Insomnia: Caution, Cure, Treatment

Ayurveda for Sleeping Well : Natural Cures for Insomnia

Having a good night’s sleep is sure aid for our well being as Ayurveda regards Optimum Sleep as one of the three pillars of Natural wellness and longevity ( the other two are diet and exercise).

Ayurveda Cautions Against Suppressing Sleep

Do you occasionally deprive yourself of a good night sleep? Yes, this is part of our lifestyle today. Blame it on overwork or nightlife. But let me tell you this is again one of the most deleterious practices that you are unknowingly inuring yourself with. Problems like: general malaise, lethargy, indecisiveness, heaviness and pain in the eyes and head, lack of enthusiasm, habitual insomnia, and digestive maladies might be just round the corner.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder which is becoming common world over, and which may mainly be characterized by little or no sleep. This loss of sleep or insomnia may sometimes simply be accompanied by disturbed sleep, light sleep or simply rolling in the bed throughout the night.

Some Causes of Insomnia or Loss of Sleep

Many times you tend to suffer from loss of sleep or insomnia due to the imbalance in diet and lifestyle and the escalating stress in day-to-day living.Due to exceeding cut-throat competition in our everyday life and work situations, sleep related disorders are on the rise.Sometimes insomnia may result from a drug reaction.Diseases like hypertension and anxiety etc relate to loss of sleep or insomnia as a natural sign.

Sleep Well with Natural Health and Sleep Awareness Tips

Sleeping in a dark room with calm and quiet environment is vital for overcoming Insomnia and to get natural relaxed sleep.Your body works on natural clock. Therefore, fix a proper time and routine like listening to soft music, reading etc. before your everyday snooze. This helps to signal the body and makes it ready for sleep.Involve yourself in physical activities and mental work through the day so that it exhausts you enough to obtain a sound sleep.Limit your intake of caffeine rich foods like coffee, chocolates etc. as these interfere in the natural pattern of sleep.You need to restrict having oily, spicy and heavy to digest meals before going to bed as this also could result into disturbed sleep.Take care not to take a long nap during afternoons as this might keep you awake in the night.Try not to take worries to bed and also refrain from staring at the darkness if you’re unable to sleep. It is better to go to another room and try any creative activity like reading. Go to bed only when you actually feel sleepy.Go in for mud nap occasionally. This is good news for all those suffering from stress, anxiety, insomnia and related maladies.Sleeping in the mud also benefits significantly in case of nervine debility and mental instability.

Ayurveda for Sleep

Imbalance and aggravation of the Vata dosha or the air body humor is believed to be the fundamental cause that impedes normal sleep pattern. Thus, for restoring Vatta balance and gaining restoring sleep, there are some diet and lifestyle tips counseled in Ayurveda text.

Heavy and nourishing diet like ghee, milk, sugarcane juice, rice, curds, jaggery based products etc.Lifestyle measures include self massage ( especially head region and mildly on ears and closed eyes), bathing with perfumed herbal soaps, local application of perfumed pastes or lotions on the body and head, soft pressing of the weary limbs etc.Mental relaxation is also considered vital for the commencing of relaxed sleep. Ayurveda text mentions to be sparing some time with your kids and agreeable alliances and family members, before going to bed.
Ashwagandha and Tagara are some of the well known Ayurveda herbs recommended for loss of sleep. Another herb by the name of Shatavari(Asparagus racemosus) is a body and brain rejuvenator and good for intellect. All the more, it helps undo the everyday strain and induces sound sleep.

Ayurveda Dosha Healing Guide for Sleep Pattern for Vatta, Pitta & Kapha Types 

Vata Types – Sleep pattern needs to organized and followed. Advised Sleeping Time is around 10:00 p.m. The best Sleep position would be to sleep in left side.
Pitta Types – Avoid lights at bedtime, sleep more relaxed. Advised to sleep by 10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. For the Fire types, sleeping in right side is recommended.
Kapha Types – Day sleep is strictly forbidden. Sleeping little late is fine , around 11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. The Sleep position for the Phlegm types is Left side.

