Insomnia is a disorder characterized by inconsistent sleep or inadequate sleep or complete sleeplessness. We all have been victims of insomnia sometime or the other. Occasional insomnia is not a thing to worry about, but if it persists for days, it really takes a toll on the person’s health, and in that case one should seek medical help. A person who has experienced insomnia knows well how pathetic it is to stay wide awake or struggle to get some sleep when the rest of the world is fast asleep. People, who sleep for less than four hours for consecutive nights, fall under the category of insomniacs.
Insomnia may be classified in to transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia may continue for 2-3 days or 1-3 weeks. Acute insomnia continues for more than 3 weeks. Chronic insomnia continues for months. If one does not sleep deliberately, he or she cannot be called an insomniac. Women are more plagued by insomnia than men. The consequences of sleeplessness could be excessive fatigue, irritability, headache, dizziness, confusion, impaired memory, rapid weight loss, depression, lethargy, lack of concentration and hallucinations during day. Some of the causes of insomnia may be listed as follows:
1. Aging
2. Arthritis ache
3. Changes in work-shift
4. Changes in sleep pattern
5. Uncomfortable sleeping environment such as brightly lit room or noisy room.
6. Depression
7. Disruptive sleep happenings like nightmares and sleep walking and restless leg syndrome.
8. Dissatisfaction in sexual life
9. Extreme excitement
10. Excessive intake of caffeine
11. Going to bed hungry
12. Frequent naps during the day
13. Jet lag
14. Smoking
15. Stress and anxiety
16. Mania
17. Fear or phobia
18. Sleep apnea
19. Angina
20. Gastro-esophageal acid reflux disease
21. Hyperthyroidism
22. Frequent urge for urinating (as in the case of diabetes)
23. Traumatic injury
24. Certain medications.
Home Remedies for Insomnia
1. Mix 1 teaspoon honey in a cup of warm milk and drink before going to bed. This will help you to sleep better.
2. Extract 30 grams milk from poppy seeds. Take 1 teaspoon of this milk mixed with sugar before retiring to bed at night. This is an effective home remedy for insomnia.
3. Grind 4 nutmegs to a fine powder and take a teaspoon of the powder before going to bed at night. This enables you to get sound sleep.
4. Grind the root of piper longum to a powder. Add a teaspoon of the powder to a glass of warm milk; also add some jiggery and drink before bed time. This is an insomnia cure.
5. Add roasted cumin seeds to a bowl of mashed ripe banana and take the mixture after dinner to get good sleep.
6. Drinking a glass of buttermilk with a pinch of cinnamon and little honey ensures good quality sleep.
7. A cup of orange leaf tea is very good for treating insomnia.
8. Mix the juice of 2 oranges in a glass of hot water and sweeten with honey and drink. This is an effective sleep inducing drink.
9. Applying hot fomentations to the spine and taking warm foot bath is a useful insomnia remedy.
10. Take a teaspoon of the fresh juice of valerian before going to sleep. This helps to get rid of insomnia.
Read more Home Remedies for Insomnia. Also know useful Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure.
