Ayurvedic Treatment for Insomnia
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder affecting millions, and those suffering from it are fatigued as they have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. The condition leads to various other problems like weight gain, hypertension, and diabetes, to name a few. Slight modifications in diet and lifestyle can help improve insomnia, to an extent. Insomnia could be a primary problem, or it could be associated with other medical conditions. Not all types of insomnia are the same though. Short-term insomnia leads to fatigue and difficulty in concentration, but long-term insomnia can affect overall health.
Types of Insomnia – Insomnia could be classified into three types:
- Transient, where symptoms last for less than seven days
- Short-term, where symptoms last for one to three weeks and
- Chronic, where symptoms last for more than three weeks
Causes – Transient or short-term insomnia
- Stress or challenging situations in personal or professional life
- Work hours or changes in them
- Illnesses
- Noise
- Withdrawal from smoking, alcohol, or other addictive substances
Causes – Chronic or long-term insomnia
- Stress or challenging situations in personal or professional life
- Emotional upheavals
- Mental illnesses, including depression
- Chronic ailments
- Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Excessive consumption of stimulating beverages including tea or coffee
Symptoms of Insomnia
In addition to disrupted sleep, insomnia also has other symptoms such as:
- Sleepiness or fatigue during the day
- Lack of focus and poor concentration
- Occasional or regular headaches
- Anxiety, depression, mood swings, or irritability
- Loss of memory
- Facing difficulty in studying and working
- Lack of motivation, energy, and productivity
- Impaired social interactions
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Poor coordination
- Obesity
Ayurvedic treatment for insomnia
To quote Ayurveda, “Sleep is one of the three pillars of life, the other two being food and the principles of living in sync with the universe”. Sleep is a rejuvenating process and adequate and rhythmic sleep patterns are crucial to homeostasis. A change in the sleep pattern may aggravate existing health conditions or lead to new ones. Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing. It allows the mind and the body to repair, and refresh. The brain will refuse to function well without adequate sleep, and this could impair focus, clarity of thought, emotional stability or balance, and memory.
Most adults usually need around eight to nine hours of sleep whereas young children and teenagers may need more. Daily chores, work schedules, personal or professional stress, a non-conducive or a disruptive environment or ambience in the bedroom and poor health can prevent one from getting sufficient rest.
Shirodhara is just one of the various Ayurvedic approaches to treating insomnia. It is known to have a relaxing, soothing, and calming effect on the mind and the body, improving sleep patterns and the quality of sleep. It is highly effective in managing the many conditions arising from stress such as insomnia, chronic tiredness, forgetfulness, and lack of concentration.
Along with Ayurveda, it is a known fact that Yoga which involves stretching muscles and exercising them also helps in relaxation. The physical exercise the body gets in a session of Yoga, leads to a decrease in sleep latency and disturbances, with betterment in the quality of sleep. And the mental relaxation that the body gets, translates into a relaxed, uncluttered mind. Yoga is a prominent method that is utilized in insomnia treatment as well.
Insomnia or any sleep disorder can introduce chaos into your lifestyle. It reduces productivity, increases irritability, and may lead to undesired incidents or accidents. Not only does it affect your physical well-being, it affects your mental state too. If you struggle with insomnia or any sleep disorder which is disrupting your life, it is advisable to contact a healthcare professional. The Healer’s Clinic is one of the most reputed places to receive insomnia treatment in Dubai, UAE. We hold a holistic and integrative approach to healing and help you manage insomnia and other sleep disorders, without any side effects. For more information, you can visit our website, or connect with our team at info@thehealersclinic.com.