Maintain Cholesterol Level

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels?
The causes of high level of cholesterol can be varied in nature. It can be due to foods consumed by an individual. It can also be due to the excessive hard drinks that a person consumes. It is not a disease, but it can really cause many other diseases. Thus one having high level of cholesterol needs to be very careful regarding his/her health.

Here are a few ways by which one can lower the cholesterol level naturally.

1. Orange juice is tasty and healthy
Freshly squeezed orange juice is known to lower the level of cholesterol in human body.  One orange a day in the morning can do magic.
2. Herbal tea helps a lot
If you think that your cholesterol level is more than average then you can prepare an herbal tea. It should contain peppers, ginger, and luke warm water. After that you need to add honey to it and the tea is ready to be consumed.
3. Ginger is an effective medium
Ginger is a natural way to reduce cholesterol and as it thins the blood helping in effective circulation, it becomes much easier for the blood to reach different parts of the body which in turn prevents several diseases.
4. Chromium is an effective mineral
Chromium is an effective mineral to help you reduce cholesterol. Chromium also helps you to maintain your blood sugar level through the proper utilization of insulin. Hence, you can try and consume chromium pills or keep foods that contain chromium as a part of your diet.
5. Grapes, a natural way to reduce cholesterol
Grapes can be really helpful as a natural way to reduce cholesterol. The skin of the grape consists of a compound which really helps in the lowering of the cholesterol.
6. Consume red yeast
You can consume red yeast in order to reduce the cholesterol in your blood in a natural way. Red Yeast is effective in cutting down the level of LDL and that is good for your health.
7. Consuming oatmeal can be helpful
Oatmeal though sometimes not good to taste, is a rich source of soluble fiber that helps in lowering as well as dissolving the cholesterol in the blood. Other than oatmeal, you can also consume legumes and other food items which contain soluble fiber.
8. A glass of red wine is good
You can have a glass of wine which raises the HDL level which in turn helps you to lower your cholesterol level. Also, having red wine helps you to feel fresh as it has got anti-oxidants to help you stay healthy.
9. Exercise is the key to stay healthy
If you are planning to lower your cholesterol level, you should try out exercising. You can try out jogging in order to get some fresh air to your lungs. You can also try stretching and similar other exercises.
10. Take food in small quantities
You should take several meals during a day, instead of taking just two meals a day. This helps you to fight your cholesterol level in a natural way.
Hence, try these ways out to have a good and healthy life that is without the accumulation of huge amount of cholesterol in the body.

Foods for good sleep

How do foods boost your sleep?
A diet rich in tryptophan can increase levels of serotonin, the precursor to melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness).Melatonin is the hormone that regulates circadian (daily) rhythms and governs the sleep-wake cycles. By activating certain types of chemical receptors in the brain, melatonin and tryptophan can help encourage sleep.

Choose protein foods that are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan. This helps boost the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Chicken and turkey, milk and dairy, nuts and seeds are all good choices. Combine these with rice, pasta or potatoes to help the body get the most benefits from tryptophan.

Foods that can boost your sleep are as follows:
Complex carbohydrates - Include whole-grain breads, cereals, and brown rice in your diet. These tend to increase serotonin levels and promote sleep.
Lean proteins - Lean proteins include low-fat cheese, chicken, turkey and fish. These foods are high in the amino acid tryptophan, which tends to increase serotonin levels.
Walnuts - Walnuts are a good source of tryptophan. Additionally, University of Texas researchers found that walnuts contain their own source of melatonin, which may help you fall asleep faster.
Almonds - Almonds are rich in magnesium, a mineral needed for quality sleep.
Milk products - Calcium found in cheese, yogurt, and milk helps the brain use the tryptophan found in dairy to manufacture sleep-triggering melatonin.
Lettuce - Lettuce contains lactucarium, which has sedative properties and affects the brain similarly to opium.
Tuna - Fish such as tuna, halibut, and salmon are high in vitamin B6, which your body needs to make melatonin and serotonin.
Cherry Juice - A glass of cherry juice could make you fall asleep faster, according to researchers from the Universities of Pennsylvania and Rochester. Cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boost levels of melatonin.
Honey - The natural sugar found in honey slightly raises insulin and allows tryptophan to enter the brain more easily. A spoonful before bed or mixed with chamomile tea could give you a more restful sleep.