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Insomnia: The Ayurvedic Approach
According to the National Institute of Health, up to seventy million Americans toss and turn in their beds at night. Of these, about sixty percent have a chronic sleeping disorder. When sleep loss becomes a regular occurrence, we want nothing more than to sleep, but we’re often afraid that we won’t be able to. This fear itself increases anxiety and stress making it more difficult for us to sleep. Several studies have proven that there are many serious health risks associated with sleep loss.
In Ayurveda science, sleep is considered as important as diet in maintaining health and balance in the body. When it comes to insomnia, either vata (air energy) or pitta (fire energy) is usually involved in the imbalance (and sometimes both). These energies naturally share elements of the light and mobile qualities, which leaves us feeling active and mentally alert. This opposes the very energies of heavy, slow and calm which are necessary for sound sleep.
Start with these simple sleep tips.
Eliminate stimulants. Avoid caffeine consumption after 2pm and green tea consumption after 4pm. The stimulating effects of caffeine take hours to wear off and can interfere with the quality of sleep.
Avoid eating heavy dinner. Eat a nourishing and easily digestible meal. Eat dinner before 7:00 p.m., so it has at least three hours to digest before bed.
Practice good sleep hygiene. Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed no later than 10pm and get up at the same time every day.
Avoid too much stimulation at night. Try not to solve your problems at bedtime. Turn off TV and all electronics one hour before bedtime.
Limit Daytime Naps. If you choose to nap during the day, limit yourself to not more than 30 minutes and make it during the mid-afternoon.
Have a cup of boiled milk or chamomile tea at bedtime. These are calming and soothing. If you like, add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, and honey (per taste) to the milk.
Massage the soles of your feet with warm oil. This supports in moving the energy downwards and getting rid of all the stresses you have carried with you throughout the day. It helps to soothe the mind.
The above remedies give very effective tools for returning to balance. If insomnia still persists, an Ayurveda practitioner can help in identifying root cause for your sleep disorder and recommend a treatment to bring you back into balance.
