Basics of Sleep & Insomnia and its Management with Shirodhara

Sleep is one of the Basic pillars According to Ayurveda, and is considered to be as important as diet in maintaining health and balance in the body. Sleep is the time when the body is able to repair and heal itself. The mind and emotions also become stable through sleep. But in today's era of modernization sleep disorders are very common. one of them is insomnia. Insomnia may be induced by stress, anxiety, hormonal cycles, or lifestyle factors etc. Current treatments and medications for insomnia are costly and often harmful due to severe side effects. On other hand, Ayurveda having a light of hope for this condition by correction of basic pathology particularly through Panchakarma, like external treatment in the form of Shirodhara. Ayurveda plays significant role in such type of life style diseases. Shirodhara, oil dripping on the forehead in a steady stream or flow, is a widely practiced complementary treatment (Upakarma) of Ayurveda. It is usually indicated to treat stress, anxiety, and insomnia and to relax the nervous system. Here an attempt has been made to explain sleep and insomnia as per Ayurvedic view and its treatment through Shirodhara with other medications.