26 Jun Damn, that was a good sleep!
By Supriya Ruparelia
How often do you wake up in the morning feeling well rested?
Not sleeping well plays havoc with your brain and body, affecting mental and physical functioning. It impairs emotions, social life, and physical well-being. Persistent sleep problems can lead to accidents, increased anxiety, poor job performance, and an overall decrease in your immune system.
In Ayurveda, sleep is considered a cornerstone of good health. Over thousands of years, we have studied the effects of various treatments to assist with a better night’s sleep.
Below I’ve combined both Ayurvedic and Western science to provide you with some solutions that will get you waking up feeling fresh.
1. There are very good reasons meditation and mindfulness have become effective tools for stress management and cultivating a sense of inner peace. Multiple sleep research studies have shown that incorporating meditation into your routine can enhance the quality of your sleep and increase daytime energy levels.
2. Maintaining a consistent daily routine (known in Ayurvedic medicine as ‘Dinacharya’), can have a positive impact on your overall well-being. Recent scientific findings support the notion that our genes carry biological clocks that influence optimal times for activities such as eating, sleeping, resting, digesting, and exercising. It’s recommended to aim for bedtime around 10pm, which aligns with the end of the Kapha period, when the body and mind naturally feel more tired.
3. Consider trying Ayurvedic natural sleep aids. Experiment with the following options, one at a time, until you find what works best for you:
- Saffron: Heat two to three threads of saffron in one cup of warm milk.
- Nutmeg: Stir one large pinch of nutmeg into one cup of warm milk.
- Poppy seeds: Soak ¼ to ½ teaspoon of poppy seeds in one cup of warm water or milk for a few hours, then drink it warm.
- Brahmi: Steep one teaspoon of Brahmi powder in one cup of water. Please contact me if you want more information on this Ayurvedic herb.
- Chamomile tea: Brew one tea bag or one teaspoon of loose chamomile leaves with one cup of water.
4. Get outside – The more sun exposure you get during the day, the greater your production of melatonin at night. Melatonin is the body’s circadian sleep hormone.
5. Try the self-massage technique known as Abhyanga. Massage your face, head and under your feet with warm sesame oil.
Hopefully some of these techniques will assist you with achieving a better night’s sleep, however, if you are interested in a more in-depth analysis and potential treatment plan, get in touch for a free 20-minute consultation to learn more.
