A mentally weak person who works less and thinks more suffers from sleeplessness. This is a very painful problem and a prolonged condition could even lead to lunacy. Those who work hard should sleep at least for seven to eight hours.

Our body is made up of small cells. They break up while doing work, walking, thinking, etc., and the body and mind become tired. This tiredness can be overcome with good sleep. Sleep is an important activity for the body. It is the food for the body and a tonic for the mind. It helps in the building up of new cells and throwing out various body disorders. Disorders or diseases occur when the body is not maintained properly. Lack of sleep makes the body tired, irritable and stressed.

Our body performs various actions during sleep. The person changes sides in sleep but the blood circulation remained unchanged. The heartbeat reduces but the digestion process is in its usual state. Liver and kidneys function properly. The body temperature also reduces by one degree during sleep.

Causes for Sleeplessness:

There are three main reasons for this problem – increased blood supply in the brain, anxiety and combination of these two leading to worry.

Natural Remedies for Sleeplessness:

The patient of insomnia wakes up late in the morning. To avoid this wake one hour before sunrise. Finish the morning chores and do Jalneti followed by morning walks.

Dip the feet in hot water for 20 minutes before going to bed. Take bath with cold water and scrub the body nicely while taking bath.

Sleep in a well-ventilated and airy room. Feel the respiration for ten minutes after lying on the bed. This will make the mind calm and give sound sleep.

Oil massage and sunbath during winters is very beneficial. Massage should include patting, friction, vibration, etc. A hot-cold fomentation on the back is very relieving. In the end, keep a cold bandage on the spine for 15 minutes.

Hot-cold fomentation on the stomach towards the liver is recommended. Place a cold bandage on the stomach at least thrice a week.

Take a spoonful of Triphala churna with hot milk or water at bedtime to overcome constipation. This is very beneficial in order to enjoy sound sleep.

Wipe the body with a thick towel at the time of taking bath. During winters, take bath with hot water followed by cold water. Take rest for 15 minutes after bath.

Give pats, pressing and vibration on the back, neck and head before going to bed.

Yogic Cure for Sound Sleep:

Practice Yoga nidra for 30 minutes daily – it overcomes nervous weakness, fatigue, mental stress, negative thoughts, high blood pressure, etc. It gives complete rest, strength, enthusiasm and happiness to the body, mind, brain and soul.

In the beginning the practitioner should do the following yogasanas to get complete benefit. Practicing Katichakrasana makes the body light and fresh. It improves the digestion process, and makes the spine flexible.

Vajrasana is the best asana for the patient of insomnia. It is a meditative posture and overcomes playfulness of the mind, digestive problems, gastric trouble, indigestion and insomnia.

Bhujangasana strengthens the nervous system; it has a positive impact on the stomach, keeps the spine flexible and helps in enjoying sound sleep.

Shalabhasana is also very beneficial for the patient of insomnia. It cures the diseases of the spine, overcomes backache and sciatica pain, and strengthens the nervous system and removes sleeplessness.

Makarasana and Pavanmuktasana should also be practiced regularly. Hastapodottanasana is also beneficial for sleeplessness.

Include Paschimottasana, Ushtrasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, and Ardhamatysendrasana after one or two months. Do Shavasana for five to ten minutes in the end for relaxation.

Practice Kapalbhati and Nadi shodhana pranayama in the end. Brahmari pranayama is also beneficial in the case of sleeplessness. The above yogic processes have a magical and positive affect on the body, which overcomes insomnia.

Ayurvedic Diet for Sleeplessness:

Eat balanced food that is light and easily digestible. Take alkaline food items.

Take food rich in sodium, phosphorous and vitamin B. Eat plenty of fruits, milk, whole wheat flour, green vegetables, whole pulses.

Take mango, grapes, guava, orange, papaya, banana, dry fruits, raisins, figs, almonds and dates, etc. Spinach, green leafy vegetables, cucumber, green peas, bitter gourd, carrot, tomato and turnip are beneficial.

Fruit diet and milk are beneficial. Coarse meal with milk, kidney beans, sprouted gram steam cooked with onion, ginger, etc., or with butter or cream are beneficial. Also drink hot milk.

Eat less than you want to eat. Do not fill the stomach completely.

Dip the feet in water for a few minutes before sleeping. Sit with your back towards the sun for ten minutes during winters.

Do not take tea, coffee and other hot food. Take dinner at about 7 p.m.

Do not sleep in the afternoons, just lie down on both sides for five minutes each.

Control the mind and lie on your stomach for ten minutes to relax the muscles.

Avoid intake of excess fat, oil, spices in food.

Ayurvedic Medicines for Sleeplessness:

Grind poppy seeds and watermelon seed kernel separately in equal quantities and store in a clean jar. Take three grams twice daily to get sound sleep, lower blood pressure and overcome headache. This medicine can be taken for one to three months.

Those who do not enjoy sound sleep or long for it, they should eat raw onion along with their food.

Grind six grams of poppy seeds in 250 grams of water and sieve with a cloth. Add 25 grams of sugar candy and take either at 4 a.m. or 4 p.m., only once at a fixed time.

Boil one and a half grams of dry mint leaves in 200 grams of water and sieve it. Add two spoons of honey in this lukewarm mint tea and drink daily at bedtime to enjoy sound sleep. Use it for three to four months.

Dip a piece of cotton swatch in rapeseed oil and place it in the navel and tie a light bandage over it at bedtime.

Apply almond oil or myrobalan oil or brahmi oil on the scalp before going to bed to enjoy good sleep.

Grind mehndi leaves and apply on the soles to overcome sleeplessness.

Boil ten-grams of aniseeds in a cupful of water and sieve. Drink it for relief.

Mix black salt, aniseed, sugar and black pepper in curd or diluted curd and drink for relief.

Mix jaiphal in water and lick to enjoy sound sleep.

Papaya is ideal for the patient of insomnia. Eat papaya, drink its juice and cook its vegetable. Eating this overcomes sleeplessness gradually.