such disorders, tend to feel sluggish, tired, and completely
exhausted regardless of the long night rest such person had. People with such
imbalance need 8-9hours of rest.
Ayurveda treatment for Insomnia Balances the Tridoshas and Rasayana
The treatment modalities include
panchakarma, external therapies, internal medications, Activities, Advice of
food and life style changes.
Panchakarma – Virechana, Basti, Nssya
External Therapies – Shiro Abhyanga Shiro Dhara, Shiro Basti,
Shiro Pichu, Pada Abhyanga, Abhyanga, SSPS
Internal medications –Tridosha Balancing herbs and which
nourishes the ojas – combimbation of herbs as Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera)
Brahmi (bacopa monneri), Jatamamsi (Nardostachys jatamansi)
Activities:
Specific
asana techniques, pranayama, meditation
Diet:
·
Tridosha balancing diet
·
A cup of warm milk with cardomon, cinnamon is a good bed time
drink.
Lifestyle: specific to the individual’s
constitution, nature of work and geographical conditions.