Ayurvedic tips for a good night’s sleep
Having difficulty sleeping is a characteristic of adulthood. In this technology-paced world, everybody suffers from a mild sleep disorder. Ayurveda has a solution to this.
Sleep, known as Nidra in Ayurveda, is one of the three pillars of good health. Food (ahara) and the management of sexual energy (brahmacharya) are the next two.
Ayurveda has the simplest and easiest to implement methods. These Ayurvedic methods can work wonders for sleep.
Let’s see how you can manage your sleep disorder with Ayurvedic solutions.
Gratitude
If you find yourself awake at night, one of the simplest things you can do is practice gratitude. It is the time to observe all the good things in your life and the moments you are grateful for today.
Gratitude is a sattvic emotion, which means it is light and nourishing to the mind and body.
This simple practice will quiet your mind and answer all the anxiety that makes you sleep-deprived.
The more you practice gratitude, the easier it will become in your daily life.
Unplug Your Mind
We all adore our smartphones, but using them excessively can make Vata (the dosha responsible for movement) more agitated and cause insomnia and restless sleep.
Your eyes and nervous system need a break, too; try to avoid watching TV and using smartphones, laptops, electronic games, and other gadgets after 8:00 p.m.
Consider the last hour or so before bedtime to be sacred—your time to relax and enjoy yourself.
Balance Your Life
Dinacharya is one of the most important things you can do to balance your sleep—and your overall mental and physical health—according to Ayurvedic texts (daily routine). Unbalanced habit, such as working long hours, eating irregularly, or going to bed at a different time every night, often causes sleep disorders.
To restore balance to your body:
- Every day, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time.
- Aim to eat your meals at roughly the same time each day.
- Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.
To summarise, maintain a consistent, balanced daily schedule to keep your body’s biological rhythms operating normally.
Herbs that Help
Whenever we talk about Ayurvedic, it is incomplete without mentioning herbs. Certain herbs in Ayurvedic are natural tranquilizers and aid sleep disorders.
The few herbs are,
- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
- Shankhapushpi (Convulvulus pluricaulis)
- Vacha (Acorus calamus)
- Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentine)
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi)
Add one teaspoon of herbs, says, Brahmi or Ashwagandha powder, to two glasses of water. Boil them, reduce them to one glass, and drink them daily at least once for the best results.
Glass of Warm Milk
Milk is an excellent sleep aid. The milk has serotonin has been shown to have calming effects on the brain.
- For example, add a nutmeg pinch to your milk.
- Add some crushed almonds for a flavorful and healthy potion right before bed.
The Bottom Line
The reasons for sleep disorders are manifold; thus, treatment varies from person to person. However, the above-listed solutions are generic and give results without any side effects.
