Today, Friday 13 March, is World Sleep Day. It is an annual event intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep. Studies have found that Malaysians are amongst the world’s worst sleepers.
Now, some of you may think that you don’t need sleep or that you can catch up with sleep later due to numerous reasons. One of them may be because of that deadline you have to meet. Or, for new parents, the numerous wake up times your new arrival has at night is wreaking havoc with your sleep.
According to a national sleep survey done by Nielsen Malaysia in 2018, nine in 10 Malaysians suffer from one or more sleep problems. Nearly half of them reported that they wake up in the middle of the night, while just under a third say they feel tired and unrested in the morning, feel sleepy or have fallen asleep during the day.
For many, treating the cause of these conditions is vital and here is where CGH Earth Wellness, the brand behind a collection of leading luxury Ayurvedic hospitals in beautiful Kerala, India, believes that the ancient practice of Ayurveda could provide a helping hand when it comes to restoring the quality of your sleep.
Below are some tips from our friends at CGH Earth Wellness.
Ayurvedic Home Remedies by CGH Earth Wellness
In Ayurveda, sleep disorders are called Alpa nidra and insomnia is known as Anidra. According to Ayurveda, the doshas responsible for this disease are Tarpak Kapha, Sadhak Pitta or Prana Vata.
Insomnia due to lack of proper nutrition Tarpak Kapha is a sub-dosha of Kapha (water). It nourishes the brain cells and facilitates a good night’s sleep. Imbalance of this dosha causes poor nourishment of brain cells, leading to insomnia. This happens to those who are deprived by circumstances and few due to food faddism.
Tips:
● Take carbohydrate- and fat-rich foods at night before 8:00 PM
● Drink fat-rich milk with nutmeg and jaggery or sugar before bedtime.
Insomnia in workaholics Sadhak Pitta is a sub-dosha of Pitta (fire) and is located in the heart. It controls one’s emotions, desires, decisiveness, and spirituality. An imbalance in Sadhak Pitta makes a person demanding and a workaholic, thereby leading to situations that may cause a lack of sleep.
Tips:
● Drink ash gourd or sugar cane juice after dinner.
● Take 5 soaked almonds at bedtime.
● Drink 100 ml of lukewarm almond milk at bedtime
Insomnia due to anxiety and stress Prana Vata is a sub-dosha of Vata (air). It is linked to insomnia, anxiety, and conditions such as depression. As Prana Vata makes the nervous system sensitive, a sensitive nervous system coupled with an aggravated Prana Vata leads to insomnia.
Tips:
● Wash your legs with warm water and massage your feet with butter.
● Make a paste of milk and butter and apply that paste over your bregma (crown of the head) and feet.
