Ayurvedic Management of Insomnia

It is inevitable to wake up refreshed every morning to balance the physical and mental functioning of the body. Good sleep can boost your immune system by reducing your risk for serious health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health complications. Hence, it is important to get enough sleep to keep your mind and body healthy and refreshed. Some people may think, Why can’t I fall asleep in the right way? The condition occurs due to a common sleep disorder called Insomnia. Ayurvedic management of insomnia adopts a natural healing mechanism by addressing the root causes of your insomnia. Insomnia occurs when one fails to fall asleep due to poor sleeping habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, or chronic illness. The science of Ayurveda has a unique perspective to balance the generated toxins from a busy lifestyle and helps to restore the natural sleep-wake cycle. Personalized detoxification therapies, a healthy diet regime, herbal combinations, and lifestyle changes can manage your imbalance and help to bring back sound sleep. A diploma in Panchakarma distance learning can make you aware of the right type of Ayurveda relaxing therapies to support good sleep.
 

Ayurvedic Approach to Insomnia

Most chronic conditions of insomnia arise due to improper diet and lifestyle leading to the formation of Vata and pitta imbalances resulting in accumulated toxins in the body. Ayurvedic Management of Insomnia corrects disturbed metabolism and digestion through tailored detoxification therapies and helps to strengthen the sleep cycle. Incorporating Ayurveda herbs such as Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Vacha, Sarpagandha, Ashwagandha, and Jatamansi into your daily routine can eliminate the physical and mental toxins that help to wake up refreshed. 

An ayurvedic practitioner may analyze previous health history, diet routine, and lifestyle habits and be able to plan the right type of therapeutic medication for you. The unique Ayurveda treatments planned for each patient nourish the brain cells and help to control the signs of insomnia such as daytime tiredness, sleepiness, lack of concentration, and fatigue. Ayurveda certification courses online make you aware of the importance of Ayurveda therapies along with a regular diet regime for the betterment of quality sleep.
 

Types of Insomnia

Insomnia can be characterized into various types based on how long the sleep disturbance lasts, how it affects your sleep and the underlying root cause of insomnia.

Acute insomnia: Acute insomnia arises for a short duration due to stress or lifestyle happenings. Any physical discomfort or certain medications may affect one's sleep cycle resulting in Acute insomnia.

Chronic insomnia: Chronic insomnia may last longer than acute insomnia and the condition due to chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, and obstructive and central sleep apnea. If you find yourself with disturbed sleep for nearly one month, diagnose it at the earliest.

Maintenance insomnia: Maintenance insomnia occurs when one finds difficulty staying asleep or waking up too early. The condition may disturb the continuous flow of sleep and may arise due to gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, asthma, and other respiratory conditions

Behavioral insomnia in childhood: Behavioral insomnia in childhood affects some children who refuse to go to bed and repeated attempts to put off going to sleep. Several Ayurveda therapies create a healthy sleep routine for self-soothing or relaxation that makes your child sleep longer and is able to make them refreshed.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia may be triggered for a short duration or lasts for several months based on an underlying cause that affects the body. The major cause of insomnia develops based on environmental, physiological, and psychological factors. Let us go through the following causes of insomnia.

• Stress
• Busy lifestyle schedule
• Irregular bedtime schedule
• Uncomfortable sleep environment
• Excessive use of electronic devices
• Eating too much late before bedtime
• Usage of medication that contains certain stimulants that interrupt the sleep
• Certain medical conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
• Excessive usage of Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

Ayurveda Lifestyle Tips for Insomnia

There arise numerous cases of insomnia that are triggered due to poor lifestyle habits. Hence, Ayurveda recommends different lifestyle modifications to improve sleep quality depending on your dominant doshas.

• Avoid late-night meals just before bedtime
• Eat a nutrient-rich diet
• Do not consume caffeine and alcohol
• Incorporate mild exercises regularly
• Create a comfortable environment for sleep
• Practice meditation and yoga
• Avoid screening time late at night
   

Ayurvedic Treatment for Insomnia

Ayurvedic Management of Insomnia includes certain Ayurveda therapies that help to cleanse the body and eliminate the physical and mental toxins resulting in good sleep. Vasti is the medicated enema that is administered to balance the Vata dosha in the intestine, as sleep disorders arise from toxins in the intestine. Shirodhara is a relaxing treatment in which a stream of warm medicated oil is poured into the center point of the forehead and is effective in reducing stress, thereby curing insomnia. Shiroabhyanga is administered to relax the nervous system with medicinal oils. The head, scalp, and hair roots absorb the essence of oil and thereby induce sound sleep, refreshing throughout the day. Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic therapeutic massage applied to the whole body to improve blood and lymphatic circulation and make your body peaceful and calm. The relaxing tone makes you sleep well and remains in a rested phase through the night. 

Food for Good Sleep

There exists certain food and drinks that make it easier to get a great night’s sleep. To utilize the potential benefits of some sleep-inducing foods, consume them a few hours before bed for better digestion and to avoid acid reflux. It is also essential to stay hydrated throughout the day for a better detoxification process. Here is a certain food that helps regulate a better sleep-wake cycle.

• Warm milk
• Kiwifruit
• Walnuts
• Tart cherries
• Fatty fish

If you seek better management of insomnia, make an appointment to meet our expert Ayurveda practitioners at the School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma, Ayurveda Institute in Kerala. We have a customized ayurvedic approach to manage your imbalance and treat the underlying cause of the ailment according to the patient's need.