Causes of Insomnia

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Sleep is as essential to our overall health as water and food, yet a lot of people lack good sleep in their routine. Lakhs of people all over the world experience insomnia, a persistent lack of sleep which results in poor health. This particular condition not only steals your sleep but it may also affect your mood, energy & ability to function through the day.

Ayurveda is among the oldest healing methods in the world, which treats insomnia using a different perspective. Contrary to modern medicine which treats just the symptoms, Ayurveda addresses the root cause of sleeplessness. It concentrates on restoring balance in the body and mind for better & natural sleep.

Ayurvedic Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia or "Anidra" in Ayurveda occurs when the doshas of the body are imbalanced: Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. But how can these imbalances trigger sleeplessness?

Tarpaka Kapha Imbalance:

• Kapha dosha helps nourish brain cells for better sleep.
• Low Tarpaka Kapha results in undernourishment of brain cells and difficulty in sleeping.

Aggravated Prana Vayu:

• Prana Vayu is a sub-type of Vata which governs the nervous system and the mind.
• An increase may cause more stress and restlessness that can disrupt sleep.

Disturbed Sadhaka Pitta:

• This Pitta dosha resides in the heart and controls emotions and desires.
• An imbalance could cause emotional distress and impact the natural sleep cycle.

Ayurveda also states that there are a number of lifestyle, environmental and dietary factors which could worsen insomnia:

Lifestyle Factors:

• Irregular sleeping schedules.
• Substantial mental stress/overstimulation just before bedtime.
• Not getting enough physical activity.

Dietary Triggers:

• Eating heavy, spicy or rich foods before going to bed.
• Overuse of stimulants including caffeine or nicotine.

Environmental Factors:

• Excessive exposure to artificial lighting or screens.
• Loud or uneasy sleep environments.
• Extreme weather conditions (humid or cold).

Understanding these Ayurvedic causes might help guide lifestyle and dietary modifications to restore the body’s balance and promote better sleep.

Modern Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia impacts a significant percentage of adults around the world. Estimates currently suggest that more than 25% of individuals aged 21 to 60 worldwide are afflicted by chronic sleeplessness. This widespread issue could occur for a number of reasons:

Genetic Predisposition:

Sleep patterns, like susceptibility to insomnia can also be inherited, affecting how easily someone falls and stays asleep.

Medical/Health Conditions:

• Both chronic and acute illnesses could disrupt sleep. Conditions like acid reflux, asthma and neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease directly influence sleep quality.
• Mental well being is also a major factor, with anxiety and depression frequently linked to insomnia.

Lifestyle & Environmental Factors:

• Stressful life events or major changes like moving home or changing careers may cause sleep disturbances.
• Poor sleep habits such as irregular sleep patterns, late-day caffeine consumption and stimulating activities before bedtime may also contribute.

Neurological Factors:

• Research also suggests more active brain patterns in insomnia patients, which might prevent the brain from relaxing into the deep, restorative sleep phases.

Understanding these modern causes of Insomnia is essential for targeted interventions for insomnia, whether behavioural, environmental or physiological.

Conclusion

The management and treatment of insomnia require understanding its causes first. Where modern medicine focuses on treating only the symptoms, Ayurveda aims to balance the doshas (Kapha, Pitta, and Vata) which govern complete health. Ayurveda also addresses lifestyle, diet & environmental factors together with physiological and emotional imbalances to resolve sleeplessness.

The first step towards healing is understanding the root causes behind insomnia. Consult an Ayurvedic expert today to seek customised treatments and restore your natural sleep rhythm.