Ayurveda For A Good Nights Sleep

A night of good quality sleep is as important as a healthy and balanced diet. Throughout our life sleep plays a vital role in our health and wellbeing. Today most of us face a problem of lack of sleep or insomnia. Sleep is a time when the mind and body get the time to heal itself. In today’s unhealthy, polluted and stressful environment, lack of proper sleep or insomnia has become a common problem.

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Sleeplessness is a rising cause for concern and the country is witnessing an increasing number of patients with insomnia or chronic lack of sleep. Even a mild disturbance in your eating habit or some physical ailments can trigger insomnia. Lack of sleep can cause various mental and physical disorders which not only affect your health seriously but also affects your daily routine.

Ayurveda describes three stages in our life which we go through as we grow. The dosha governing each stage provides great support to our life. Following mentioned are the three doshic stages for life which affect our sleep.

1. Kapha Stage: The Growing years: During this period the sleep is generally heavy and joyful with long hours of uninterrupted sleep.

2. Pitta Stage: The Active years: This stage comes with a light sleep pattern which involves fewer interruptions in the sleep.

3. Vata Stage: The Wisdom Years: This stage experiences limited deep sleep with more interrupted sleep.  

These natural stages of life effectively support us in achieving our life goals. But our lack of awareness of these governing bodies agitate the doshas leading to sleep disturbances. Thankfully, Ayurveda has a solution for all this. Following mentioned are some of the Ayurvedic tips for good night sleep.

1) Cool foot Bath: Ayurveda connects feet with fire & cooling the feet is a tried and tested way to refresh the mind and have a peaceful sleep.

2) Early Dinner: Ayurveda suggests to have a proper & heavy lunch and light dinner preferably around sunset which will allow at least two hours for digestion before sleep.

3) Massage your temples with ghee:  As suggested by Ayurveda the area behind the eye and between the forehead and the ear should be massaged with ghee as it helps to nourish the brain and the nervous system thus helping to get sound sleep.

4) Practice alternate nostril breathing: Commonly known as pranayama. If practised the right way one gets to sleep because it relaxes the entire body.

5) Warm milk before bed: A cup of warm milk before the bed will help to relax the body and get a good sleep.

6) Vamkushi: Sleeping on the left side is termed as Vamkushi as mentioned by Ayurveda. Sleeping on the left side contributes to good health by making work of the organs easy. It has various benefits like better heart functioning, proper digestion, good blood flow. Ayurveda recommends it as the best sleeping position.

7) Shirodhara: It is a natural oil therapy which includes pouring of warm herbal oil on foreheads. It helps in the management of the mental conditions such as anxiety, sleep problems & other mental disturbances. The warm oil helps to regulate the brain region.