Ayurveda considers sleep to be one of the pillars of good health. Our inner sleep rhythm should connect to the rhythms of nature, or more specifically to daylight. Insomnia (anidra) is caused due to the aggravation of the Vata dosha in the body. Also, the imbalance of other doshas in the body causes undernourishment of brain cells and increases sensitivity of the nervous system. If you have been experiencing difficulty falling asleep at night; you are waking up often; have difficulty going back to sleep; you wake up too early or feel too tired to work, there is no doubt you are suffering from insomnia.

Causes of insomnia include: Exerting yourself too much or thinking unnecessarily; following a faulty diet and erratic lifestyle; drinking too much coffee; working late on your computer; taking meals at irregular intervals; sleeping late at night; eating a lot of cold and dry foods; or suppressing your emotions.

The Ayurvedic recommendations focus on balancing the aggravated body energies through herbal supplements (such as brahmi or calamus root), a customized diet and a personalized lifestyle plan. Additionally, relaxation of the mind also plays a very important role. Breathing exercises and certain yoga poses can be of great aid.

Some recommended home remedies include:

Drink a glass of warm whole milk with green cardamom powder before going to bed.

Before going to bed, put 2 drops of warm mustard oil in each ear and plug the ears with cotton balls. Remove them when you wake up in the morning.

Have 15 ml juice of green coriander with 1 teaspoon of honey twice a day.

Have a head massage with lukewarm oil before going to bed.

Have 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder with a glass of milk on an empty stomach in the morning.

In our center, we offer a subtle but powerful treatment called Shirodhara, where a warm stream of oil is poured in your forehead. This treatment helps in reducing stress, promotes sleep and restful state of mind.